6720 SE 16th, 236-8234

In the heart of Westmoreland, where Bybee meets Milwaukie, there are two obvious coffee choices: Starbucks and Marsee Baking. Starbucks we all know as the word's largest coffee chain, an affiliate of Kraft Foods, working in collusion with Pepsi-Cola on projects like "Frappacino." Marsee is an Oregon business, and a thriving corporation in its own right. But a little further down, around the corner on SE 16, there's a cluttered red house turned into a business. A sign out front says simply, "You Need a Cup of Coffee." This is Schöndecken Coffee Roasters. Other signs offer an odd mix of stained glass classes and five cent copies, but coffee is the main draw. Inside, owner Nancy Duncan is always behind the counter, roasting beans and serving as barista. She knows customers by name. She knows what we drink, maybe even where we live and what we do to pay the rent.

The first time I ordered a double decaf Americano, she said coolly, "Double decaf?" as if decaffeinated once weren't enough. She raised her eyebrows; I was taxing her patience. Then she smiled, and made my drink. That was the first time I saw her dry sense of humor.

Coffee is roasted daily on-site, and the house is full of the caramel scent of roasting beans. The coffee served is both rich and full. There's no bitterness. As a resistant decaf drinker, I've learned that quality decaffeinated coffee is the measure of roasting skill. At Schöndecken, I often drink my daily double decaf Americano black; the roast is that sweetly mellow. What's more, the prices per cup are the best I've found in town.