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Coffee shops offer various spaces to consume caffeine

September 17, 2010

World Cup Coffee Roasters 2/5

As Portland coffee shops go, the Powell’s branch of World Cup Coffee is distinctly underwhelming. The company does know how to make a decent cup of coffee, but the Powell’s space is glaringly flawed. It does not feel like a coffee shop, and little has been done to making it feel like one. Powell’s is a great place to be if you are shopping for books, and if you have a hankering for a cup of coffee while you are lost between its shelves, World Cup Coffee will meet your needs. However, if you are looking for a good cup of coffee and don’t need to go to Powell’s there are far better places. 
Food Options: Scones, danishes, biscuits and cookies from $1.75-3.00
Prices: Latte 8oz $2.75, 12oz $3.00 and 16oz $3.50
1005 West Burnside (inside Powell’s)
Open 9 a.m.-11 p.m. daily.

 

Stumptown Coffee Roasters 3/5
Stumptown Coffee has gained national acclaim for the excellence of its coffee, and the space it shares with the Ace hotel is meticulously designed down to the most intricate details. Stumptown’s largest flaw is that it is a victim of its own success. Stumptown is far from reaching the level of industrial-chic that plagues Starbucks, but its details are too polished and too thought-out. This results in a beautifully designed establishment that serves excellent coffee, but lacks the charm of its smaller and less well-funded competitors.
Food Options: Scones, cinnamon rolls, bagels and assorted pastries $1.50-3.00
Pricing: Latté 8oz $2.80, 12oz $3.10 and 16oz $3.40
1026 SW Stark (space shared with Ace Hotel)
 Open 6 a.m.-9 p.m. daily.

 

Urban Grind 4/5

A placard on the coffee bar at Urban Grind reads that coffee should be “black as night, hot as hell, and strong as love.” Their cappuccino does not necessarily meet these standards, given the thick layer of steamed milk atop it, but it does manage to pull off a full-bodied flavor. Urban Grind has bright green walls that are mellowed by the deep browns of the building’s furnishings, and the wall art has a soft and welcoming feel. The space is perfect for doing work, and possesses a healthy balance of comfort and class, whilst managing to stay down-to-earth in its presentation.
Food Options: Salads starting at $5.50, panini and soups starting at $5.00 and $2.75 respectively
Pricing: Cappuccino 12oz $2.75 and 16oz $3.25
911 NW 14th Ave
Open M-F 6 a.m.-8 p.m., Sat-Sun 7 a.m.-8 p.m.

 

Backspace 4/5

Backspace has character. It is an amalgam of an art gallery, coffee shop, performance space and  computer repair center, and the line between these blend, making it hard to define its primary function. Backspace brews its coffee from Stumptown beans, resulting in an excellent, but not particularly unique cup. Where Backspace really stands out is in the small details. Somewhere between the Ripley’s Believe It Or Not pinball machine, the vibrant wall art, and the sense of rough comfort exuded by the rawness of its architecture, the customer is given a coffee-drinking experience that stands out from the rest.
Food Options: Quesadillas $4.50-6.00, salads $4.50-7.70 and vegan and non-vegan sandwiches $6.00-8.50
Pricing: Latte 8oz $2.75, 12oz $3.25 and 16oz $3.50
115 NW 5th Ave,
Open M-F 7 a.m.-12 a.m., Sat-Sun 10 a.m.-12 a.m.