CC: The Coffee Plant

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What's does "CC" mean?

Subject: Coffee Plant

Location visited: Portland, OR
[downtown location]
Free WiFi ? : yes
Rating: 5+ [see key]



Downtowns rarely seem to have good coffeehouses. Blame it on the rent, but of the many cities I've had the pleasure of visiting, only a handful sport decent coffee.

Naturally, Portland is one of such exceptions, sporting quite a few within the downtown vicinity. My most recent Portland downtown encounter was a place called the Coffee Plant. Operated by dedicated locals to provide a coffee oasis amidst the downtown bustle, this cafe has been going strong since 2003.

I blew in one blustery afternoon to their oasis. The cafe has a mini-mall entrance as well as a street entry, both leading to their two story interior, speckled with an old tile floor and arrayed with a nice assortment of seating.

Coffee Plant uses local Stumptown for their coffee. That afternoon I ordered shots of Hairbender and a drip of Honduras Finca El Puente. The drip held notes of deep cocoa, honey, wheat, tobacco a tingle of granola and a smack of whiskey; a swell coffee though it was a bit stale that day. The espresso, pulled short with nice crema, blasted dark chocolate porter, paprika, lemon, almond and a smudge of black cherry (all together, great). The tea came from Stumptown and Mighty Leaf.

Aside from the freshness of their drip that day, Coffee Plant proved the refreshing watering hole they aim to be. If you're in downtown Portland, take root at the Coffee Plant.

CC: Cupcake Royale/Verite Coffee

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What's does "CC" mean?

Subject: Cupcake Royale / Verite Coffee

Location visited: Seattle, WA
[Pike St location]
Free WiFi ? : yes
Rating: 5+ [see key]



Personally, I have never been a big fan of cupcakes. In my youth, they were the cheap and easy-maintenance solution for birthday parties or classroom festivities. Sure I never turned one down, but I never had one that made me crave another.

That changed with my visit to Cupcake Royale and Verite Coffee in Seattle. Always curious of venues doing more then the normal coffeehouse routine, I slotted the dynamic duo of cupcakes and coffee for a pleasant after-dinner treat one fine Saturday eve.

Sauntering up to their neon-lit storefront, I peered in through their huge windows to the bustling interior. The cafe consists of a large, white counter smack in the middle, with seating and nifty portraits surrounding.

The coffee served is Stumptown, with both the espresso and the drip that night being Hairbender. The espresso, pulled short with nice crema, had flavors of sweet cocoa, whiskey, cherry, a little saltiness and a little tobacco (overall a good showing). The drip was a little stale but still provided a decent cup, with notes of honey, beef broth, black tea and a bit of tobacco. I did not note the tea but as I hinted above, my cupcake sent ripples of euphoria through my nervous system (I would have had another, had I the strength).

To put it mildly, I relished my cupcake and coffee experience, with the staleness in the drip being my only criticism. If you happen to be in Seattle and in need of a cupcake and coffee, stop in to Cupcake Royale and Verite Coffee.

CC: Lazy Bean Cafe

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What's does "CC" mean?

Subject: Lazy Bean Cafe

Location visited: Teaneck, NJ
Free WiFi ? : yes
Rating: 4+ [see key]



Driving around the choked land of the coffee chain, the northeast seems to occasionally daunt my hopes of finding a decent place in my travels. But even when the skies seem the darkest, a good place is always just over the horizon.

In the land of Teaneck, I learned of a local outfit who sported a Clover ("they" don't have them all...yet). Granted, I heard little about Lazy Bean's roasting or skills, but a place willing to put out close to $10K for a coffeemaker hopefully has something to showcase.

So with a little navigational trouble (when the letter "R" is dashed on the back of a street number, it means it is located in the rear), I found the cafe on the back end of a supermarket. Inside, the cafe is rich in purples and grays, sported a nice wood floor and all together, had a pleasant atmosphere.

Lazy Bean roasts their own coffee, leaning towards a darker roasts as evidenced by their beans on display. I ordered an espresso as well as their Panama (a medium roast) via Clover. The Panama produced flavors of natural yogurt, caramel, a bit of grass, bran and cinnamon. The brew proved smooth and overall, a delicious coffee.

The espresso unfortunately wasn't as pleasant. The shots were pulled short but the crema was really milkshake-ish, headlining with a strong bitterness and a burnt flavor up front, followed by notes Dr. Pepper and tobacco. Looking at their grinder, the beans were a little too dark and combined with what seemed like less-then-optimal preparation, the espresso had little to offer. The tea is Tazo.

In the end, it seemed like Lazy Bean has decent potential (and the right equipment) to become a mighty coffee contender; just a few tweaks in a couple of areas could be all the difference. But who knows what the future holds.

Regardless, if you are looking for a decent coffee in Teaneck, give Lazy Bean Cafe a whirl.

Life Enhancement

To one and all, I apologize for the lag in content. We just got a wondrous new addition to our family and it's been a long week of adjustments.

I plan on posting early this week. Thanks for reading!

CC: Water Avenue Coffee

Subject: Water Avenue Coffee
Location: Portland, OR
Free WiFi ? : yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

While I consider myself a big outdoors person, I really savor old, industrial areas within cities, especially ones that have been revitalized to serve a residential or commercial purpose. One of my top picks is Portland's Southeast Industrial District, not just because it's a pleasant place to stroll but also because it has great coffee.

The coffeehouse I refer to is Water Avenue Coffee. A relative newcomer, having just opened their doors only months ago, their venue initially bedazzled me with their gorgeous wood counters (made from a local, reclaimed tree), huge neon sign (inside) and open space.

With quite the qualified staff, I was practically chomping at the bit to try out their coffee. That particular day Water Ave had their El Salvador as both their espresso and french pressed coffee, and even though I'm a fan of variety in my coffee selection, I'm also pretty flexible, so I went with the flow.

The espresso, pulled short with a nice crema, held tart apple, a smattering of cocoa, a little lemon candy, some whiskey and a bit of peach (very good). The french press had similar sweetness, but more akin to honey as well as some earthy notes, flecks of wheat grass and glazed walnuts. I would agree with their claim on the website that denotes that this coffee has a "versatile profile." The tea was not noted.

Yet another gem in Portland's coffee crown. Make Water Avenue a stop on your route.