Stumptown Coffee Roasters

This past week found me traipsing around my hometown, Portland, Oregon, for a nice fall break from the craziness at work (and unfortunately blogging!). It was great to show a buddy around the city and get to do some of the touristy things you often ignore when in town to see family. One of the requisite stops when in town for me is none other than Stumptown Coffee Roasters on 3rd & Alder Streets in Southwest...conveniently located near the funky Voodoo Doughnuts shop. It should be self-evident that one stops to get the coffee first, then stands in line for the awesome doughnut creations...but strangely enough...most people standing in line don't seem to have coffee in hand. They are clearly not natives.

My fave is the Hair-Bender blend, which retails at about $14 for a 3/4 Lb. bag (annoying that you can't get it in a full 16oz. bag, but whatever, I frown and buy it anyway) they sell in a few places like New Seasons market or Whole Foods.  Of course some lament the fact that you can get it at these locations is indicative of them becoming a bit more main-stream...but it'll be a long time before people hear the advent of a new "Stumptown" setting up the 43rd establishment in their neighborhood and roll their eyes at the ubiquity.

Anyway, Stumptown is fab for lots of reasons...for their academic atmosphere, sponsorship of local artists, sustainable procurement practices, quality coffee drinks and funky staff, but mostly for their contribution to coffee culture in Portland (and by extension the greater Pacific NW). Coffee has always been germane to the fabric of the city, where people clip travel mugs to their packs as a matter of daily habit...but major chains like Starbucks, Seattle's Best, and even the local Coffee People kiosks have worn down the once esoteric experience of going to a coffee house into more of a pit stop at a re-fueling station. Stumptown has brought philosophy back into the coffee culture, in a great-tasting, fair trade way. The name itself embodies Portland, and I for one am quite pleased with the national press they continue to get...putting my fave city on the map for millions more to learn and experience. Happy mugs!