ABOUT NOMAD
Coffee from around the world,
without the waste.
Nomad is a specialty coffee shop bringing beans from coffee regions across the globe to Vancouver, and serving every one of them without a single-use cup.
OUR COFFEE
The world’s coffee,
in Vancouver
We source specialty beans from coffee-growing regions around the world and keep them rotating, so there’s always a new origin to discover without leaving the city.
Our Kitsilano pour-over bar is the heart of it: new coffees every one to two weeks, a premium line of rare and limited lots, and every cup served in a Korean moon jar.
VISIT THE POUR-OVER BAR
KOREAN HERITAGE
Served in a
moon jar
What is a moon jar?
The moon jar, or dalhangari, is a white porcelain jar first made in Korea’s Joseon dynasty. Each one is formed from two hand-thrown halves joined at the middle, so no two are ever perfectly round. Named for its likeness to a full moon, it has become a symbol of Korean beauty: simple, quiet, and gracefully imperfect.
Why we serve coffee in it
Our founder grew up with this kind of beauty, and we wanted every pour-over to carry a piece of it. The moon jar’s soft, round shape fits in both hands and asks you to slow down. It turns a cup of coffee into a small moment of calm, and like everything at Nomad, it’s made to be used again and again. Our Korean roots show up on the menu too. Over the seasons we’ve made gochujang cookies and scones, strawberry gochujang hot chocolate, and yakgwa cookies, inspired by the traditional Korean honey pastry.
WHY NOMAD?
Leave no trace.
Our name is inspired by the nomadic way of life. Nomads respect the land they inhabit. When they move on, they take their belongings with them and leave no waste behind. They take full ownership of their footprint.
Nomad carries that spirit. We aim to live responsibly in our city, refusing to leave behind a trail of single-use waste.
The Nomad
Roastery
Next, we’re bringing roasting in-house. The Nomad Roastery will be our eco-friendly roastery at 1350 Pemberton Ave in North Vancouver.
The same leave-no-trace thinking that shaped our cafés will shape how our coffee is roasted.
OUR STORY
Founded by
Annette Kim
Annette Kim has been building greener cafés in Vancouver for over a decade. She opened Bean VGH at Vancouver General Hospital in 2015, followed by Bean-on-5th in Lower Lonsdale in 2019. There, her team peeled the plastic lining out of every to-go cup by hand, just so the paper could be recycled.
It worked, but it was slow, inefficient, and never solved the real problem. So Annette built Nomad: a specialty coffee shop that doesn’t use single-use cups at all.
- 2015
Bean VGH
Annette’s first café, at Vancouver General Hospital.
- 2019
Bean-on-5th
Peeled the lining from every cup to recycle it.
- 2022
Nomad Bewicke
North Vancouver’s first coffee shop without single-use cups.
- 2026
Nomad Kitsilano
Home of the Nomad pour-over bar.
- Soon
Nomad Harry Jerome
At the new Harry Jerome Community Recreation Centre.
- 2027
Nomad Roastery
Bringing eco-friendly roasting in-house.
HOW WE SERVE IT
342,159 single-use cups kept from landfill
We haven’t used a single disposable cup since 2022. Bring your own, borrow one of our clay cups, or stay for a mug. And 15% of pour-over profits go to Ocean Wise to help protect the ocean.
HOW BYOC WORKSPRESS & AWARDS
In the media
North Van Zero Single-Use Cup Cafe Opening in Kitsilano With Free Coffee This Weekend
Read the article by Noms Magazine
Kitsilano, Your Morning Just Got A Sustainable Upgrade
Known for its “Bring Your Own Cup” (BYOC) initiative and a unique reusable clay cup system, Nomad is bringing its eco-conscious North Vancouver roots to the Kits community Read more…
Read the article by vita magazine
No single-use cup cafe to expand with three new locations by 2027
Nomad, founded by Annette Kim, is best known for not using single-use cups in its stores. Instead, customers are encouraged to bring their own cup, enjoy their drink on-site in a ceramic mug, or buy or Read more…
Read the article by Daily Hive
New Vancouver cafe offering free coffee to celebrate its opening
Previously announced are plans to open another Nomad location when the new Harry Jerome rec centre opens in North Van this year. And next year, Kim plans to open a fourth storefron in North Vancouver's Pemberton neighbourhood. "Our upcoming 'Nomad Lab' Read more…
Read the article by Vancouver Is Awesome
BYOC coffee shop Nomad to open its second location in Vancouver
North Vancouver’s first coffee shop to cut single-use cups, Nomad, is gearing up to open a second location in Kitsilano. Read more…
Read the article by Daily Hive
Naturally Delicious: Metro Vancouver Restaurants Prioritizing Sustainability
Sometimes just focusing on one issue can make a WORLD of difference for sustainability! At Nomad Espresso Bar, the small business has pooled its efforts together with the North Shore community to drastically reduce waste from disposable cups. Read more…
Read the article by West Coast Food
Meet the small businesses paving the reuse-refill path forward.
Nomad Cafe, located in the heart of North Vancouver’s residential Mosquito Creek neighbourhood, is the city’s first coffee shop to go without single-use cups. Equipped with a rinsing station at the bar, customers either bring their own cup, purchase one from the cafe or rent a cup with a $2 deposit that they get back when they return their cup. Read more…
Read the article by Greenpeace
Green Innovations Led by a Passionate Korean Woman.
The owner's Korean heritage adds a unique cultural flair to the experience, infusing traditional warmth and hospitality into every interaction. Her passion for both coffee and the environment is palpable, inspiring customers and fellow businesses alike to rethink their own practices. Watch more….
What the vedeo by Global Success
Opening Soon! North Vancouver's first “NO SINGLE CUP”
Single-use cups and non-recyclable plastics are a huge problem. They usually end up in landfills and often can’t be recycled because of the plastic coating that makes them leak-proof. Since the City of Vancouver’s 25 cents cup fee, more people are turning to reusable cups. Read more…
Read our first article by SocialDad
50,000 cups saved and this is just the start!
After ordering a drink, customers visiting Nomad Coffee, located near Mosquito Creek in North Vancouver, hand the cup they prepared in advance to the barista as they are used to. This is because disposable paper cups and plastic cups are never handled here. Read more…
Read the article by vanchosun
Nomad is North Van's first coffee shop to cut single-use cups
On the night before Nomad’s grand opening on May 13, owner Annette Kim couldn’t sleep. Would people be challenging her policy, quibbling, “Why don’t you have cups?” Read more…
Read the article by North Shore News
8 Bakeries + Cafes You Should Add To Your Bucket list
Nomad’s eco-friendly ethos extends to their delectable pastries, made in-house with the finest ingredients. And for furry friends, Nomad offers a selection of dog-friendly treats, ensuring every member of your family can enjoy a visit to their cozy cafe. Read more…
Read our first article by 604now
Top 5 food and drink openings on the North Shore in 2022
Instead of a disposable vessel, customers are encouraged to BYOC (bring your own cup), or buy one of the reusable options for sale, ranging from $3 to $22. You can also rent a Mason jar for $2, which is refunded upon return. Read more…
Read the article by North Shore News
