Water Avenue Coffee to Open Coffee Bar Off Pioneer Courthouse Square

Founded in 2009, the local roaster Water Avenue Coffee Company will soon open its second coffee bar, and it'll be on prime real estate, housed in the lobby of the Sixth at Yamhill building across the street from Pioneer Courthouse Square. The cafe will be just 500 square feet, so prepare to rub elbows while ordering off Water Avenue's full espresso menu of single-origin and blended coffees, all roasted in its Southeast roaster. At least a portion of the Eastside cafe's food menu will be on offer, too, as well as grab-and-go items.

"Being a native Oregonian I, like many, have watched an incredible evolution of our downtown Portland district," says Matt Milletto, co-owner of Water Avenue with Bruce Milletto. "In the early 90s, I spent many weekends buying records and sipping coffee in downtown. To now be opening a coffee bar in this part of Portland is a true bucket list moment."

The Millettos helped open the American Barista & Coffee School in the 2000s, located just blocks from the new downtown space, and have a history of commitment to barista training. When it opens, the Millettos say the new cafe will likely have a different vibe from the Eastside cafe, one more geared toward the downtown business crowd. Currently, Water Avenue Coffee Company expects to open its second cafe mid-October.

Painting Water Avenue's logo in the new shop. [Photo: J&S Signs]