Contrary

Chill spot at PSU. I got a hot chocolate and it was way better than starbucks’ hot chocolate. The girl working there made it perfect for my taste.
The seating is cozy and it looks like a quiet place to get some work done too without too many distractions. Would depend on the music whoever is there is playing. Coldplay was playing actually forget the name of the song but I can jam to it.

A quaint spot near PSU. I stopped by for a quick breakfast and had a delicious blueberry muffin, which was filled with large blueberries. It wasn’t overly sweet, and it was big enough to split. Other breakfast foods included savory biscuits and pieces of coffee cake. As mentioned in other reviews, there aren’t a lot of food options but what they have is tasty.
I’m not a coffee drinker, but the chai tea latte was smooth and refreshing.
This place has a nice, laid-​back atmosphere. There are only a handful of tables inside and limited seating outside, so it may be hard to get a seat during peak hours.

This place is doing much better. New staff, new coffee. There are a few tables for hanging out but the refrigerator or some device is constantly buzzing. Nice changes overall.

This place has gone through quite the transformation. The business has changed owners in the last couple months and is now serving my absolute favorite roaster in town… OBLIQUE! The Barista is very sweet and has made me fantastic Americanos, Macchiatos, and Lattes. They also, brew their own Cold Brew. Including options like Cacao Nibs cold brew and Cinnamon cold brew. Both amazing. Not to mention homemade pastries and muffins!
Overall really good coffee, service, cozy environment, and right on campus. Highly recommended.

A quaint little nook that serves average coffee and very limited food options.
If you enjoy loud rap music and zero energy customer service than this place is for you. In regard to the many reviews that mention one particular Barista: yup.
In the end, a nice alternative from the bustling atmosphere of Starbucks and large volume independents.

(update) See what being a dick to your customers gets you?
If I could leave no stars, well, it wouldn’t be as much fun. I’d heard whispers about the barista here, I didn’t believe it, but I’d heard it from a lot of people. Wow. They were being nice about the guy. He has no business dealing with the public, and all the personality of a jizz mopper at the Lusty Lady.
Mediocre coffee, bad service. Not even bad, bad I can forgive, just uncivilized and barbaric.
Yes, the little man behind the counter was just stupid, mean, and hurtful. I pity him, I’m sure he has no friends, no companionship not even the love of an animal because his personality is so completely and totally contrary to anything that could begin to be considered ‘lovable’. I’m sure the stuffed cat in the window willingly killed itself just to escape his company, because I imagine that would be a blessed relief rather than bear one second longer in the presence of this vile piece of human filth, this wretched excuse for a civilized member of society, who should consider visiting a psychotherapist soon, and if that doesn’t work, consider giving himself a home lobotomy. Is that harsh? I don’t know. Probably. It would probably make me feel better. They’re not dangerous if done correctly.
I just wanted a small thermos of coffee at a fair price and to not be yelled at when I was overcharged, that’s all, they weren’t even going to put out the price of a paper cup, but no, instead I get the Coffee Nazi.
He should go hang out with the guy that works at Billy Galaxy, they could be douchbags together.
I will stay the expletive out, and I’ll advise everyone to do the same.

I echo some of the experiences being shared. I used to live in the brick building and found the staff to be inexcusably rude! Maybe worth going if you get your coffee and get out ASAP without trying to smile or have any human contact. Good luck if you try it!

If you blink, you might miss it. I had an office directly across the street from the Contrary for two months before I even realized it existed. But what they lack on the outside they make up for on the inside with character and attitude.
If you want a coffee shop that is the opposite of corporate, then this is your place. All signs point to them not wanting to attract business. I mean they don’t have a sign out front and they proudly sport the slogan «Don’t like us? Get the f*#% out!» It’s as if they are doing everything in their power to not become popular… making them perhaps the most hipster coffeehouse in Portland (and that’s a competitive title).
Look, your alternatives in this area are Seattle’s Best and Starbucks. If you want a safe, predictable coffee experience, go to one of them. But if you want Stumptown coffee or a little more character or a touch of unpredictability in your day, then stop by the Contrary.
Out of respect for their apparent desire to stay undiscovered (and let’s be real, they have their flaws), I won’t give them a perfect rating. At the end of the day, I’m a fan and I will be back regularly.

The sign says right on the chalkboard, «If you don’t like us, you can get the fuck out»…the guy was a total dick, and that’s what I did… I got the fuck out. DO… NOT…GO…HERE!!! And yes, this was today at 145pm incase there is a manager that is finally willing to grow a pair and fire this asshole. (plaid shirt) Thanks…

I’ve read a few bad reviews about the barista– I have never experienced one negative interaction with him. In fact, he’s very friendly and funny whenever I’ve come in and I enjoy him immensely. Whenever I drop by to get coffee we exchange lame jokes, «Where did the general keep his army? In his sleevie.» «Why did the melons get married in a church? Because they cantaloupe.» That sort of thing– He’s pretty amazing. And yes, I’m absolutely certain he’s the one responsible for the profanities on the chalkboard. But guys. That’s funny! In this day and age of adjective-​laden drink orders (large, non-​fat, extra-​hot, triple-​shot, no-​foam, soy, sugar-​free vanilla latte, please) and plastic baristas, I am not offended by one who prides himself on coffee purity… and does so with some snark. If you want snark-​less, nearly every street corner in America has a shop for you. And I don’t say that condescendingly– this barista’s personality may not be for you. And that is O.K. I don’t think any of the bad stories are lies; but I also am not bothered by his potential lack of decorum either. The spot isn’t necessarily charming in your every-​day use of the word, but I find myself cozy in it, nevertheless.
The thing is, this is a coffee shop. And I love their coffee. This is, by far, the best coffee in the surrounding area. I work nearby and have now lured many of my co-​workers into The Contrary because of the promise of Stumptown Coffee. I’ve never been disappointed by their brews, and my friends rave about the espresso drinks.
The shop is tucked away in an unassuming building. It would be easy to pass by it, but I recommend you don’t. The actual atmosphere of the shop is great too, and I fully intend to make it a study haven once school rolls around.
My only negative: The hours are inconsistent. I’ve learned not to use The Contrary as my pre-​work coffee spot, as my coffee addiction demands a fix before this joint opens. But honestly, I can work around that. Because I like this place, a whole latte.

Best coffee on/​near the PSU campus by far. If you’re looking for your Stumptown fix, look no further.
The service can be a bit tetchy at times (I mean, if a place has «Don’t like us? Get the f*** out! Thanks» scrawled on their menu board, you should be able to judge the atmosphere from that alone :-p) but the unpredictable attitude kind of gives the place its character. The folks who run Contrary run it for them, not for you, and in a way, it’s kind of refreshing.
Bottom line, this is a no-​BS spot to grab your very well-​made caffeinated beverage of choice, and then, as their sign says, get the f*** out and go about your day.

Wow! Looks like there are extremely high maintenance coffee drinkers out there. I found it refreshing to get a coffee from a local guy instead of a chain. I appreciated the East Coast vibe. It was nice to escape from the fake baristas at Starbucks.
Good Coffee, real people and a comfy place to sip on my coffee.

Best coffee in this part of town by far. So glad they are here. I’ve always had good service.

This has the best coffee (yes, Stumptown!) on the PSU campus or for that matter, anywhere within a 10-​minute walk from campus, which is crucially important since I work at PSU and have only my 15-​minute break to grab something that’s going to help me get through the day. The owner, wife, and staff are nice, letting me whisk in and out when time is tight. Hours can vary. I’m thankful this café exists. Work would be tougher to get through on certain days without this place.

Don’t waste your time or money. I paid $ 3.50 for the worst vanilla latte I’ve ever had in my life (worse than Seattle’s Best). The flavoring just separated and sank to the bottom. The barista was terrible. He didn’t smile at me or greet me, he just waited and stared at me until I ordered. After I told him what I wanted (3 times, because he forgot), I tried striking up conversation about coffee. He just gave me one nod and stood there making the coffee (and, he barely knew what he was doing). I then sat down to do homework, and he started talking trash about his mother (and swearing loudly) to his coworker. Never again.

Stumptown coffee in a desert of shitty Starbucks and bland off-​brand brews. I don’t come here for a friendly chat with a ‘barista’, I come here for coffee. The space is small but seems like a good hang out spot for the non-​Starbucks conformists. My only gripe is that prices went up the day classes started at PSU, a bummer for us non-​students.

The coffee itself is delicious, but it’s hit or miss if I can get some on my way to work b/​c the hours are always different. Be careful when parking right outside (use the pay to park even for a quick stopover). I’ve seen people getting tickets there after parking their car and running inside for under 5 minutes.

Wondering where all the surly, pasty baristas that refuse to acknowledge your existence let alone make eye contact went? They’re all underground at Contrary.

I’ve been trying to remember to stop in here since I noticed it waiting for the bus. I live on the PSU campus, but don’t have any classes in this area, so I sort of kept forgetting it was there.
A few of my friends wanted to gather for coffee, and someone suggested this place. Small, indy business with Stumptown — how bad could it be?
I got there, and the place was pretty full. Only two of my crew was there, but a table’s worth of individuals were heading out, so we grabbed it. I bought a cup of coffee, and we sat down to chat. More of our group arrived, all of whom bought coffee. I think there were 6 or 7 in total? We were trying to be respectful — it is a tight space, so we smooshed in good and close. There were a stack of chairs against the back wall, so we figured they were used to this.
About halfway through our visit, the barista turned on the hip-​hop — it wasn’t even particularly –good– hip-​hop. Regardless, no big deal. But he cranked it up, so much so that I was having a hard time hearing the person across the table. The following transaction occurred:
«Excuse me, Mr. Coffee Dude. I know this is your house and all, but would it be possible to turn the music down a little bit? We don’t want to get too loud, but we’re having a hard time hearing each other.»
«No.»
I sort of blinked, cocked my head, and then: «Can’t or won’t? We’d like to remain patrons…»
«You asked, and I’m telling you no. Got a problem with that?»
Deep breath. «Okay. No problem. I thought I’d ask. I just won’t bother coming back again.» I shrugged, and walked away. Then:
«Why don’t you leave now, B****!»
I returned to my table and the gaping mouths of my friends. Our plan, at that point, was to continue the conversation, and then leave anyway. However, he decided that it was a great time to crank the music up even more, to the point of irritated looks from the other patrons. I looked at one of my group, he looked at me, and we all got up and left.
This appalling behavior from a business, towards potentially repeat customers, was bad enough. However, a couple more people we’d been waiting for had shown up after we left — we’d planned on leaving when they got there, anyway, since we knew we’d be at capacity for the place.
They went in to ask if the barista had seen us, and apparently got an earful about how disrespectful and rude we’d been, and they were appropriately confused.
Now, if we were being too loud, okay. I get it. Just come over and ask us to keep it down — we’d be happy to have done so. If we were too big of a group, I understand — just let us know, and we’ll leave, no hard feelings. But to result to passive aggressive behavior and name calling… Yeah, I don’t think so.
I really try to support the independent businesses around campus, and encourage others to do the same, but if this is how they treat their customers, I can’t encourage people to return.

I’ll stop in here every once in a while since it’s some of the only non-​corporate coffee nearby PSU. Stumptown coffee, tasty pastries (and bagels), and assorted tom-​duggery. Plus they’re open on weekends!
Cozy-​small so all of its 2 tables and couches can be pretty full when it gets wet out, but still quite nice. Workers are all pretty chill and play hiphop, which is shockingly rare these days, apparently.