Thursday, June 10, 2010

Tiny's

1412 Southeast 12th Avenue
Portland, OR 97214


Tiny's is very cute. It's small and cozy. The kind of place where you could easily stay for many hours. The espresso is on the better side. Good solid flavor. Tiny's is the sort of place that I want to be a regular at.

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

The Fresh Pot

3729 Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard
Portland, OR 97214


I met an old friend from New Orleans here for coffee. He introduced me to a barista also from New Orleans, and the vibe of the place felt warm. It's connected to the famous Powell's book store, which I didn't get a chance to look much at. I had a doppio and I'd give it a 7.5 out of 10. The flavor was somewhat exciting and I'd like to go back again and see if the score might be increased.

Barista

539 Northwest 13th Avenue
Portland, OR 97209


This coffee shop possesses a few qualities that I've come to associate with espresso excellence. An open, somewhat bare space. No plugs for computers. I approached the counter and noticed three espresso choices. Another indicator of superiority. The beans came from Ritual, out of San Francisco, and a few other roasters I didn't recognize. I went with a Costa Rican blend. I waited for my order to be called with heightened expectation, watching lattes with leaf art taken by the customers in front of me. Then came "Costa Rican doppio." I sat down and began to sip. It was salty, sour, savory, with a touch of something playful, but not quite sweet. I've never tasted espresso with such a range of flavor. Following the espresso, I toured the nearby Chinese Garden feeling serene and elevated.