Ristretto Roasters

3520 NE 42nd St., Portland, OR - (503) 284-6767

Overview Reviews(1) Rate Restaurant Upload Photos Bookmark Email

Posted By Michael Stern on February 11, 2007 6:05 AM

We are not coffee experts, and Portland has more places that roast, brew, and serve it in earnest than we'll ever have time to sample; but of those we have tried, we like Ristretto Roasters best. It is a small storefront with three counter stools, three tables, a single booth, a few sidewalk seats, and a line all morning long waiting for cups of delicious coffee and espresso, the beans for which are roasted in the back room that is visible through a glass window.

We thought the espresso a perfect balance of caffeinated punch and smooth, chocolaty flavor; the regular coffee had a good kick, too, but wasn't so strong that a second and third cup didn't seem like great ideas.

It's important to be able to drink a lot of this coffee because Ristretto offers a small but irresistible selection of excellent pastries, including a creamy and substantial "pound and a half cake" and slices of chocolate espresso bread. The latter is moist, profoundly dark, and an ideal companion for at least two cups of coffee. We also liked the looks of the blueberry bran muffins, morning buns, and croissants, all of which we intend to taste next time we visit.

Overall Rating

11 out of 14 people found the review helpful. Was it helpful to you?

No Yes