"ristretto roasters" news and stories

Ristretto Roasters, located in Portland, Ore., and one of my favorite cafes in the whole universe recently launched their coffee blog. Written by the fabulous Nancy Rommelmann (wife of Ristretto owner Din Johnson) and other contributors, it's a fun read about all things coffee (and some things not.)

If you live in Portland and you haven't been to Ristretto, you must go. There is nothing like drinking coffee that has been freshly-roasted, or taking home bags of beans still warm from roasting. Any coffee lovers vacationing in Portland should put Ristretto Roasters on their "Things To Do/See/Eat/Drink In Portland" list.

When we lived in Portland, we were lucky enough to live down the street. We'd stop in every day for coffee and conversation.  Now that we are back in San Francisco, I miss their coffee (and Nancy's pumpkin muffins) terribly, but I'm thrilled to see that they now sell their coffee by mail.  I'm going to order some, how 'bout you?

Ristretto Roasters, 3520 NE 42nd Avenue, Portland, Oregon. Tel.: (503) 284-6767.

I went to graduate school in Philadelphia, and lived only a few blocks from the famed La Colombe Torrefaction. I was a student, it was far too hip for me - but I did stop in once or twice for a croissant and what Food & Wine Magazine calls their "silky cappuccino," naming the caffeinated hotspot the top U.S. coffee "bar."

So coffee is served at bars, not shops, now? The magazine also picks Ritual Coffee Roasters in San Francisco, Ninth Street Espresso in the East Village, New York; Aloha Island in Beverly Hills and Ruta Maya in Austin. Naturally I think they're ignoring some legendary spots here in Portland (hello, aren't we coffeeville?), like Stumptown Coffee and Ristretto Roasters.

As I've only quaffed java at one of their top five spots, though, I can hardly be a judge. What do you all think: are they missing anyplace else that's truly paradise in a French Press?