VANCOUVER — It’s a city so crazy for coffee that two identical Starbucks can be found kitty-corner from one another and both are busy.
So when Vancouverites found out that just one brand of brew will be available at Olympic venues when the 2010 Games come to town, the roast quickly began.
Far Coast, brewed by sponsor Coca-Cola, will be the official coffee of the Games, and that’s hard to swallow for some locals.
“They better have paid a lot of money to pay off the Olympics, because otherwise it’s not worth the effort,” said Norbert Pinter, 26, after taking a sip of Far Coast and comparing it to the Starbucks in his hand.
“It’s lacking coffee flavour and it’s more just tinted water with real high acidity. I’m not a fan of it. They should use another one of the local brands instead.”
Ahead of the Games, a coffee competition is already percolating.
“It’s a shame that they (tourists) are only going to get one variety of coffee offered. I think they should be allowed to get more than one type of coffee at Olympic venues,” said Dylan Ashwood, 25, outside a local gourmet chain.