Columbia International Cup

A comfortable, friendly setting, with excellent paninis (the spicy cheese panini is a dream!) and delicious coffee. Bryan, the owner, is always smiling and cheerful and busy and concerned about the patrons. Sometimes, at lunchtime, there is Jamaican food that is very delicious, but it’s not a constant. The café also is a community center, with a library, a breakfast program for kids and a reading club. It´s great that, being the only option to eat in New Columbia, it is a good place. The only downfall is that it is extremely noisy, most people shout at each other at all times and, even with headphones, I can’t hear myself think!
Try: Spicy Cheese Panini, Pumpkin and Cream Cheese Muffins, Jamaican Curry Chicken with Rice.

All around a great coffee house. Brian makes you feel welcome every time you walk in the door. The coffees are great. I think he even allows his space for some community events. Extra stars in my book.

Stopped in for an iced coffee and it was amazing. Brian made my coffee fresh. I let a bunch of my friends try it and they echoed my sentiments. We got to talking and I can see the passion he has for the community space he’s trying to create. I definitely plan on coming back for more coffee and to try the «best jerk chicken» in Portland, according to him!

These guys make food now and it’s incredible! I had jerk chicken, grilled veggies, cajun meatballs with caribbean BBQ sauce, and an iced coffee with one pump of caramel. The menu changes day to day. Everything was so flavorful and fresh. Plus the chefs are super friendly and accommodating. Chef and owner Bryan does a free kids breakfast for kids under 18 on M/​W/​F so food profits go towards that. Gluten free and vegan friendly. Pleasant ambiance. Good place to study or work, too. This is my new spot for caffeine, wholesome food, smiling faces.

I am so thrilled this has opened up. This coffeehouse is a real gem for the residential community in which there’s only one other business in over a 1-​mile radius! So many reasons to love it here:
–The café is warm and spacious; the coffee, strong and delicious. Haven’t yet tried the panini, but I will soon!
–Brian always makes such a warm connection with everyone who walks through the door. I mean, that kind of thing is not manditory. But you will feel better for having met him.
–The whole place is neighborly. I’ve had such great conversations with other people in there. It’s used for community events and meetings. It’s also a great place to come and work.
–In a city where such businesses can contribute to gentrifying a neighborhood and pushing people out – there are not many black-​owned businesses left in North Portland– this is a business clearly invested in enriching its community. They host a free breakfast and Afro-​centered education for children twice a week. The walls feature beautiful rotating art from local artists such as Intisar Abioto. Live music comes and performs some evenings. (Great music is played in there during the day, too.) New Columbia residents get a neighborhood discount. This place has only been open a couple of months and has already brought such positivity.
My hope is that they will be able to expand their hours soon (they currently open early and close early, at 2:30) and with glasses instead of all disposables. But they’re still pretty new. Fingers crossed that they acquire a liquor license, which would help this expansion.

Best coffee shop in North Portland. Space is large and inviting with great music and extremely friendly service. I have tried several different coffees at this establishment and all were delicious but I am hooked on the Cuban Coffee!!! I also highly recommend the Panini’s, I had the turkey with cheese and it came with Juanita chips and a pickle. The meal was delicious and affordable and the owner Brian is awesome to talk to.

Love this place! Always have to get my 16 oz Caramel Blend with hazelnut whipped cream. Brian, the owner, is great to chat with and so friendly.

I met Brian (owner) this past Monday when I wanted to try the coffee. He was really nice and I was really happy to be able to chat with him in Spanish. House coffee was from Ecuador that day and it was delicious!
I’m in here eating a turkey panini with cheese and chipotle. A pickle and Juanita chips were included on the side, of course. All for less than $ 5 bucks!
I found this place because I live in the neighborhood, but even if you don’t, you should come stop by. It’s very large, has really good music playing in the background and the house coffee from Ecuador I’m drinking right now is bomb.

I almost walked by this place on Sunday as I was walking through the neighborhood on my way to a friend’s house for breakfast. My goal was to swing by the market/​grocery store next door to pick up some breakfast items, but at 10am on a Sunday morning the market was closed. And then I saw Columbia International Cup! And they were open!
I walked in to the bright, happy space and was immediately greeted by a kind man behind the counter. I asked if they had any breakfast pastries I could buy to bring with me. Alas, they do not yet have any but it sounds like more food is coming soon.
They did have jar of delicious looking biscotti on the counter and the kind man let me buy them all. We chatted a bit. The place had only been open 28 days. The walls are colorful, the art was neat, and the service exceptional. I didn’t get to try their coffee but you can be sure I’ll be back next weekend to do just that!