7 Coffee Shops To Visit In Portland, Oregon (Slideshow)

At Case Study Coffee, we sampled coffee brewed using Hario and Chemex (some of the best stuff out there) equipment to see the difference between each drink, depending on the brew method.  As a huge espresso fan, I found it fascinating to see the vast difference between the way each cup of black coffee tasted. 

This adorable red food truck pours one smooth and rich mocha that I highly recommend. Plus, you must visit a food truck when you're in the city as they're quite popular. It's also worth noting that this business employs a "suspended coffee" program to give back to the community. A costumer can buy a coffee for someone else—what they purchase gets put on a chalkboard hanging from the truck—and another person can claim one item, per day. 

Near-legendary chain Stumptown Coffee pours espresso in addition to drip coffees. My group sampled some brewed coffee, but the real highlight was the company's cold brew coffee and milk. Next time you're at Stumptown, you must get one. It's like drinking chocolate milk (it even comes in a cute carton) without all that excess sugar. 

Try the signature canelli and order a smooth, deep and rich single-origin macchiato at this hip shop. Dip the sweet into your coffee to get the full effect. And in true Portland fashion, the staff's vinyl collections line the upper shelves here. 

This tiny spot serves up traditional Italian espresso. I fell head over heels in love with the scrumptious affogato I sipped standing, like a true Italian. 

At this light-filled, totally Portland space (if you walk back to the bathroom, you'll find bike racks hanging from the walls), my group participated in a traditional coffee cupping. It's like a wine tasting in many ways. Participants are encouraged to "taste" the individual notes—like sweet, bitter, full-mouth and the like. I also loved seeing how coffee is elevated to the point of tasting like a fine, nuanced wine. 

The barista at Public Domain discussed how this shop brews its coffee in addition to giving us tasting notes. Coffee is judged based on aroma, flavor, acidity and mouth-feel. After watching a brewing, we sampled the tasty goods.