Alina Rosenkranz |
Whether we have been on one or not, we’ve all heard of “Pub Crawls.” For those under 21 or who prefer caffeine to alcohol, there are still ways to indulge: In this coffee shop crawl, I putthe espressos and lattes of four North Portland coffee places to the test.
No Wave Coffee (3 Stars)
This is one of the closest coffee places to campus and it is the cheapest of the four places I went to. I paid $2.50 for an espresso and $4 for a large latte. Both were fine but nothing special, which basically sums up my experience at No Wave Coffee. They exhibit some art, have a small place for kids to play and offer a selection of Odwalla smoothies, fruits, bagels and muffins. They opened about 3 months ago and have potential to improve.
Address:
7510 N Portsmouth Ave
Portland, OR 97203
0.7 miles from campus.
Cathedral (4 Stars)
What makes Cathedral special is its very unique and colorful design, which includes many wood elements mixed with antique and modern furniture. I paid $3 for an espresso which came with a small glass of water, like it is supposed to, and $4.25 for a large latte. The latte I had at Cathedral was my personal favorite since it was creamy and sort of sweet (without sugar). They also offer food and pastries — I recommend trying the Banana Bread.
Website:
http://www.cathedralcoffee.com
Address:
7530 N Willamette Blvd
Portland, OR 97203
1.2 miles from campus.
Arbor Lodge Coffee (4 Stars)
Arbor Lodge Coffee is seemingly always crowded, but if you can find a spot it’s worth it. I paid $2.75 for an espresso (I could choose from two options) and it came with a small glass of sparkling water. The large latte was $4.25 and came with heart shaped milk froth. Arbor Lodge Coffee also offers sweet and salty food options. They have the best almond croissants I’ve ever had. Wooden tables and a regularly changing art exhibition give this place a typical Portland touch and round up an overall good experience.
Website:
http://thearborlodge.com
Address:
1507 N Rosa Parks Way
Portland, OR 97217
2.3 miles from campus.
St. John’s Coffee Roasters (5 Stars)
As the name suggests, St. John’s Coffee Roasters roast their coffee beans themselves. But this is not the only thing that makes this place outstanding. The coffee place also includes a florist, which creates a unique atmosphere. For both the espresso ($2.25) and latte ($4.00) I could choose between a dark and a medium roast. I chose the medium roast for both and liked the espresso I got here the best. Very friendly baristas and some food options that include croissants and bagels added to the overall great experience and convinced me that this is a coffee place everyone ought to try out.
Website:
http://stjohnscoffee.com
Address:
7304 N Leavitt Avenue
Portland, OR 97203
2.1 miles from campus.
Alina Rosenkranz is a reporter for The Beacon. She can be reached at rosenkra17@up.edu.
