I went to Pied Cow Coffeehouse last night for my roommates birthday. It's more of a sit down place on Bellmont and 34th street in Portland that is a house with a few tables inside, but most of the tables are out on a patio to the side. Pied Cow is very colorful, with lots of lights and colorful walls. The waiters were all really nice and all looked very earthy with long hair pulled back or braided.
The coffeehouse also has hookah for $16, but they don't really pay attention to it all that much. They have a large selection of different food and drinks. I really liked their chai, and one of my friends described the lavender steamer as a "hug in a mug". For food, you can get anything from bread with balsamic vinegar and olive oil to a soup, salad or a sandwich. They also have a $50 dessert (which is what we came for, I arrived late and only got to see the bottom of a huge bowl) which is a bowl filled with ice cream, pie, cake, cherries, brownies and anything else you can possibly think of.
The only down side to this place is that it can get really cold at night and they don't have any outside heaters, so bring a jacket.

-Rikki

Disclaimer: I did not take this picture, found this in a google search. I'm hoping to go back and take my own picture, but for now this will have to do.

The Artisan Cafe is a cute, very small, cafe on the corner of 5th and Vine in downtown Seattle. Nothing extraordinary about it. The coffee is good, with a nutty taste. None of the food is made in the cafe, it all comes from different bakeries in the Seattle area and serves sandwiches more than pastries.
I'd recommend the place if you just need to some coffee before work, but not for meeting up with friends, it's too small.

-Rikki

Cafe Senso Unico is a little cafe on Olive off 7th. I've been walking by there the last couple of days on my way to work, but already had a coffee in hand, so I never stopped in. Senso Unico is a small Itallian cafe with sturdy padded chairs and brightly colored walls with tiled designs above the door and on the tables. Their coffee is a very interesting, with a nutty brown taste to it and it doesn't need any sugar. They have the usual array of food options you'll find anywhere else, with a heavy lean towards coissants with different fillings (I recommend the rasberry cream cheese). As I was sitting in the cafe I heard a couple people order the mocha and the barista warned them that it's really sweet.
All the people who work there are Itallian and speak in a mixture of english and itallian which is interesting to listen to and watch. The older Barista whistles as he works, which I would usually find annoying, but it wasn't. The people who came in and out seemed to be regulars and the young woman who worked there knew what some of them wanted before they asked and she complimented their outfits.
The accoustics in the cafe aren't the best, although the music is soft the espresso machine they use is really loud, so the cafe probably isn't the best place to catch up with friends, but if you need to stop in for a cup of coffee and a pastry I would difinetly reccomend it.

-Rikki

Disclaimer: I did not take this picture, I found it on a google search. I'm hoping to go and take my own picture soon.

Papachino's (which is now Bella's Garage is a little coffee shop (I think it's a garage turned coffee shop) across the street from Market of Choice on Southwest Terwilliger. Kaya and I have taken the bus by here a lot but never stopped in to work on some essays. Whenever I talk with anyone about having this blog they always tell me to check the place out, so we finally did!
And finally about the place:
Papachino's has a great atmosphere, good music and it's very open with lots of places to sit, but beware, they don't have any outlets to plug in laptops. You have to ask to use the extension cord they keep coiled under the counter (which they will be happy to let you use). Neither of us have had their coffee yet, but their chai is very good and not like anything you would normally get. You have a choice of spicy or sweet chai (I had the sweet chai) which they sprinkle cinnamon on top of (much to Kaya's glee. She loves cinnamon in and on everything).
I'll go back again soon and write more, last time we were so worried about catching the bus back to campus to get dinner we didn't get to hang out for too long.

-Rikki

Hey! Kaya here. We were at Papachino's for about 3 to 4 hours doing work. It was a fabulous atmosphere for doing homework and just chilling. I bought a pastry and some tea. Good tea, stale pastry. I plan to go back anyway, maybe try something else.

Happy sipping.

-Kaya

Two Tarts Bakery is in Portland on 23rd next to a cute toy story. I have yet to try their coffee or tea, but their specialty is really their tiny delicious cookies. They are about two bites of yummy goodness ranging from the basics: chocolate chip cookies (okay, not so basic, there's a sprinkle of salt on top) to s'mores in cookie form (graham cracker cookie with a marshmallow on the inside, dipped in chocolate). Oh my goodness so good. They have lemon bars and marion berry cookies. 75 cents for yummy goodness!

The venue is a little bitty, but and they have chairs and a table out front too. The women that work there are really nice. Go eat yummy cookies. I just bought 2 dozen. Assorted yummieness for friends over spring break.

-Kaya

Via Delizia is a little cafe in the Pearl District of Portland, but it's not just any little Italian cafe. The place looks like it's outside... on the inside.
This is probably blowing your mind right now. When I heard about it, I was like "whaaaaat?"
But yes. The place has been made to look like you are sitting outside a cafe with "trees" and "windows" next to the tables.
Okay, now about the stuff that really matters:
Their chai is AMAZING. They sprinkle nutmeg or cinnamon on top and it's to die for. I got one and I ran around to all my friends and made them try it.
They also have very good gelato, from the normal chocolate and vanilla to coconut and nutella, this place has got the flavor.
Via Delizia does breakfast, lunch and dinner as well, I have yet to try any of it, but from looking on the site it looks great and reasonably priced.

-Rikki

(Disclaimer: I did not take this picture, I found it in a google search.)

Hey All, Kaya here.

I did end up getting breakfast here with a friend of mine. It was the most delicious and perfect breakfast ever. I had a make-your-own omelet which came with toast, a green salad and a fruit salad. This sounds like a lot of food, but they give you just the right portions of everything. It was soo-o-o-o good. And as Rikki says, their goblets of chai are to die for.

Hiroki is an adorable little cafe which serves Victrola coffee and has THE BEST PASTRY YOU WILL EVER EAT! It's run by a really sweet Japanese man and he makes the most exquisite French pastries and cake and cookies you will ever taste. It's a tiny place up on North 56th, it's so tiny if you drive too fast down the street (which you shouldn't) you will miss it. So yummy!

Go forth and eat and drink of the good coffee and desserts!

-Kaya

Rikki and I have been discussing (or rather, she mentioned while I was in a half awake, half asleep state and I smile and said, "ooh, huh, maybe") the idea of video blog posts on here.

I would like to bring this "discussion" out to you, our reader. If you exist, since silence seems to be your virtue (one I wish you would rid yourself of), what are your thoughts on Twinly video recorded banter about coffee shops in the Seattle/Portland area? Is that something you would like to see/hear/experience? Or do you like our blog as it is. A blog in writing alone.

Your thoughts are greatly appreciated. Be silent no more! Speak!

-Kaya