Coffee Shop Journal

Sooner than I expected I found my nearly ideal coffee shop! Located in nearby Lake Oswego, Oregon, Blue Joe Coffee has only been open seven weeks. Here are a few of the many things I loved about this cozy spot.

• The huge community table in the center of the room. This spot would be perfect for small meetings, small groups, a family having coffee together (radical!), or getting to know other computer-hounds.
• The coffee itself is roasted by Blue Joe’s. The owner/president, John, told me they have been supplying roasted coffees for years, and recently decided to enter the coffee shop market. I am so glad they did. The flavor of my con panna was excellent. VERY strong, with a great finish at the end. Kind of a fruity finish. Jillian’s hot chocolate featured a surprise slab of chocolate at the bottom of her cup.
• The room is divided into manageable nooks, perfect for either large groups or small groups. I would love to live in the main room of this coffee shop, and you can bet I would if I were a local.
• The seating had a great mix of hard and soft chairs, light and no lights.
• The key lime pie, made locally from a 50 year old recipe, was easily the best I have ever eaten. My apologies to my sister-in-law Debby, who also makes a great key lime pie, but I have to tell the truth!
• John and his business partner AJ were outstanding hosts. They used our names, offered suggestions, rallied around the coffee experience that those of us who are fanatics understand so well. We’ve all talked about the importance of friendly baristas on this blog before. John and AJ could pose for our ideal baristas.

Blue Joe’s made me sad, because it is located in the Pacific Northwest and I am not. It is the kind of place I have been longing for, a coffee shop with heart and personality that also understands how to give its customers the kind of space they need. I didn’t have my computer with me, so I don’t know how the outlet situation was, and I could have used some more atmospheric lighting. But overall, there are very few negatives to this cool spot. I could picture musical events fitting in the large room with ease, or perhaps book clubs. Since Blue Joe’s closes early (they have plans to stay open later, soon), I could see special events being hosted in the space, too. Very hip vibe in the heart of a great downtown.

Do I hear a collective sigh around the blogosphere?

Here is the link if you are going to be in the Lake Oswego/Portland area anytime soon!