There are a lot of good coffee places in Portland, as with our famous neighbor to the north, and then there are a few really great ones. Here are three coffee houses which I and my snobby friends consider truly great – I hope you enjoy them if you’re in town or just visiting someday.
- Crema Coffee + Bakery (SE 28th and Ankeny St, 503.234.0206, map, credit/debit cards accepted). A great place to hang out, whether the weather is good, bad or ugly. Large windows looking out onto culinary hotspot SE 28th and lovely Ankeny Street are rolled up on nice summer and fall days, making for good people watching and warm breeze enjoying. A spectacular selection of pastries and savory options, including hearty soups and panini make it a one-stop destination for prandial delights. The fact that one of the baristas is a judge in the World Barista Competition will tip you off to the fact that you will be enjoying a tremendous espresso experience here. Free WiFi.
- Stumptown Coffee Roasters (3 locations: Division, Belmont and Downtown, cash only, except for downtown location, which accepts credit/debit cards, see Website for phone numbers and maps). The Division Street location was the one which opened my eyes to what lay (far) beyond the world of Starbuck’s commercialized offerings. They offer a dazzling array of coffees from around the world, which they themselves import direct from the source and roast in their own facility. Not to be missed are special “coffee of the day” specials when they roll out the rare 100 percent Kona or Blue Mountain coffees which are served all day at the normal coffee cup price. Great baristas and a funky, laid-back atmosphere and service make for a good time. The Division location, however, can seem much like a library reading room if the place is full of laptop clicking fiends. Free WiFi.
- Blue Gardenia Cafe (3747 N Mississippi Ave, 503.460.2583, credit/debit cards accepted, Website). My personal favorite, because we stumbled upon this place within weeks of it opening, and already it’s an anchor of coffee and great baking in the Mississippi Avenue neighborhood. The cafe area is smallish, with only one table that will sit more than four people, but if you time it right you can get a group in there ok. Truly fabulous baking is going on here, as well as single origin coffee roasting, right on the premises. Great service, terrific baristas (especially Matthew on the a.m. shift) and a great, homey atmosphere all make for a quiet morning or afternoon relaxing and enjoying some of the best that North Portland has to offer.