Breakfast at Starbucks? No thank you! How about...

Why not Starbucks?

Starbucks is highly overrated.  I remember seeing a Seattle's Best Coffee in town, then a couple months later, Starbucks had taken over.

It isn't a bad place to go for coffee, but there are better places.  These places are local and organic.  The people are knowledgeable about where they get their coffee beans from and how it's grown.  Do you know where your cup of coffee came from?

Where should we go to get our Breakfast instead of Starbucks? 

Portland has a huge variety of coffee shops in town.  Most also have WiFi, for business people and students.  But each cafe have a unique aspect to it.  Some focus on pastries, some on coffee itself.  Where should you go to find some breakfast? That's a great question. 

5 Different Coffee Shops in Downtown Portland

Nuvrei Cafe and Pastries 

Located on 404 NW 10th Ave on East side of Downtown, Portland.  This cafe has catering and a cafe menu with simple coffee and tea on the drink menu along with a huge cafe menu.  The menu consists

of sandwiches, baked goods, bagels, salads (for both breakfast and lunch). 

Besides having breakfast and lunch, they're also famous for their "mac bar," which is a macaroon bar t hat has about 10 varieties of macaroon flavors.

Stumptown Coffee Roasters 

Stumptown currently has six headquarters in Portland.  Also located in
Seattle, Los Angeles, and New York.  In Portland, it is located on
Ace Hotel, 1026 SW Stark Street.  Stumptown visit their coffee farms 2-3 times a year, which is amazing because they can experience the process of where the coffee beans come from.  They also offer 16 coffee seed varieties and also brewing kits! It is amazing because you can go to the people and question them about how to brew and they will know how off the top of their head.  They're experienced baristas.  And their website gives you brewing guides that you can follow as well.

Case Study Coffee Roasters

So, this place always had me interested from the outside of the building.  Located on 802 SW 10th Ave, Portland,  I notice so many students and business people were going there while I was walking by.  It came to my conclusion that this is a great place to meet with a group of people.  It is very spacious with many tables and chairs.  And almost in the center is where the Barrister is.  

Case Study does seasonal brews, what is in season is going to be brewed.  They do have a variety of house syrups, in example, a chocolate ganache, or an aged bourbon caramel.  

They've also explored where their coffee comes from, Columbia.  It is amazing to know that these people are able to experience the root of coffee.  Being able to connect with the process and how it is grown is just fantastic.

Group of Case Study Employers traveled to Columbia to see their Coffee Bean Farm.

Spella Caffe

Located on 520 SW 5th Avenue, Portland.  Spella Caffe has such a simple menu.  Espresso, macchiato, and cappuccino, Italian style. They are known for their "Hand pulled" espressos, meaning the espresso is produced in high pressure, no steam.  Spella Caffe's beans are also artisan roasted, and also offers gelato (ice cream), pastries, and teas.  This cafe has very limited hours.  Not open weekends, M-F 7:30 AM - 3:30 PM only.  It is a tiny space as well.  Those are the only downfalls.  But their experience of crafting a cup of coffee is outstanding.  Many reviews state that they're experience was worth wild.  Most do talk about the Chai Tea, how it doesn't taste like syrup, and really taste like loose leafs that was freshly brewed.  

Public Domain

At the crossing of Broadway and Alder Street in downtown Portland, Public  Domain is quite a popular cafe.  This place offers handcrafted espresso drinks and daily tastings from long time roasters.  Their coffee origin is from Sumatra (seasonal), along with 4 different blends that they do; house, Prometheus, public domain, and cold brew blends.  I forgot to note that this cafe is owned by Coffee Bean International as well.  This cafe hasn't been open long, but recently been an interest to people and how they brew their coffee.  It is a different technique, but many can still figure out (if you know the different ways to "pull").  

Each cafe's have their own techniques and uniqueness in each barrister.  They not only connect with their coffee, but also the guests.  Each place have absolute customer service and are always entertaining to watch when waiting.  Portland has many, many more cafes around town that can be explored!  It's just amazing how one little town can have so much going on at once.