Portland still does some things really well, and one of them is coffee. While the US woke up to decent expresso and Starbucks in the 1990s and 2000s, Portland already
Portland still does some things really well, and one of them is coffee. While the US woke up to decent expresso and Starbucks in the 1990s and 2000s, Portland already
How the Pacific Northwest Became a Coffee Paradise
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Thanks to its soggy climate, its people’s proclivity for hanging out in cafes, and the local love for mood-modifying substances, the Pacific Northwest has shaped and influenced global coffee culture for more than 50 years. It’s the birthplace of America’s obsession with the espresso shot, its ongoing love affair with cold brew, and its underlying ethos of cafe cool. You can taste it in the streets, rising like so much cappuccino foam. Across state lines and generations, visionary entrepreneurs and artisans have built the Pacific Northwest into a globally recognized hub for coffee quality, technological innovation, and espresso bar culture.