July’s Where to Drink Now: Water Avenue Coffee Company

Microroasters seem to be sprouting up everywhere these days, especially in the Pacific Northwest, where the newest kid on the block is Water Avenue Coffee in Portland’s Southeast Industrial district. Just a couple of weeks old, the shop has American Barista and Coffee School director Matt Milletto and former Stumptown Coffee roasting ace Brandon Smyth at the helm, and the coffee is a good as it gets. Their Swiss-imported, vintage French Samiac roasts a mix of seasonally changing single-origin beans for brewing by pour-over, Chemex or press pots, or try an expertly made espresso drink. Pick up a bag of fresh-roasted beans to go, or catch their refurbished 1973 Chevy van with mini-roaster and built-in coffee bar at area farmers’ markets throughout the summer.

Coordinates: 1028 SE Water Ave., Portland, Oregon; wateravenuecoffee.com

Check out our list of other microroasters making a splash.