World Cup Coffee and Tea

I go to World Cup just about every morning for my coffee and love it. The coffee is strong but not bitter, the employees are nice and low key; a perfect way to start my morning! I also love that they offer a variety of local pastries — and always have lots of info about local events. This is a nice escape from the sometimes uppity Pearl District spots!

Mediocre coffee in a very cool building. Most of the drinks end up tasting the same in the end and for the price you would be better off walking to one of the many other coffee houses in the area.
If I were to write a book about inefficiency chapter one would outline the nightmarish service I’ve experienced here.
1 Star for the cool atmosphere. 1 Star for being able to use their free wifi while I’m at Hot Lips.
On a side note, the location on Glisan is much better.

I’ve never had a pleasant experience at this location, and not for lack of trying. It is located directly across the street from the bf’s apartment so I’ve been in many mornings to get my morning caffeine fix. I’ve stood at the counter when the place was COMPLETELY empty for five minutes while the baristas finished a conversation and ignored my presence on at least 3 occasions. And when I politely say hello or try to get their attention I get death glares and have to wait another 10 minutes for them to make my coffee! One time it literally took 25 minutes for me to order two drinks. And they were sub-​par. Lucky for them I am too lazy to venture any further without caffeine circulating through my body.

The only downside is the music can get pretty loud. Otherwise I enjoy the setting, location, staff, food and coffee selections and of course the coffee!

I have never actually had coffee here– gasp!- because I can’t resist the loose-​leaf tea served in little French presses along with a ceramic mug. And since a barista one time informed me «You can usually get a couple pots outta that» — aka, just ask for more hot water and you get more tea— I am addicted when I crave a nice cup of tea. The Wifi is free and fast. Why only three stars? Other than the tea tip mentioned above, service is disinterested at best, as in a blank stare when you approach the counter. I like a little bit of a smile, a hello, at least a «hey» when I am paying for a product and a service. Especially when I KNOW I will be tipping regardless, damn my years spent behind a coffee counter myself. The other downside is that since this place is located across the corridor from Hot Lips, the entrance resembles no man’s land in the aroma battlefield of pizza and coffee. Not a pleasant way to begin and end your coffeehouse experience. But the great tea selection and proximity to my home guarantees my return.

3.75 Stars really.
This is a great place, but I am pretty picky when it comes to what I like in my coffee shop. All in all it is really nice and you should try it, but I’ll give you all the reasons why I didn’t give it 5 stars.
First of all, its a touch dark in there for my taste — they don’t get enough natural light through their windows and the lighting manages to be just plain dim (though creating a nice-​ish ambiance I suppose). The tables are small and the seats not too comfortable, otherwise they would get more stars. Also, the staff have never been terribly friendly or upbeat — their attitudes match the lighting: dim, but bearable. Finally, the tea comes served loose (yeah!) in pots that are itty itty bitty (boo!).
The upside that it is in the very cool Ecotrust building, The overall feel is simple, modern and inviting. Free wi-​fi is fantastic. This place can get very busy: either people working/​studying alone, or with business meetings — which creates a nice bustling environment that is welcoming and full of people-​watching. It can get crowded though…

First, you just feel environmentally savvy walking into the Ecotrust Building. As a patron, all coffees and teas at this store must be either organic, shade-​grown, fair trade, or relationship coffees. All of the fixtures and materials used in the construction were made from recycled or sustainably grown products — and they did very little to change the history and existing structure of the century old warehouse.
ok — once my history lesson was over, I stumbled upon some of the fastest internet and strongest coffee in the city. Instantaneous, passionate, blissful, caffeinated love.
The barrista warned us: «careful, the caffeine content in this one could knock out small children» and he wasn’t kidding. Unilocaler Thad G. and I left the coffee shop in an enchanting buzz — a rare achievement for this caffeine junkie.

I arrived to my hair stylists about a half hour early today, so I stopped into the ecotrust building to get a cup of tea. It was a pretty decent English Breakfast selection, enough for two cups. Plus they have sugar cubes, how can you resist that?
Fun to people watch, but it started to fill up as the morning progressed. So come early if you want to take your time. Double brownie points — they are locally owned.