When visiting Portland one may feel as if they’ve left the United States. A friend has remarked that they are even nicer than Canadians. They also make a nice cup of coffee and there are locations that offer espresso that’s muy simpático.

Oblique Coffee Roasters is one of these wonder locations. John and his wife Heather opened the shop with the community in mind. John remarks that they’ve “had a lot of writers come forward and tell us how much they like our place – how conducive it is to writing (the interior is painted the old schoolhouse light blue).” The walls are the only thing that’s blue in this cheery shop!

The coffee is roasted on site in a vintage, German built Probat L5 named Bart. Order the Guatemalan roast and sit back and enjoy a Victorian classic by Dickens in this converted house from the same era.

Reader’s Choice

Speaking of Canadians this week’s pick is from Montreal and one of my favorites.  Café Le Dépanneur offers live music and mood lighting that is very conducive for reading darker pieces of literature.

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