Is Stumptown the New Starbucks — Or Better? is the provocative title of a Time Magazine story today by Josh Ozersky.
Coffee aficionados have been asking the question over and over again: is Portland’s Stumptown coffee, the most conspicuous exponent of Coffee’s “Third Wave,” the new Starbucks?
Some of the criticisms of Starbucks expounded by Stumptown’s “charismatic founder”, Duane Sorenson and others in the article are sound. For one thing,
“Coffee beans aren’t supposed to be uniformly dark and shiny,” says John Moore, of Dallis. “Every bean has a level it’s supposed to be roasted to, so that you can taste it. Otherwise it’s like cooking all meat well done.”
And if Stumptown’s success leads to more quality coffee sellers, I’m all for it.*
Read the rest: Is Stumptown the New Starbucks — Or Better?
* I’m somewhat of a Stumptown skeptic, however, and not so sure they’ll lead the way. The proper roast and all the “improved cherry selection and a return to double fermentation” in the world is irrelevant if the coffee isn’t properly brewed from fresh grounds. Ultimately boutique roasters like Stumptown need to learn something Starbucks, or my preferred roaster Peets, have a better handle on: quality control at the cafe.
I think their espresso is great, probably the best in town… But you’re right about the service. Awful. Like “so bad I don’t care how good your espresso is” bad.
If you want great black coffee, find a place that serves courier coffee (www.couriercoffeeroasters.com) in a small French press. They used to do this a Cava when it was still open, and it was the best coffee I’d ever had bar none.
John J – For strong, consistently fresh, black coffee I go to Peet’s or make it at home. I’ve not tried Courier coffee yet; I think that’s what they have at Little Red Bike Cafe too? I’ll have to hunt down a cup.
Take THAT Pete’s!
😉
~n
I know Nick and he misspelled Peet’s Coffee on purpose. Just for the “extra Shot”.
Peets peets peets peets!!!
I would like to say I was creative enough to misspell Pete’s for effect. However, I’m not.
So suck it Pete’s! Stumptown rulz!
~n
Stumptown: another excuse for liberal art twits to work in a psuedo-elite setting where pdx fashion-f#@$s can be seen. Also see Tiny’s or any other hardly appropriate place you see monetarily capable narcissists using “damn thats a nice Apple” laptops on “free” wi-fi to… forward dire quarterly financial statements?…nope just checking facebook, giggling at youtube.
Just give me a cup of fu@%king joe – any coffee snob is a wino in socially acceptable disguise.
PS. You CAN find a peculiar creature at Stumptown. They ride colorful single-speeds and swear by pabst or hamms yet demand the best damn cup of coffee of the general consensus.
Single-speeds and drinking Pabst are now the “man-bag” for the next wave of people with lazy senses of humor.