Latest News

Viva Java in Richmond.

Photo courtesy Richmond Sentinel

Arti has spent over 30 years of researching and creating that ultimate cup of coffee.

Photo courtesy Richmond Sentinel

The ultimate experience in coffee flavour

By Florence Gordon

Published 12:06 PDT, Fri July 4, 2025

Last Updated: 12:07 PDT, Fri July 4, 2025

—

If you like coffee, you’ll “love” coffee after you meet Arti. The Richmond Sentinel went on location to film an interview with the owner of Viva Java here in Richmond. The coffee shop may not be big in size but they’re huge in love for their craft and that comes from over 30 years of buying coffee beans from 15 different countries and searching every day for the ultimate flavour.

In another Richmond story series, the Richmond Sentinel (RS) sat down with Arturo Hagop aka “Arti” (AH) the owner of Viva Java Roasting House.

RS: We search for stories about local businesses and this is definitely one to share. We're at Viva Java Roasting House and I want to get the address right for you folks in Richmond. It’s on the corner of Douglas and Smith streets, across from a little place you may have heard of, Costco. I'm with a man who's been making great coffee for nearly 35 years and he is the owner of this wonderful, very eclectic-cool spot. Thank you Arti for having us.

AH: You’re welcome.

RS: I want to say Arti, you made me a decaf latte and the taste is fantastic. I hope you agree with me that a good coffee is like a good glass of wine, and as the saying goes you get what you pay for.

AH: That is so true.

RS: I understand that when you came to Canada in 1991 you wanted to introduce great coffee to the community.

AH: That is correct because to me, coffee brewing is a divine obsession. Everybody has some kind of addiction in their life, it could be desserts, it could be alcohol, but for me my addiction is coffee. I dream about coffee in my sleep and the next day I would start making different brews, different roasts, different tastes. I'm never satisfied, I'm always looking for that ultimate taste, ultimate flavour.

RS: What’s interesting too is that you really have a passion about coffee and what you offer. Do you ever have a customer that orders a coffee that’s unfamiliar with all that you offer—do you like to give suggestions?

AH: You would be surprised to learn that 9 out of 10 customers that come to me, know very little about coffee and I love to educate them. My knowledge comes from nearly 35 years of searching the world for the finest beans and how to protect my inventory so that I can offer the ultimate flavour. For example, coffee's shelf life is only two to three weeks. People believe if they store it in the fridge or freezer it’s protected,what they don’t know is that moisture is coffee’s biggest enemy. I say 100 per cent no to refrigeration.

RS: Let’s talk about your inventory and how popular your beans and coffee are.

AH: I have 15 different origins from which I have purchased coffee beans from and accumulated during the last 30 plus years.

RS: From the different countries, do you buy from them directly, how does that work?

AH: I used to import coffee myself but that requires a license from the federal government. It was challenging to find a broker so I have my own suppliers. I'm always looking for that ultimate flavoured coffee.

RS: Do you actually have a region of the world that you think makes the best coffee or grows the best coffee beans?

AH: I can say Hawaiian Kona is very famous, a very, nice coffee, and I would say Jamaican Blue Mountain because it's grown in the mountain region and with the ambience and that mountain breeze it has an affect on the coffee. I would say in my mind the number one coffee is the Jamaican Blue Mountain.

I don't sell it because frankly, my cost for the Jamaica Blue Mountain is $70 a pound. In order to sell it to you, I’d have to charge you $100 a pound. I understand that there are places selling this product for $50 a pound, in my estimation they're giving you 10 per cent Jamaican and 90 per cent Colombia and the customer doesn’t know better and my conscience won’t let me do this.

RS: When I walked into Viva Java today, I was surprised by your creative decor. It feels very warm and inviting. You've got a spectacular old-school machine behind the counter. Can you tell our viewers a little bit about that equipment?

AH: The roasted machine, that is my lifeline. It has a capacity of roasting beans 40 pounds every 40 minutes.

RS: You've been in the coffee business for a very long time.

AH: Close to 35 years.

RS: Arti have you noticed the difference in people's tastes towards coffee today versus 35 years ago where people ordered mainly just black or with added cream. I myself, today I’m drinking a latte. I wasn't doing that 20 years ago.

AH: Well, thank goodness, the answer is yes. My customers are looking for the ultimate flavor, which I am happy and proud to produce for them and most of them are shocked. They weren't aware of the difference. It brings me joy to please my customers and when they are pleased, I'm pleased too.

When we finished the interview, two airline pilots dropped by, they said they were from Europe and in between flights. They went on line for a place that offers good coffee and saw Viva Java’s website, so as Arti does so well he made them one of his special coffees.

To watch the video interview go to richmondsentinel.ca/videos