Tag Archives: portland

Coffee Shop Review

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Eater.com publishes PDX’s Best Coffeeshops and Roasters each year with an ever-growing and changing list of the newest it places and the long-standing neighborhood fixtures.  I decided to try as many places as I could and judge them all on an arbitrary scale that I, of course, made up just now.

Here’s how it works:
Each category is scored 1-5.  Scores are added and divided by number of categories to give an overall ranking.  And the categories are…

Decor (tables, chairs, lighting, do-dads)
Ambience (is it a place you want to hang out in)
Location (parking, neighborhood)
Ease of ordering / seating (is there a crazy line, plenty of seating, is it hard to figure out who takes your order)
Price (1 being most expensive)
Innovation (stand apartedness)
Food offerings
Taste (double scored out of 10)
Presentation
Pretentiousness (1 being highest)

The obvious ones on the list have also made top coffee shop lists when compared to others in the US.  These are Stumptown, Coava, Barista, and Water Avenue.  The not-so-obvious ones on the list are Extracto, Heart Coffee, Bipartisan, Case Study, Satellite (because I was in New Mexico,) Christopher David, Either/Or, Fresh Pot, and Sterling Roasters.

Coava is the leader in presentation and innovation, being one of the only coffeshops in Portland to brew all coffee through the Chemex slow drip system.  They’ve perfected simplicity, not even bothering to offer additional accoutrements that might dull the flavor of their exceptional cup.  Water Ave Coffee is my pic for taste, presentation, and lack of pretentiousness, offering a beautifully roasted and brewed cup in the southeast industrial area steps from the waterfront.  A gleaming neon sign that reads “COFFEE” lures patrons in like moths to the flame.  Stumptown is a staple, winning almost every category everywhere and being one of the only local Portland Roasts to go mainstream.  The problem is, there are too many Stumptown coffeeshops and too many coffeeshops that serve Stumptown to award them as my pick for best coffeeshop, so I *politely* deny their application.  Bipartisan is my standard, go-to coffeeshop every time, always.  It’s delicious (Stumptown) coffee, they always have the latest Willamette Week, and I like their food.  Extracto and Heart Coffee were my lowest scores.  Heart because my mediocre 12 ounce Hazelnut Mocha was $6.50, making it the most expensive drink I tried.  Extracto because it seemed like it was trying too hard to be hipster and the taste didn’t outweigh the enormous sigh rom the baristas.  I tried the Fluer Noir vanilla latte at Case Study Coffee and was blown away by the rich depth of flavor and the eccentric decor.  Christopher David had similar scores in decor, for much different reasons.  They share their space with an amazing homegoods retailer, which translates into thinking you’re drinking delicious coffee in your cool (rich) friend’s living room.  But my pick, the winning overall score for best coffeeshop in Portland is …. STERLING ROASTERS.

I walked right past Sterling Roasters on my way to find it.  The tiny, 300 square foot space is the smallest coffee shop in Portland, and maybe the world.  There is room for about 10 people total outside of the employees who are dressed in bow ties and aprons.  They look like old-timey barkeeps who are perpetually wiping down the bar and slinging the towel over their shoulder.  You would think this would translate into higher than average pretentiousness, but you’d be wrong.  I asked a couple of questions about the offerings and was treated to a wealth of information about the operation, roasting capacity, bean origin, architectural details, and got to sample a couple different roasts for the day.  I decided to get a cappuccino, which was on the more expensive side, but it was definitely a treat.  If you’re in the mood for delicious coffee, but need more space, they also feature their micro blended roasts at Coffeehouse Northwest.

 

January – Coffee Month

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It feels like I have a beverage related month about once a year… Wine, cider, and now coffee. It’s cold and rainy this January and I want to curl up with a warm cup of joe. Good thing I live in a town filled with some of the best local roasters – Stumptown and Water Ave are the current favorites, but there are so many more to try! I hope to use some new brewing techniques (Chemex and the trusty French press) to brew some amazing cups. Then, I’ll pin Portland’s best against other cities in a (completely biased) death match. May the best (Portland) win!

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Best Of – Cider

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cider sorbetI know I just had Cider Month in October, but my favorite artisan ice creamery Salt and Straw has a Bushwhacker Spiced Cider Sorbet.  As I’m sure you all remember, I visited the Bushwhacker tasting room for Ciderfest and it was fantastic!  The sorbet was just as incredible.  How could it not be?  Mixing ice cream and booze is always a good combination.

Best of – Running

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Running Month was more like 2. Marpril of 2011. When I went from being winded after running 30 seconds to being able to run a very slow, extremely arduous 5k. Win! In October of that same year, I ran the Portland Half Marathon in 2 hours 15 minutes. Running has never been easy for me. Shin splints and allergies kept me and running at arms length for most of my life. It was something I loathed. Why would I need to run when there will be hover chairs in a few short years?? Eventually a daily allergy pill and specially fitted running shoes would eliminate all my excuses. Except for laziness. That will *always* be a valid excuse.

So I started the Couch to 5k training program and eventually began to love it. The quiet street with soggy leaves under my feet. The treadmill at 11pm with only me and the cleaning lady. The bridges and streets up ahead and far behind. The focused calm of my mind. It was something I craved. My legs would get restless and my mind would wander and I knew I needed to run. I’m still not good at it. A 10 minute mile is my personal best. I’ll go months without running and then, all of a sudden, feel this urge that won’t dissipate. So, for Best Of Month, I wanted to run a whole 5k without walking. It took me 4 tries, but I finally did it in 35 minutes. My new goal for 2014 is to run another half in under 2 hours

A Poem About Bikes In Downtown Portland

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i take to the night in cadences unexplored
i do not pioneer or arrive in prime
it feels a sort of slither,
a waltz swung out of time
a dog that catches his own tail
an eighth of a measure
before the metronome breaks the spell.

tonight is a magpie stood in front of a mirror, wondering
how handsome
how black
how near

the wind rushes
(but I do not)
my patience is rewarded
and the city bows at my request,
its green lights flowing
to the emperor in my chest.

of the somnambulisms that I wander there is one I cherish most,
its path a plain, pinched charity to its walking, waking host.

 

Scott Baker, PBM

Bike Ride – VI

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Last ride of the month.  Time to go big.  Want to get more than 20 miles in one shot.  It’ll be my longest bike ride yet.  I bring along PBM just in case his personal bike mechanic skills are required and also because he’s kinda cool.

Meet him outside PAM and jet across the river to hop on the Springwater Corridor.  This is a bike/hike/walk path that starts on the Eastbank Esplanade and goes all the way to Gresham.  It’s a really easy path, crosses intersections rarely and has very minimal elevation changes.

We take it out to mile marker 12.5 so that we can hit an even 25 miles.  This was around SE 128th Street.  Not quite to Gresham, but good enough for me.  Took a short water break and headed back to town.

mile post 12.5

 

On the way back, PBM commented that it was nice to take it slow and have time to take in the scenery.  I was pretty sure we were going fast until that point.  My legs felt a bit like jell-o and every time we had to stop, it was increasingly more difficult to start up again.  The ass pain was back and I shifted frequently to find a more comfortable position that didn’t exist.

When I got home and mapped our route, it turned out to be 25.97 miles in a little over 2.5 hours.  I was almost slightly heartbroken that it didn’t reach the marathon length, but I guess that’s a goal for next time.  25.97 miles is a new record for me.  A record that signifies the distance my own exerted energy can take me in literal miles.  My own exerted energy has taken me a lot of places and has done a lot of amazing things, but this is a quantifiable figure.  An immediate gratification for a thoughtful and physical endeavor.  And it wasn’t that hard.  I can do two times that distance, after a bit more practice I imagine.

Cyclepedia

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Went to the bike exhibit at the Portland Art Museum this morning.  Pretty excited there just so happens to be a bike exhibit during bike month.  It’s the first time I’ve ever been to an exhibit here and was surprised at the $15 admission fee.  The exhibit took up one very large room and had 40 different bikes hanging from the ceiling with descriptions of how they broke the bike mold or influenced different trends.

I was hoping for more.  I had thought it would be an evolution of the bicycle.  Not to say that it wasn’t informative and cool to see, because it was.  There were several bikes built to fold in half or more to be used as carry-on luggage or be hurled out of an airplane for military use.

PAM Cyclepedia

 

That yellow tandem “buddy bike” can only be used with two people.  The one on the left controls the steering even though they both have independent handlebars.  There was also one so rare and priceless that was blinged out with a gold chain.  So fancy!

biria unplugged

Bike Ride – V

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Time for the true test: Bike through the city to downtown Portland.  I’ll admit I’m still a little apprehensive about riding a bike downtown and on busy streets, even though most have a bike lane.  But I decide today is the day.  And there’s no crying in bike-riding.

I take a slightly longer route through back streets to avoid traffic and the possibility of being mauled by soccer moms.  It takes me about 45 minutes to travel the 8 miles to PBM’s place.  After an hour or so, it gets super dark and starts to sprinkle, so I decide to catch the bus back.  This time, I’m prepared.  I know exactly how to finagle the hardware latches and mechanisms necessary to secure my precious cargo.  I go through the motions in my head before the bus arrives, mapping out each move before I make it and how that move will impact the next.  I’ve calculated the time it will take from start to finish, even with a slight cushion to compensate for rain and slippery hands.  When the bus pulls up, it’s game time.  I’ve been practicing for this exact moment in my head for at least the last 45 seconds.  Minimum.  Grab the top handle, squeeze, pull down.  Done.  Lift the bike into the tracks.  Boom.  Pull the rubber arm over the front wheel.  Uh, nailed it.  I wiped my hands together in the universal sign for “job well done” and proudly ascended the steps to my chariot.  This, my friends, was a much different experience from my previous attempt at bus/bike riding where all I felt was shame and defeat.

I paid the man the standard fare, finger-snap-pointed to one passenger, high-fived another, and dance-walked to a seat in the back.  Well, I would have done that if I didn’t instantly realize that I was on a bus populated with people who gave up on life and the celebration of small wins long ago.  So, I grabbed a seat and played on my phone like everyone else.  

By the time I got to my stop, it was straight up raining.  No more dainty sprinkles.  This was big ass rain.  Which supplied me with my very first bike ride in the rain.  It was very slippery and (thankfully) only 2 blocks.  And I don’t recommend it to anyone riding without a helmet and/or bike lights.  Seriously.  That shit is dangerous.

Bike Ride – Part III

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So, I’m feeling pretty confident in my bike fixing skills.  I think I can manage another long ride before it’s professionally adjusted.  I decide to go before work to find the path that leads down to Marine Drive, a street that follows the Columbia River and has a path down by the water.

I set off from the house with about 3 hours before I have to be home to get ready for work.  It’s a beautiful ride, mostly downhill from my house and I dread the trek back up.  But for now, it’s amazing.  I finally come to Marine Dr.  It’s only about a 15 minute ride from my house and it goes off in both directions.  It’s a beautiful morning when the sun is out but it’s still overcast enough to not be too hot.  It was incredible!  Riding along the flat path next to the river, I lost track of how far I’d come and how long it would take me to get back home.  I just wanted to keep riding.

And then this happened.

broke down bike

I was about 8 miles from home.  And I had to be to work in 2 hours.  And the items I had in my possession were my cell phone, debit card, and ID.

This would have been the perfect time for my squatter housemate to come and save the day.  An ideal moment for redemption.  If there ever was a good time to have someone living in your house rent free with no job and minuscule responsibilities would come in handy, it is right.fucking.now.  However, most opportunities for “being in the right place at the right time” or “coming to the rescue”  or even “being a good guy” have been lost on him in the past and continue to evade his nonchalant approach to life.  Most of you might be asking me, “why would you write such terrible things about a person you’ve been friends with for 13 years?”  To that, I say, A.) You don’t know him.  B.) I know he will never read this because he doesn’t care about the things his friends care about unless they coincide with the things he cares about.  This is not one of them.  And finally C.) You don’t know him.

After several phone calls and text messages, I decide to seek alternate means of transportation.  I need to find an ATM so I can catch the bus.  I’m in a very industrial part of town and there aren’t a lot of businesses or ATMs around.  But I do happen to be on a bus line that will take me directly home so I walk and walk and walk until I find a convenience store.  I pull out $20 (with a $2.50 service charge) and take it to the counter to buy a $1.75 water so I can get exact change for the bus.  I figure out when the bus is coming and head to the nearest stop.  It’s been 2.5 miles since my chain broke.  I’m tired.  My feet hurt.  Some dude just yelled at me while driving by.  I just want to get on the bus and get home before I’m late for work.

The bus pulls up and the bike rack on front is empty.  I was secretly hoping there would be another bike there to guide me on how to secure mine properly, but there was nothing!  What do I do?!?  I forced a forgiving smile and leaned my head through the door and said, “hey! This is the first time I’m hooking my bike up.”  He was not impressed.  He sighed audibly and quickly gave me directions while his eyes made at least one complete rotation in his skull.  I attempted to follow the directions but when it took longer than he deemed appropriate, he honked at me, yelled at me, and made inconclusive gestures with his hands through the windshield.  Blowing on it, or turning it off and back on won’t work in this scenario.  Thanks for nothing, Nintendo.

I finally figured it out, with very little actual help and a lot of exasperation from the bus driver.  I sank into my seat.  Holding my head down and keeping my sunglasses on to hide the shame and defeat of the day.  Hiding the tears welling up in my eyes and thinking about how different this morning had seemed.  How a bike can give you freedom and exhilaration.  And a moment later, take it all away and leave you stranded, publicly shamed, and nearly late to work.

Tool Library

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Portland is the most amazing place in the world.  Seriously.  Obviously I love the amount of weirdness (like the guy who rides a unicycle and plays bagpipes dressed as Santa and Darth Vader,) the fact that brunch is an art form (bacon Bloody Mary, anyone?) and the constant electricity of people actually *doing* things (after a couple bacon Bloody Mary’s, of course.)  But, the Tool Library is a very special breed of place that can only exist in a town that is dedicated to activism, volunteerism, community, and general cheapskatery.

I need a saw to make my daybed and I don’t want to buy one just to use on the rare occasion that I decide to make something that cannot be cut with sharp scissors.  So, I decide to check it out.

tool library

The Tool Library is a backroom with no windows in the side of a church that also hosts yoga classes and organ lessons in their respective backrooms.  It’s open for two hours on Tuesday nights and Saturday mornings.  You have to provide an ID and mail that proves that you live in the area.  This gives you rights to borrow anything you want for a week.  If you don’t bring it back within that 7 days, you pay a fine of $1-$2 depending on the tool you borrow. Uh, awesome!  They have tools for gardening, automotive, contracting, and general home maintenance.  I choose a miter saw and a long extension cord.