Tag: portland

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2018 Brewers Cup Preliminary

I had a total blasty working the Brewers Cup Preliminary event at Buckman Coffee Factory last weekend (September 9-10).

Working at the Brewers Cup Preliminary event in Portland, OR.

Watching everyone put so much work into their presentation and recipe was fun, sometimes comical, and definitely exciting. There were lots of baristas and home brewers who came to Portland for the weekend from all over Washington, Oregon, and California.

I most frequently posted up at the front desk, throwing gang signs and dishing out the highest of fives. Everything was pretty high energy and yet, the La Marzocco and Modbar Lounge was a cozy corner to chill in between presentations and while the judges debated over the scores and standings.

This was the first event of its kind – a preliminary event for the Qualifying round of Brewers Cup with the purpose of making the event more accessible. It can be super difficult for folks who maybe don’t have the backing of a cafe or roaster to help provide funds for travel, coffee to practice with, or coaching and advice.

Everyone who competed can still shoot for a spot at the Qualifiers, but only those top 4 winners of the Prelim are guaranteed a spot, as well as travel costs covered by Pacific Foods.

To get the full rundown, check out the Sprudge US CoffeeChamps article!

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Portland, OR

What’ve been your favorite places!?”

I’m going to answer this, most frequently asked question, over a series of posts of my favorite places in North America that I’ve visited so far, and hopefully keep adding to it as I go. So stay tuned, my pretties.

Next up,

PDX, OREPortland, Oregon
(aka: PDX; Stumptown; THE Portland; Rose City; Rain City)

In less than a week, it was true love. From the weekend-long music festival in the woods, Pickathon, to specialty coffee and brunch heaven, and swimming across the Willamette River with the Mayor, to all the gorgeous outdoors an adventure-nut can handle – there was no denying it.

I lived in beautiful, weird PDX for over 1.5 years split between the Mississippi, North/NE Portland neighborhood and the Brooklyn, SE neighborhood. I took over and ran an Espresso Crawl Meetup group and have given so many tours and recommendations, I’ve found it’s best to give them broken down into the neighborhoods or quadrants of the city, rather than broken down by the type of activity. I’ll try to break it down both ways here.

One thing I don’t have on here specifically, is the stellar food cart pods – they’re everywhere, so just make sure you get to one or two of them during your visit and you’ll have done well.

 (work in progress)

Hikes/Parks/Nature

  • International Rose Test Garden
  • Chinese Gardens
  • Forest Park
  • Powell Butte
  • Frog Lake
  • Mirror Lake
  • Tom, Dick, and Harry Cliff
  • Angel’s Rest hike
  • Oneonta Falls
  • Dog Mountain
  • Opal Creek/Opal Pool

Downtown

  • Kiosko (SW)
  • Oracle (SW)
  • Sterling
  • Commissary
  • Good Coffee (Slabtown)
  • Pépé le Moko
  • 10 Barrel
  • Harlow
  • Tasty n Alder
  • Powell’s Bookstore
  • Planet Granite

North

  • St. John Bridge/Park
  • Prince Coffee

NE

  • Sweedeedee
  • Bollywood Theater
  • Proud Mary
  • Pip’s
  • Guilder
  • Case Study
  • Skidmore Bluffs
  • Ex Novo
  • Kainos Coffee
  • The Movement Center – Free Guided Meditation – Monday

SE

  • OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry)
  • Upper Left
  • Good Coffee
  • Water Ave.
  • Coava (Grand)
  • Coava cupping lab
  • Marigold Coffee
  • Heart
  • Either/Or
  • Tea Chai Te
  • Smith Tasting Room
  • PushXPull
  • Off The Waffle
  • Zell’s
  • Henry Higgins Boiled Bagels
  • Dapper & Wise
  • Fried Egg, I’m in Love
  • Pine State
  • Loyal Legion
  • Aalto Lounge – Monday $3 Happy Hour
  • Om Movement Studio – Sunday Acroyoga – $15