Yo Mama’s Coffee and Tea House

First of all, I should mention that I stopped by yesterday (¾/​12) and found that Yo Mama’s is no longer. The interior is being remodeled with the new business (another café) due to open April 1, 2012 according to a sign in the window.
I’d only been to Yo Mama’s once just a couple of weeks ago on late morning weekday. I liked that it had a little play room for kids, but the atmosphere was a little too dark and empty. I won’t waste time reviewing a closed business so I’ll just wish the new café the best of luck. Hopefully they make the interior a little more inviting, less dingy.

I tried this place a year ago-​the coffee was terrible. Decided to go back, after all, it’s a neighborhood place! Same thing. Brown water coffee, which is too bad for Stumptown roasters-​I thought all baristas had to take a Stumptown class-​I did! The secret to a great shot is the crema on top. There was none-​and to top it off, an house coffee with espresso added costs about $ 4.00! They must be laughing all the way to the bank!

I have nothing bad to say about my Yo Mama experience. The coffee is amazing. Stumptown eviscerates Starfux and Pee’s on quality, and the Yo Mama baristas know how to brew it. This place has it all: prompt service from friendly people, lovely décor, great ambience, comfortable and spacious seating, and a great play area for the little dudes. This isn’t the sort of place which enables bad parenting; you still have to maintain a modicum of awareness and supervise your own children. But there is plenty for them to do and plenty of space for them to run around in. Children aside, it’s just a damned good coffee shop overall. If I lived closer to it, I would definitely be a regular customer.

Exactly what I want out of a coffee shop — good coffee (Stumptown), friendly proprietors, spacious booths, interesting art, comfy chairs and a kids play-​room that is clean, luxurious and well-​placed.
This is my go-​to place when I’m with my 2-​year-​old, and even when I’m not. Conveniently located near two nerd-​havens: Guapo Comics and Red Castle Games.

Love this place! It’s about time we get a cute café in this neighborhood. They have vegan, gluten free AND non vegan food and sweets. Plus delicious Stumptown coffee. I also love that it’s kid friendly. There is a really cute little children’s play area right in the café.
It’s a fun, friendly, alternative coffee house with a great staff and I love it!

Had a play date with several other moms here recently. I am glad to find a place where we can enjoy good coffee, lunch, sweets, and play with our babes at the same time. Like that it isn’t too far of a drive from where I live, but it is located in a fairly weird neighborhood where there are lots of strip clubs and liquor stores nearby. Needless to say I won’t be feeding the baby in the car in this neighborhood! I do like the layout, but I have to agree with Regina that the room for kids is small and cramped and hard to find a place to put your coffee or food while in there. The other thing I would have liked would be a changing table in the restroom… where do we change the diapers? The owners are super friendly, and they have only been open a month. Maybe a changing table is in the works?

Seen many a coffee shop live at this location, and this is by far the best one! Great atmosphere and the barista’s have some major ninja skills for making some yummy coffee drinks, they are always super fun and upbeat! My new favorite coffee shop!

Yummy coffee in a great atmosphere. Well set up with a kids area for the little ones to play in, booths for adults to have conversations in, and a couple of comfy chairs to read in.
A few minor improvements can be made to improve flow, but the owners are aware and moving that direction.
I will be back.

Very excited to see this great coffee shop location re open. Stumptown coffee and lattes are quite nice. Friendly staff good snax and service, n’uff said.

I strongly recomend this place. They have the best kid section in town (the best one you’ll find for no additional charge) but they don’t neglect the adult space, there are many different seating optionfs for differnt sizes of people and parties. I thought it was a great mix of trendy and comfortable. My partner and I were able to sit in two cozy leather chairs and read the paper while our two year old enjoyed the kids section (which is remarkably clean and smartly accessorized). Plus they serve great coffee, but even if the coffee was crap i’d still come back. Yo mama’s is one of the best coffee stops in PDX.

Unfortunately, I was very disappointed in Yo Mama’s. This café was not born of someone who actually has small children. There are lit candles on most of the tables. The tables that don’t have candles have large, heavy flower vases. They don’t even have any highchairs! They do have booster seats, but the booth are slanted, so the booster seats slide back and aren’t stable. The «play room» cannot be seen from the café, so parents need to eat first, then go into the room. Since the playroom is very tiny, there isn’t a place for parents to sit and even enjoy their coffee. When I went, there were only two adults and two kids in the room and it was cramped. The playroom houses toys that lack the proper batteries to work or even have integral parts missing. There are board games on lower shelves, so that smaller children may grab and make a mess.
I think this is a fine, hip café, but the owner should definitely reconsider renaming Yo Mama’s when it is clear that it is not geared for the typical mom who wants to enjoy a coffee and pastry while letting her kids play safely in an kid-​friendly environment.

Totally Awesome! I went there this morning with a friend and had a great time! My 2 year old played in the CLEAN kids room while we chatted. Yummy Stumptown coffee and snacks too! Must go!

Went here with my husband and 7 month old this morning because I heard about the kids area. I’m always looking for places to have play dates with my fellow mom friends, and this place was great! With good tea selections and friendly service I will surely be back often. Had some pretty good, inexpensive food there, too. I’m so relieved to find a place I can put my babe on the ground and hang out outside of the house. I will definitely be going back. Thank you, thank you for opening a place like this so close to my house!

My partner and I have been there a couple of times. Once for tea and coffee, and more recently for lunch. They have some wonderful teas and excellent Stumptown coffee. The staff is very friendly especially Candace who made some delicious sandwiches for us.
The décor is very welcoming with plants, small table lamps in each booth, a couple of comfy armchairs, and a creative children’s play space. The one negative is that the purple and green window film makes the space darker than I prefer.
We’re thrilled to have such a nice place to go for coffee or lunch just a few blocks from our house.

I stopped in for food not knowing what to expect. HOLY MOLY I was pleasantly surprised. Amazing sandwich made with love. The vibe was excellent. Too bad I was in a hurry b/​c I would have loved to hang out for a spell and chilax. There were a couple little ones enjoying themselves in the playroom too. Going back soon for coffee and another sandwich. I’m hooked! Ask for the Alicia special sammy. It’s da bomb!

My first visit was this morning, and all I got was a brewed coffee, but the staff was so friendly that it all but redeemed an otherwise-​crappy start to my day. I’m weirdly picky about how much room for cream is left in my brewed coffee, but they were more than happy to top it off the rest of the way for me.
The interior is cute and the atmosphere is relaxed-​and-​groovy – the kids’ area looks fun and well-​thought-​out without being obtrusive for other patrons – so I’ll be stopping back in soon.

I heart you Yo Mama. I feel like I have been on an epic quest through the child-​friendly coffee shops in SE Portland, looking for the perfect combination of coffee, adult space and child containment.
I love Yo Mama’s children’s area. This enclosed room with a kid-​size door, regular-​size door, and large window into the larger seating area, straddles that perfect line between keeping the kids in view and keeping the kids away long enough to eat a sandwich and read a few pages in that novel you have been trying to finish for a month.
The coffee is good, donuts divine, and they make a child approved PB&J. The owner, Alicia, and manager, Candace, are both super-​friendly and great to chat with.
I will be there daily, and I am dragging in all my friends.

What do you want in a coffee shop? Great coffee? Great service? Great environment? Well, you get all that and more at Yo Mama’s!
Alicia, Candace, Eddie… the whole gang is awesome and see to your every need. The coffee is awesome and I will be going back again and again!
John

I stopped into Yo Mama’s today after a long day that started with a break of dawn wake up call and ended in a tree well. All I wanted on the face of the planet was a cup of well brewed coffee. I NEEDED it! I was tired, grumpy, and ready to tear someone’s limb off.
Not only did I get one of the best brewed cups of coffee I’ve ever had in SE Portland (personally I think that they brew the Stumptown better then the Stumptown shop in my hood does) but it was served with a smile and kind word. The girl behind the counter was so nice and brought my coffee out to me even though I could have walked my tired arse to the counter to get it. I literally curled up in one of their lounge chairs with one of the books from their library and spent an hour reading and sipping my coffee. It was lovely!
I’m not a mom, but if I were I would LIVE here with my kids. There is a designated (and enclosed) kids area full of books and toys and tools for creative play. It’s decorated like a forest and reminds me of the movie Avatar complete with over sized leaves casting shadows on the playroom walls.
All in all it was a great experience. I will go back. Next time I might even try the baked goods, I hear the carrot cake is amazing!

This is seriously a great coffee shop. Named Yo Mama’s for the fact that its run by mothers, which makes this a very kid friendly atmosphere. But don’t be turned off… this isn’t your typical kid friendly café. This is a very Portland café… a very Stumptown café… a very stand alone, individual café, but they also have a kids room and their own kids are hanging out here having a great time.
I have had the pleasure to meet Alicia (the owner) and Candice (the manager) and I can honestly say that these are genuine people with a sense of pride in what they do here. This is certainly among the most comfortable café’s I’ve been in… not just by Portland standards, but by international standards.
Located on 65^th and Foster, its worth driving an extra mile to come hang out here. This is my new SE spot for working, checking emails, meeting with clients and getting caffeinated.