Pdxguide

Way back in the dark ages of 2001 when I moved to Portland, I had little preconceptions of this town but a lot of time on my hands coupled with a need for coffee. The old Burnside Bean was the closest decent coffee to my then apartment (this was back in the days before Portland’s famous “Coffeeshop Distance Law’ was signed into law by Commissioner Erik Sten, where a decent cafe must be no more than a 5 minute walk from each house.) My room-mate Chris and I spent many a morning here, sipping up black gold while soaking up the Bean’s worn-in charms and being charmed by its many baristas. The Bean became part of my personal history with this town.

Fast forward to 2010 (I think). The layabout feel of Portland is in the past, replaced by the omnipresence of the term “curated”. And the cafe that was the Burnside Bean has changed names—and owners—THRICE in the intervening years. First to the short-lived Beehive, then to long-standing Blend (it was the first location for Blend’s duopoly until they decided to concentrate on their N. Killingsworth location). Now it’s Green Beans, not particularly an original or exciting name, but at least “Bean” is back in the title. And the more things change, the more they stay the same. Through the years the funky layout remains (including the cavernous side room and the awkward location of the WC, though I wish the “monkey” mural still remained in the loo), the coffee great, the food good (I believe they are the perfectors of the cafe bagel sandwich here in P-land), and the baristas as sweet and charming as ever. I don’t come here as often as I used to (or should) since I don’t live in the ‘hood anymore. But when I do, the place brings a smile to my face.