There’s been a tectonic shift in the world of cafe build-outs the last few years that, in my opinion, is an extremely welcome change. It seems as though we’ve moved away from the sterile, almost lab-like cafes back to the more comfortable, welcoming atmosphere of ’90s coffee houses—all without taking a hit to coffee or pastry quality. The Portland cafe leading this charge is Keeper Coffee and, as of today, they have two locations.
The new two-story spot, located in Milwaukie’s historic former City Hall building, offers up the familiars we’ve grown to love at their original location—simple, delicious coffee with some of Portland’s best pastries—along with an expanded food menu for the breakfast and lunch crowds.
The space is thoughtfully designed to cater to those trying to grab-and-go along with those who are setting up shop for the day to get some computer work done. Though the line for the grand opening today was massive, it moved quickly and the staff—mostly queer and femme presenting folks, obviously a massive plus—were helpful, funny, and had the flow down pat.
Pro tip: head to Milwaukie’s public library, the Ledding Library, to grab a book or two before hunkering down to your coffee and pastries at Keeper for the perfect spring cafe experience.
Keeper Coffee’s new location is at 10722 SE Main, Milwaukie, OR while their original location is at 4515 SE 41st, Portland, OR.
