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

Tea Zone is one of the worst tea shops I've ever been to.

I can see how the atmosphere could be considered relaxing, with its dim lighting, curtained walls and jazz music.

However, the place is not a good working environment or a good place to meet up with people. The lights are too dim to read and the music is too loud to allow you to focus. The $7 "tea for two" only gives you three cups of tea and they put way too much tea leaves into the tea pots. The "flat bread" is just a small, expensive grease soaked pizza. The waiters aren't very attentive or very nice.
Over all, the place is pretentious and crowed.

There are so many amazing tea and coffee shops in Portland and this is not one of them.

-Rikki

Tea Chai Té in PORTLAND on 23rd and NW Johnson

Is probably the best tea place I've ever been to. Yes I know, this is not a coffee place, but they serve drinks of the hot variety, so I believe that reviewing them is okay. SO GOOD!
They have chai (made with lots of sugar and cream, I got mine with soy, damn my lactose intolerance), and all teas imaginable. My favorite to date is Lady Londonberry, said to be the favorite of Princess Diana.
They have comfy chairs and games to play. I insist you go and people watch as well.

Going back this afternoon.

much love,

-Kaya

Ken's Artisan Bakery in Portland!

OH MY GOD SO GOOD! I had the Ken's specialty croissant, and a canelle (I promptly bought two to bring back to have with tea in my dorm, funny how I'm currently eating it... sans tea, not in my dorm...) and a very yummy shortbread cookie. These were all split with Rikki mind you. I am not that greedy now that I'm at college (but if you want to give me free food, yes please!).

Anyway. FABULOUS pastries, good iced tea, stumptown coffee so also good coffee I assume (haven't had that yet, but I will return for more!). They also have soups, pizza, sandwiches. I see food-based adventures in my future all concerning this fabulous little patisserie.

GO EAT AND BE HAPPY!

UPDATE: I went back and had their grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup. The grilled cheese was unlike any grilled cheese I've ever had. Meaning it was made with bree cheese instead of good old cheddar. I prefer cheddar. The soup however was quite fabulous (it had a blue cheese swirl, so much yum).

happily content with her canelles from Ken's,

-Kaya

First Portland Coffee Shop to be reviewed! YAY!

Anna Bannana is located on 23rd street in Portland. It's a little house near a salon called "Leepin Lizards".
I didn't actually get anything to drink, I stole my friends drinks, which were all very good. It's the only place I've been to that makes Chia milkshakes.
AND VERY GOOD ONES AT THAT!
Another apparently very good beverage choice if you're looking towards the warm variety is the "Anna Banana Latte," if you like bananas they're supposedly very good.
I don't like Bananas so I didn't try it.
Sorry!
Anyway, the place has free wifi and sketchy downstairs area that is a nice quiet and cool place to sit, but kind of smells funny and you have to be 18 to go down there.

-Rikki

Sugar Bakery and Cafeis a very cute cafe located on Madison. The walls are painted Pink and white and all the cupcakes and things look very good. Their coffee is delightful, they brew Cafe Vita, like I've noticed a lot of independent coffee shops have doing. Cafe Vita coffee has a sharp taste and is very strong.
When I went there I had a latte and a brownie. The brownie was good, but did not taste very brownie-ish. It had brownie texture and looked like a brownie, but it tasted more like hazelnut, which was something I was not expecting. So if you like hazelnuts, go for it.

-Rikki

I would like to add to Rikki's review of Sugar....

I agree the store is adorable. I was expecting a japanese bakery because of it's sanrio-esque exterior. Walking inside I was surprised to find that the pastries are all very french and there is nothing Japanese about the place.
I have visited Sugar Bakery on several occasions and loved it! The first time I had the most amazing coconut snowball (a cushy puffy outside rolled in coconut and sugar filled with a coconut cream inside), so good and one of my friends had a chocolate chip cookie. Oh so chocolate-y.

The second time I had a fabulous goat cheese and chive scone with a soy latte (so good!) and my friend had a lemon cookie that was very lemony.

My only grumble with this cafe/bakery is the neighborhood (it's on the more sketch part of Madison) and their lack of choices. I went there for brunch on a Wednesday morning around 10 am and they were out of a lot of things that I would have loved to try. Who runs out of goodies at 10 am?

-Kaya