Good Coffee

Photo from Good Coffee Website

     Waking to the daily rain drops on the window and the gray skies creating the perfect shade of background to the wood and brick buildings we were heading to, my husband and I dressed for "the gram" and headed to an appropriately named cafe. 

     Located in Slabtown, Good Coffee at 2175 NW Raleigh St, brings the hustle and bustle of city life inside. At first glance a large glass garage door remains closed on the rainy day but opened briefly during our time there to let in the cool crisp May air. We went on a late Sunday morning and were just in time for the other city goers starting their Sunday day as well. The line to order was to the door when we entered, but our wait was only long enough for me to get in two photos and a 10 second video of my husband trying to film me. 

 Pastries

     The seating was almost gone and the noise in the coffee shop reflected the amount of people enjoying their time. At the counter is a glass case just below the ordering station filled with pastries and sweets. We had already eaten breakfast, so we didn't enjoy any of the breakfast items they had out. With that being said, there is a good selection, and each piece was on the larger side providing a good item to enjoy with your beverage. We were able to find a few seats available, depending on how close you would like to be to others. In the front area of the cafe, it is wide and open to allow for customers to congregate before ordering. Just off camera to the left is bench seating with two or three tables and a handful of chairs. As you go further back into the cafe, the tables and seating become more congested, navigating through this can pose for complications for anyone with mobility issues or children.  

     On warmer days, and less rainy days, the coffee shop opens its garage door to the sidewalk, or patio as they might call it. This patio area is more open and accessible and still leaves lots of room for foot traffic to walk by without invading customers space. I’ll admit I did not see, nor did I look for bathrooms so I cannot say how accessible the restrooms are or what amenities they might have. The coffee shop is located in a communal building and I noticed an interior hallway, I would assume restrooms are through there. If my assumption is correct customers would essentially have to leave the coffee shop to find them. Overall, Good Coffee creates a "slow down and enjoy life" atmosphere. This is a coffee shop that customers want to enjoy their time and experience at. Both indoors and outdoors create spaces for individuals to enjoy their order, spend time with others and take a pause on life. Some coffee shops are made to grab and go, this one is made to sit and enjoy. 

Horchata and Matcha

     We both ordered the two most common items on the menu, an Horchata Latte and Matcha Lavender latte. Both were sweet and well made, albeit, not the best I've ever had, but I do recommend. Overall, the menu is a simple menu, covering coffee shop basics with a selection of teas. They have a seasonal menu with four or five items, but I can’t say how often they update their seasonal menu. Additionally, alternative milks are offered for the drinks they serve. I got my horchata with cow milk, but I do think an alternative milk of a little thicker consistency would give the drink the level up it needs.

     As far as pricing is concerned, most drinks on their menu range from around four dollars for a standard coffee, four dollars for tea, and six dollars for a specialty drink, with an additional charge for alternative milks. The pastries that were out for display during my visit averaged about five dollars a piece, however, size wise, they were about twice the size of what you might buy at Starbucks. On a whole the price is comparable with other coffee shops in downtown Portland. 

    Slabtown is one of my favorite parts of Portland as it meshes Portland Indie and Industrial atmospheres together. Good Coffee is a fitting reflection of the neighborhood it is in, and I would say it is worth the adventure on a sunny day to stop by the coffee shop, sit outside and admire the industrial-chic architecture. 

Good Coffee at a Glance:

• Simple, easy to chose from menu
• Medium volume
• A coffee shop made for talking
• Moderate accessibility
• Some difficult areas to navigate in the seating area
• Price: Two drinks, plus tip for $15.00