Portland Coffee Shop - Finding Your Place Through a Cup of Joe

Any Portland local will rave to you about the distinctiveness of each neighborhood that shapes this city. Every area has its own certain type of inhabitant, its own group of restaurants, and of course, its own particular cafés. These cafés not only all feature the coffee that is deemed necessary by Portlanders for survival, but they are simple and pure definitions of the neighborhoods that give them a home. A discovery of any of the following cafés is an in-depth study of the neighborhoods surrounding them.

-Ugly Mug (8017 SE 13th Ave )– Located in Sellwood, known for its antique stores and family focused community, the Ugly Mug is without a doubt a clearly established local neighborhood joint; one can even keep a tab. Outside sits a metal, skeletal construction of a coffee cup, not merely a public art installation, but an ingenious bike rack inviting those fresh off their morning ride. Art in the café changes every month, and has an underground, young feel to it. Holding true to its name, a collection of mugs, though not all ugly, lines the wall on a shelf that sits about nine feet up from the floor. A cup of plain old black coffee comes directly from the French Press, giving it a strong kick. Those who come often enough show their “Frequently Ugly” card with pride, their 12th drink free. On the couches and at the tables sit a varied blend of people, representative of the local community. A college student working diligently on her computer, a business-man in line before headed to the office and a bike rider with his helmet removed and on the table in front of him.

-Créma Bakery and Café (2728 SE Ankeny St)- The up and coming trendy neighborhood in the area close to Ankeny and Burnside is unquestionable. Apartment prices have risen and skinny design students flock to drink their espresso in this high-ceilinged corner building. At the same time, however, Créma, easily defined as a trendy joint of Portland, has a distinct European feel. With a mix of techno type smooth lounge music beating in the background, nearly everyone sips their black espresso with an equally black laptop in front of them. Outside first dates between beautiful people are taking place. Despite the newer and trendier feel of Créma, at no time does it feel pretentious, and the overwhelming calm of Portland is always at home. So sit down, order a panini and slip into Portland’s flashier side.

-Portland Coffee House ¬(603 SW Broadway and 2511 SE Belmont St)– A Portland coffee institute, there is a downtown and Belmont location, both living up to their neighborhood standards. The downtown location features the perfect coffee break for shopping fanatics as well as local employees of the financial district. Relaxed, but at the same time with a view of busy Broadway, this is a good break from the otherwise infested area of national chain coffee shops. PCH (as it is known to locals) is even more at home in Belmont, a neighborhood known for its left-wing, vegetarian cuisine loving inhabitants. The furniture is mismatched but comfortable, and most of the pastries are vegan.

-Costello’s Travel Café (2222 NE Broadway)– The international ambiance of Costello’s is clear. The active and lively NE café regularly features live world music and international movie nights. Two TV screens hang on the walls, showing city scenes, from specific select world cities that change every day. Depending on the day one can visit Amsterdam, Istanbul or New Delhi. It is also a Saturday morning hot spot for the local older intellectual crowd reading the New York or London Times.

-World Cup Coffee and Tea House (Located in Powell’s City of Books at 1005 W Burnside)– Portland loves to read, and the combination of this love with its first (caffeine) could not be any more apparent than at the in-house café at Powell’s. The enormous legendary bookstore, which can takes days to explore, features a small and cozy café in the back part of the store behind the fiction section. An optimal place for bookworms, as literary works that need to be perused before purchase are welcome. Free music and literary magazines line the counters facing the windows. Bus your own table and put all books not to be purchased back on the shelving cart! If on the East side of the river and in need of a similar book and coffee combination, try Second Cup (3723 SE Hawthorne Blvd), the café of the Hawthorne Powell’s location. It’s the same scene with a few more vegan brownies to fit the local crowd.

Article By Anna Brones, intercrossings.net

[Image By Cheesebikini, fickr]