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Blog: Natty & Notable - Nat’s Coffee House

Freelance writer and blogger Cathalynn Labonte-Smith reviews cafes and tea houses from the point-of-view of writers and other people who work in such places regularly. She recently reviewed a pair of Delta establishments in her blog, The Write Cup .
writing group
Members of the South Delta Just Write Meet Up Group already hard at work composing.

Freelance writer and blogger Cathalynn Labonte-Smith reviews cafes and tea houses from the point-of-view of writers and other people who work in such places regularly.

She recently reviewed a pair of Delta establishments in her blog, The Write Cup.

Here is her review of Nat's Coffee House:

With a cloud ceiling of 1,500 feet, light rain and mist on this wet Wednesday, there’s no chance of me flying in a small plane today, so I drive out to Tsawwassen Springs Golf Course to meet up for an early sesh with the Just Write South Delta Writers’ Meet Up Group (https://www.meetup.com/JustWriteVancouver). This is my first time with this meet up group, devoted to bringing writers together to write in coffee shops all over the Lower Mainland, but I’ve attended many Just Write groups in Vancouver, and one in North Vancouver. (Contact the organizer, Lara McIntyre, lara@laramcintyre.com, 604.807.5025 with queries about the group.)

I lived in a my first home, a 1,000 sq. ft. bungalow in Beach Groove (aka Beach Groovy) in T-Town for a decade, before South Delta had its colossal growth spurt. Now, there’s glasshouses to the left of me, Tsawwassen Mills and a second coal port to the right of me. Even the golf course has undergone major renos, including the grand brick and steel sign marking the 52nd Street Avenue exit from Highway 17.

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Other than waking me up, this coffee has some other purposes. - courtesy Cathalynn Labonte-Smith

I easily find Nat’s Coffee House (https://www.nats-coffee-house/) on the corner, owned by White Spot, who roasts the beans locally, and also contributes to a rainforest preservation charity.

The coffee is smooth and pleasant, much like the baristas. The view of the greens must be lovely in the summer, and there’s a patio open in fair weather.

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Waiting for spring. - courtesy Cathalynn Labonte-Smith

The cafe was originally operated by Woods Coffee (https://woodscoffee.com/); a Washington state chain, that I’m addicted to, er, an occasional devotee of. On long drives to flight lessons in Bellingham, I push that 70 mph limit to get to their Birch Bay drive-thru as soon as I get to through the border. I can’t wait to order a fresh scrummy cup of black gold, even though I feel silly ordering sizes by random tree names: Cedar, Pine, whatever, I’m not a Forest Warden. However, the chalet style interior of Nat’s is welcoming, with an oversized fireplace, lots of seating with a variety of options: body friendly chairs, high bar tables, unfortunately with the cruel steel back bar stools, but there are padded banquettes too.

I’m late-ish, due to the traffic snags over the Lion’s Gate, throughout downtown and the tunnel, but am warmly welcomed. Lara tells me that the staff at Nat’s is extremely welcoming to the Just Write group. Not all coffee shops allow writing groups to park for hours at a time, but they don’t mind us using up wifi, electrical outlets and tying up seating for hours on a weekly basis. My rating of four out five cups isn’t so much for their coffee, which is of middle-of-the-road quality, but how well they treat the writers and how suited the space is for particular needs.

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Leather club chairs call to me. - courtesy Cathalynn Labonte-Smith

The food selection is limited to a few pastries and pre-made sandwiches, but I’m not usually a day-eater and I’m not bothered. However, when the sun comes out, I’ll surely sit out on the sunny patio with a cone of that tempting gelato that they flaunt at the front in one hand and my keyboard in the other.

My plan apres writing today was to detour to Boundary Bay Airport to do some hangar flying (simply sitting in an airplane to practice at the controls); a common exercise for student pilots in poor weather. However, after writing by the fire I’m disinclined to climb into a clammy cold cockpit. Perhaps, I’ll get there, weaving my way through Ladner cafe by cafe.

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Gelato I will be back for you. - courtesy Cathalynn Labonte-Smith

#125 – 5133 Springs Boulevard, Tsawwassen.