Double Shot: Heretic Coffee
Walkability/Accessibility: Heretic is two blocks from campus down 28th Ave., almost across from the 7/11 and Floyd’s. It’s about as close as it gets without being on campus. [A]
Price Point: Cortados are $3.75, lattes are $4, and chai is $6. This is the lowest price for a latte that we’ve reviewed so far. The chai is more expensive than most places, and the syrups are $1 instead of the usual $0.50, but they’re so good that we’re willing to cut them some slack for it. A breakfast burrito is $6.50, which is less than Commons, and the burritos are fantastic. Pastries are reasonably priced between $4 and $6, and day-old pastries are $1.50. Microwave any of them for 20 seconds and it’s just like new. [A+]
Coffee Quality (and Option Variety): Heretic roasts several varieties of their own coffee, with their Holy Roller being the standard for their espresso drinks. It has a full, nutty, and grain-like flavor that shines best in unsweetened milk drinks. The espresso is mellow and we would recommend it for people who are trying to get accustomed to sugarless drinks. Their syrup options are diverse, including miso caramel and maple bourbon, as well as secret off-menu strawberry and blueberry syrups. All their syrups are made in-house, which is why they charge $1 for it instead of the standard $0.50. The lavender latte is well balanced with a bright floral flavor from the syrup (which is made in-house, as with all of their flavored drinks) and the sweetness compliments the espresso to make a very complete drink. [A]
Food Quality (and option variety): Heretic sources their pastries from the same place as Paradox, Jen’s Pastries, though they offer a different selection. Favorites include the cardamom and oat scone and the chocolate chunk cookie. The aforementioned breakfast burritos come in 2 flavors: chorizo, and potato/bacon/cheese. They’re incredibly filling despite their size, and come with delicious salsa verde. [A]
Atmosphere: The place is small and cozy, with plenty of seating and a few outdoor tables. It has full, natural-feeling lighting which was wonderful for reading. The volunteer staff are always wonderful to talk with. [A]
Alternative Drinks: Heretic serves loose leaf tea sourced from Portal Tea Co., which is one of our favorite tea distributors in Portland. Additionally, they use a different chai concentrate than most other places, and it left us pleasantly surprised. The chai latte was well balanced, spicy, and lightly sweet. This is one of the few places where Ishani would consider purchasing chai instead of making it at home. [A]