Portland
An article in the current Williamette Week takes a deep look at what makes Portland possibly the most serious coffee town in the country. Much like the surprising recent NYTimes piece, this one gets a lot right (except in reference to my bio) pointing out that there is more to this “third wave” of coffee obsessiveness than its apparent pretension:
By the same logic, of course, it’s just wine, just beer, just food, just music, just literature, just a movie, just life, just whatever. “Pretension” does not quite explain the earnestness and blue-collar commitment of Portland’s new coffee elite. Nor does it explain why, for instance, a barista from Oslo and a Nicaraguan roaster would come to Portland for educational stints at Stumptown, as is happening this fall. Something deeper is—sorry—brewing.
I always have wondered to what degree people in Portland are aware of how good they have it in the coffee department (in addition to their many other remarkable quality of life elements). It seems like we are passing through a turning point where a handful of folks in the press, some insightful foodies, and a growing army of coffeegeeks are taking notice of the potential of coffee for culinary greatness. In time, as more people get a real taste of great coffees and of (all-too-rare) great espresso, perhaps the public will come along for the ride.
Tags:
October 11th, 2006 at 5:41 pm
Hey man!
People in Portland actually have NO IDEA how good they have it. none. I am astonished when I work at the Annex how little they actually know about how special these coffee shops/roasteries are in scope of the whole country.
I try to do my part when on shift, to let them know exactly what it is we are trying to do for both coffee and the consumer every day.
I am blown away at how spoiled I am here, food, coffe, beer, books and outdoor life wise.
how things down in LA?
October 11th, 2006 at 6:20 pm
Gabe -
I’m not surprised that people take it for granted… I think there is some invisible cultural aversion to thinking about quality - some abstract egalitarian ethos that puts shit and shinola on the same playing field and questions the authenticity of separating them. The tide may never shift for most people but I’m sure there are a ton of folks out there ready to become converts.
LA is a strange place… and a strange place to learn to drive. I miss the PNW climate, but hopefully I’ll encounter some precipitation when we fly up for coffeefest.
October 13th, 2006 at 7:47 am
Welcome to Los Angeles! It is a challenging place to learn to drive. I know several non-Angelenos who’ve done it though.
If you’re feeling discouraged, try getting up early on Sunday morning and driving around. It’s a good time to learn the freeways. And you can explore without getting stuck in traffic — a much freer and more enjoyable experience than during traffic hours.
SoCal must have been a great place to drive several decades ago…
October 13th, 2006 at 6:39 pm
how long you going to be in LA?
October 13th, 2006 at 7:05 pm
as long as it takes. ;)
October 13th, 2006 at 7:23 pm
for what?
October 17th, 2006 at 9:31 am
I feel privileged to live so close what quality “3rd wave” coffee experiences I’ve got. With Andy Barnett of Ecco Café and the Flying Goat in Santa Rosa, Giya at the Blackbird Café at the Marin County, CA farmers market who uses Andy’s beans (and makes a killer cup) to Blue Bottle in San Francisco, I am thankful that I have what I have as close as it is. Which really isn’t all that close. But I’ll go far for a good beans, espresso and cappucino.
I think the aversion to quality may be an affinity for convenience and familiarity above all else. Starbucks is now a household name but it was not always so. Their quality has decreased inversely to their level of convenience.
L.A…..wooof. I feel for ya. My girlfriend’s grandparents live there, though, and I understand you are there to set up a cafe? Does this mean I will have someplace to go for my cappucino when we make that god-awful journey down I-5 to visit family?
October 19th, 2006 at 8:05 pm
I’ve been pitching editors of foodie mags on articles about what’s going on in the coffee world for years and have found this bizarre reluctance to take coffee seriously. The cuture is becoming food obsessed, yet coffee rarely figures into the equation. But slowly, slowly I sense the beginnings of change, and occasionally I find articles about coffee that I can read without cringing.
October 20th, 2006 at 7:48 am
I miss Portland. I even kind of miss the Willamette Week.
On the subject of press, though, Tonx, guess who is coming to Grumpy today (other than Doug Z and Nick C and Tim W)? Martha Stewart Freakin Living Magazine.
Also: Jessica says hello!
October 20th, 2006 at 8:01 am
Hi Jessica! :D
October 24th, 2006 at 2:30 am
Hi Tonx!
I’m looking for an email adress to reach you on regarding the possibilities to use some of your excellent photos. Please contact me so I can send you a short mail.
Regards from Norway