Although Matt Higgins has been in the coffee business for over a decade, he began Coava, as many Portland roasters have, out of a humble garage in 2008. Just a few years later, Higgins still roasts on his trusty Probats but has moved out of the garage and into a retail shop, which he shares with Bamboo Revolution. The café includes a coffee bar and space they designed together in Portland’s Central Eastside Industrial District. In 2016 – 2017 they expanded to three more locations, including a beautiful roastery, where you can check out the machinery and get a cup of brewed coffee. Using single-sourced beans Higgins gets from farmers he knows well, the quality shines through. You will never see sub-par or even lesser grade beans in any of Coava’s roasts, and blends are simply not part of Coava’s roasting repertoire. Only two varieties are generally available at any given time, with recent offerings including Finca Zarcero from Costa Rica, described as “acidity with chocolate and floral taste”, while the very complex Benjamin Miranda from Honduras is explained as, “The extremely high elevation of his farm (1,575 – 1,650 masl) and volcanic soil in the Montecillos mountain range contribute an incredible sweetness to this coffee.”
“Their baristas share the same level of commitment, professionalism, and passion. Coava’s Devin Chapman won the USBC Northwest Regional Brewer’s Cup in 2011 and 2012, and the NW Regional Barista Championship in 2012. Sam Purvis, also of Coava, won the Northwest Regional Barista Championship in 2011.”
We love Coava for their style, simplicity, commitment to single origins, and a light touch that enhances the best that their beans have to offer.
- 1300 Southeast Grand Avenue, Portland, 97214 Map
- 1171 SW Jefferson St., Portland 97201 Map
- 2631 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland 97214 Map
- 1015 SE Main St, Portland 97214 (brewed coffee only at this roastery)
- Website: CoavaCoffee.com
- Twitter: @Coavacoffee
- Facebook: Coava Coffee Roasters
Sue Porter says
A real coffee place downtown? That’ll be a welcome change, and I look forward to a Barista there; I’m a regular at their Pearl store.
James says
Coava is the *best* coffee in the Northwest by far. nice post.
Bob Tibbetts says
The Honduran decaf from Coava is superb. I have tried many, and this is one of the very best.
PDXCDG says
I was told Coava teamed up with Blue Star Donuts and does a special roast for them- “to complement every Blue Star Donut”
PDX Food Dude says
If I used emoticons, I’d put the rolling eyes one here.
pearlypoint says
Not a single word in any of these comments to locate Coava’s roasting style relative to known practice.