Portland Coffee Tour Stop 28: Rocky Butte Espresso Bar
April 10th, 2022:
https://goo.gl/maps/i3WDozReUUs6aLweA
One thing about me is that I’m a bit of a nerd when it comes to knowing all of the different neighborhoods in Portland, and what it is that I like about each one. So when I come across one on my list in an area that I never really go to, it’s pretty exciting because it feels like an even more interesting adventure. Rocky Butte Espresso Bar is located in NE which is the area I live in, but further east towards 205 (which doesn’t mean a whole lot if you’re not from the area). So it is in the Cully neighborhood, and kind of a hidden gem in the sense that the shop is kind of tucked away in a storefront with a few other stores. BUT, I found it, and it in fact had parking which was pretty great. It’s a really neat space; pretty large, definitely oriented towards sitting inside, and there’s a designated spot for an open mic as seen below. I talked with the owner a bit, and he said that he started this shop in part because the neighborhood didn’t really have a gathering space like this. I just love that.
Their coffee menu was pretty standard and nonfussy. He recommended a iced latte with a shot of vanilla syrup (which sounded great because I was going to work a weekend shift after and needed the espresso), and I thought it was super solid and tasty, and I could tell that the espresso they used was high quality! It looks like the owners source all of their own coffee beans, and based on the info from the owner/their website, this is a really ethically run and wonderful small business to support. I think the most unique feature of this place is their emphasis on being a community gathering space; they do everything from Magic the Gathering meetings, to fundraisers, to taco potlucks. I think this is a great shop if you’re having a larger group gathering of some kind, and/or you want to support a small neighborhood owned business! It was an excellent experience.
