Originating as a coffee cart, Spella Caffe, recently opened a permanent location in the financial district of downtown Portland. Tucked between the massive skyscrapers, Spella’s coffeehouse is no larger than it’s original coffee cart. Although the shop was small, it was extremely busy. Even more impressive were the baristas; as we soaked in the fun space, businessmen stopped in … Continue reading
Heart is a name on the lips of just about every barista Cody and I came in contact with while in Portland. They are widely regarded as one of the best roasters in the Portland area. It was busy, as expected, even though it was mid-day and mid-week. Sleek and clutter free, the coffeehouse made … Continue reading
From the custom leather booths and matching tables to the low lit mahogany bar complete with fine beer on tap, Barista II feels more like a speakeasy than a coffeehouse. The level of energy and detail poured into this Vernon neighborhood establishment is nothing to scoff at. The amount of sophisticated testosterone irradiating from the walls, rivals that of the large bull … Continue reading
Cold press on tap. You heard right. Kicking off day 2 of the 2-day Portland Coffee whirlwind, the Red E Cafe boasted a pub style tap dedicated solely to cold press. With that kind of statement Cody and I could not leave without a proper visit. Red E is located in Humbolt, a northern neighborhood … Continue reading
Coava Coffee was the last stop for our first day in Portland and by the time CJ and I arrived we were both quite tired and a bit coffee’d out (if you can believe it). Coava is a name constantly mentioned and suggested among the Portland coffee snobs. They are supposed to be one of … Continue reading
After Courier we made the “long” treck over the bridge to the other side of Portland for Water Avenue Coffee Co. Although the coffee shop was a bit hidden, it was worth finding. At one time this coffee shop was a warehouse, but has since been transformed into a beautiful space with a bright neon … Continue reading
Originating as a roaster, Courier Coffee gets its name from its beginnings when the owner couriered beans to his customers via bicycle. The coffeehouse, nestled mid-block behind a major through street, stays true to its lo-fi beginnings. The atmosphere was very relaxed and definitely one of my favorites. A Clash record played in the background, … Continue reading
The first stop in Portland was Coffeehouse Northwest. A small-ish coffee shop on an extremely busy street (Burnside), Coffeehouse Northwest is the uglier little sister of Sterling Coffee Roasters (so says the barista), also located in Portland. There were two baristas working and Gypsy Kings played in the background. Upon asking what they suggest we … Continue reading
The Casual Coffee Connoisseur 