Albina Press
Category: Coffee & Tea [Edit]
Neighborhood: North Portland4637 North Albina Avenue
Portland, OR 97214 (503) 282-5214
- Price Range: $
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Wi-Fi: Free
21 Reviews for Albina Press
Upon placing my order the definitely gay bearded fellow that looks malnutritioned and completely fucked up on whatever pain pills his tips can afford, completely ignored everything I was saying to say hello to another friend that walked in and was obviously more important than I was. After about 3 or 4 minutes of chatting, he rolled his eyes back at me as if I were bothering him to ask for my order...AGAIN.
The coffee itself was not bad but the attitude of the employees was not that great. The best time to go is in the afternoon when the "not-so-cool" kids work and you get a bit more attention and knowledge about what you are drinking and your drink is made by a barista that wants to give you the best drink they can offer.
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I came here for the Stumptown coffee.
The chocolate-croissant was so-so. I've been spoiled by North Beach.
The Americano was delish-delish, but the "double espresso" my boo ordered looked like a mini-single shot. (And I was a barista in a past life. I understand what a proper, 25-to-30 second shot is supposed to entail.)
There was a definite "hipster" vibe here. It was a little intimidating when they (rather forcefully) asked us the sizes we requested.
"Well, I don't know. There's only one price on your sign back there."
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I made the trip out to Albina Press today based on the 4.5 star rating. I definitely like the feel of the place, my latte is delicous, and the baristas were friendly (although not overly so). I love that they have several couches (although I didn't get to actually sit on one) in addition to plenty of tables and chairs. But here's my one big complaint. It's fucking loud in here. I can't even tell exactly what all the noise is, the music isn't all that loud, nobody's talking too loud, but still, I can barely think. I'll definitely give it another try, probably not on a saturday afternoon, but if it's always this loud I'm out.
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The Albina Press is a place I'm not able to get to terribly often, but my god, the coffee is amazing. Even when it seems like they've poured the cappuccino a little too wet for my ordinary tastes, its flavor is practically unmatched elsewhere. Stumptown should be proud to have so caring of purveyors of their espresso. I don't know if they have food, I don't really care! The espresso is among the best shot in the city.
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Came here for an art reception. The photography by Betsy was really great.
I didn't sample the coffee but can only imagine it is really good since its Stumptown coffee.
What I really liked about this place was the space. It was really nice. Hardwood floors. A room in the back with a comfy sofa.
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yes.
JUST YES.
This is a coffee shop I will cross the bridge for.
yes - I know about their National barrista awards.
yes - I know about their Stumptown coffee.
yes - Ivana is currently enjoying their abundant free parking.
And while I don't mean to discount those things, in my opinion there is one fantastic element that Albina Press has: versatility. I'm a girl who enjoys choices. I'm the girl that takes all 31 samples at 31 flavors before combining 4 or 5 into the "perfect scoop"
The Albina Press is the PERFECT SCOOP. I could have a business meeting here at one of their many tables, I could work alone all day sitting in their window-bar, I could meet an old friend in their lounge area in back, or read a book on their couches in the window. Great lighting, fast wireless, nice music volume (an under appreciated art in my opinion...)
It's business...it's pleasure...it's PERFECT.
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I stopped by right before closing, so I got one of the last coffees of the night (a decaf americano). I wasn't super impressed with the coffee, but the atmosphere and the baristas were friendly. A barista who is not only friendly but NOT annoyed with you when you come in 5 minutes before they close is always a good thing.
It reminded me a bit of the Ace Hotel meets eastside Stumptown, atmosphere-wise. I wasn't expecting buttery dark leather couches in the back, that's for sure.
I've give it another try if I happened to be in the Albina/Mississippi neighborhood.
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I came here to meet up with someone. The coffee is alright and the food is good.
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My daily coffee shop-- absolutely fantastic!
Outdoor seating, yep
Couches galore, yep
Nice open, airy interior, yep
Plenty of outlets and wireless, yep
Reaaaaal good coffee, yep
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The coffee/espresso here is some of the best in the city. The iced coffee is f*cking amazing. The staff are very hipster and into them selves which at times is a deterrent. I started going there on Sunday morning before work because they where open at 6:30 am. The service on all my previous visits had been so-so, not bad per say but not good. Anyway the service has improved, and now I go there more regularly. Maybe this is why the service was so-so http://www.slate.com/i...
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Stumptown Coffee served in a convenient NE location just off Alberta and I-5.
You can't go wrong. And get a ham and cheese croissant, if they have em.
Tip well, the staff memorizes your drink after just one visit.
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I do loathe to give so many stars to a place that is NOT the Stumptown at The Ace (and therefore filled with yummy looking, inked up, indie boys serving me lattes with love) buuuuuuut, Albina Press ain't bad.
It seems to be an east side institution of fresh stumptown coffee brewed by....inked up, indie lookin pretty kids. They are nice and quick about making a good drink. They don't even blink when I ask for a 12 oz double, split - shot, soy, decaf latte (I feel like that's pretty particular, no?).
The spot is easy to get to, just off I-5 and Alberta, conveniently located right around the corner from my best friend's new house. They have free wi-fi, ample seating and I had no problem finding an outlet to plug in the ol laptop.
The snacks are good...mostly because they are the same that is served at Stumtowns: crunchy, yet chewy cheddar and corn biscuits, honey bran muffins...you get the idea.
I have found that its a really great place to meet up with people if I just want to hang out or also if I want to get work done....and by work I mean staring at the inked up, indie lookin hotties behind the counter.
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Albina Press gets tons of press because of its award winning Baristas who have racked up national awards. Check them out behind the counter! It's true that coffee here is perfectly brewed; both the French-press house coffee and the carefully pulled espresso shots are wonderful. Housed in an old building on North Albina, the screen doors and worn wooden floors create an ambiance that I love. This local favorite is full of hip North-Portlanders and coffee snobs on any given day, but there is truly a reason why they keep coming back. I recently heard a rumor they're opening a second southeast location on Upper Hawthorne. I'm crossing my fingers!
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I've been noticing a trend in Portland: The less expensive the cup of coffee, the more delicious it is. For example: the strip malls shops serving weak and burnt-tasting hazelnut-infused joe and the ubiquitious International chain with the green logo will set you back just less than $2.
Albina Press, however, charges ONE BUCK for a cup of the most carefully brewed and flavorful coffee in town. Locally roasted Stumptown is prepared in the French press method, and often by an award-winning barista named Billy (he placed 3rd and 2nd, respectively, in the 2005 and 2006 National Barista Championships.)
But regardless of who's behind the counter, I have never been served anything less than a spine-tingling, smooth and rich cup of coffee, and I have NEVER see the bottom of my cup until it is actually empty. In other words, this stuff is thick and non-translucent, which is the highest praise for coffee in my book.
Free wi-fi, spacious with plenty of natural light. Paintings and photography by local artists rotate monthly.
Pastries are by Crema, one of Portland's best bakeries.
It takes a lot for a coffee joint to stand out in a town lousy with coffee joints. This one is leads the pack
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Authentic beautifully crafted espresso drinks. They serve Stumptown. Lots of room to sit.
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The hype machine has already tricked me into seeing shit films like Mystic River and listening to crap bands like the Killers, and that's cool. I take umbrage, however, at being duped into going repeatedly to a coffee shop based solely on the fact that so many people have grabbed me by my lapels, howling jubilant praise into my face about Albina Press. Based on a number of visits, I have this to say, "The coffee is shit." I have tried both straight coffee and espresso drinks and have found the stuff undrinkable. (And no, I do not drink Starbucks and therefore have no idea what coffee really tastes like.) The coffee at Albina Press tastes like dirty dishwater and the mocha I had tasted like a cup of instant cocoa, despite the fact that I asked for light chocolate. I recommend the vibe here and insouciantly hip attitude, but if you want a coffee that tickles your spine, bring your own.
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A cup of coffee with a free refill is $1. And it's the best cup of coffee you will ever have. Espresso drinks made by the most skilled baristas in the world. Stumptown beans for sale, with expert insight into what you're buying. Loose leaf organic teas. Really good scones and croissants for a really good price, and they're normal-sized pastries, not inflated like at so many other coffee shops.
The scene: Sort of lazily-modern, with rotating art on the walls and some comfy couches in various nooks. The baristas are all good looking, hiply-dressed and really good at making coffee. Lots of macbooks everywhere. People come here for meetings, to do homework, to surf the web, to read books, on dates, to hang out with friends, to take in the atmosphere. It's bustling, but never quite over crowded.
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There is a reason they have AWARDS on the shelf behind the counter. They know their shit. Considering how close this is to my house, I should go here a lot more often than I do. If you are lucky enough to get a drink made by Kevin or Billy, then you are having your coffee prepared by one of the most passionate and highly-trained coffee people in the country. Go there often and support them, but keep it a little-bit-of-a-secret. Its nice that's there are still seats sometimes. And they have a cafe cat. Who is all black. And there once was a spider, but I think it died.
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Pros:
-Best Coffee in Portland. Period
-Free WiFi with comfy seating options
-Plenty of free parking
Cons:
-Staff can be abrasive. Was in there once when the barista yelled at someone to "shut the f*#cking door!" and it sometimes feel like the staff doesn't think you're cool enough to have your coffee "to stay".
All in all though, I would recommend this place hands down over any other joint in town.
Nestled at the top of the newly hot Mississippi neighborhood, the Press has been kicking ass and taking names in the coffee world since it opened its doors. Their primary barista, Billy Wilson,placed second in the 2006 United States Barista Championship, so while waiting for your cappuccino you can admire his many shiny awards on the counter.
For environment, the Press is tops, with rough plank floors, deep leather couches, and screen doors that let the summer breeze blow through. They also have free wi-fi, and are a favorite of the young and hip set. More than a few friends have met dates there. Music will be indie, probably local, and occasionally live. The only thing they have very little of is food, but who needs that?
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