Coava Coffee Roasters

Single-origin pioneers serving meticulously sourced pour-overs from a soaring, industrial former bamboo showroom in Southeast Portland.

Coava Coffee Roasters' flagship cafe on Southeast Grand Avenue occupies a space that is part coffee house and part industrial design laboratory. Housed in a former industrial showroom shared with Bamboo Revolution, a local bamboo design and fabrication workshop, the cavernous interior is anchored by a massive, sweeping bamboo bar crafted on-site. The aesthetic is intentionally raw and functional, defined by polished concrete floors, steel beams, and towering windows that flood the space with natural light. Instead of cozy couches, patrons sit at minimalist wooden workbenches and perimeter counters. For years, the steady hum of a vintage Probat roaster filled the air right next to the bar, though the primary roasting operations have since moved to a larger, dedicated facility nearby. The atmosphere remains strictly focused on the physical craft of coffee, stripped of typical cafe pretension.

Founded in 2008 by Matt Higgins in his North Portland garage, Coava bootstrapped its early days with motorcycle repair until Higgins could afford his first commercial roaster. The name itself is derived from a Turkish word from the 1600s meaning unroasted green coffee, reflecting a deep commitment to the raw agricultural product. Higgins, a veteran barista and roaster, sought to establish direct, long-term partnerships with individual farmers from regions like El Salvador, Colombia, and Rwanda, paying premium prices to ensure sustainable quality. This obsessive focus on the mechanics of brewing led Coava's early team to invent the Kone, a reusable stainless-steel cone filter designed to fit Chemex brewers. Photochemically etched with micro-holes, the Kone allows essential oils and complex flavors to pass into the cup without the paper taste or heavy sediment of a French press, a breakthrough that quickly became a favorite of coffee enthusiasts worldwide.

A visit to the Grand Avenue flagship is best experienced by ordering a single-origin pour-over, prepared using the signature metal Kone filter. Baristas execute the pour with measured precision, serving the coffee in simple glass carafes so that the shifting flavor notes can be appreciated as the brew cools. The menu remains famously minimalist, focusing on highlighting the distinct terroir of seasonal harvests, such as the citrus and smooth custard notes of the Rwandan Sholi or the rich sweetness of Colombian microlots. The space's striking industrial design and cultural footprint even caught the attention of Jerry Seinfeld and Fred Armisen, who filmed an episode of "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee" at this very counter. Whether watching local makers talk shop at the shared workbenches or observing the quiet focus of the baristas, the Grand Avenue location stands as a monument to the blue-collar, creative spirit of Southeast Portland.

Coffee & Craft — Roadside fuel stops curated by Basecamp West. The best coffee shops, craft breweries, diners, and eateries worth the detour on your next Western road trip.