Double Shot: Harder Day Coffee
Walkability/Accessibility: Harder Day is located just up the hill on Woodstock and SE 43rd Ave., nestled in an alcove on the way to Safeway, with a 19 bus stop nearby. The location, formerly home to Esperanza Trading Co., is very close to campus and still accessible if you aren’t on campus or have a harder time walking. [A]
Price Point: A latte costs $4.75 with an extra $1.25 for syrup. Add-on wise, this is on the more expensive end of the spectrum, but we felt that the extra cost was worth the flavor of the in-house syrups and seasonal options. Their pastries can be a little pricey, though exact amounts vary by item, with a croissant running $5 and their glazed maple bun at $8. Their burritos are a fair $8, which is less than Commons, and definitely worth it. [B]
Coffee Quality (and Option Variety): The cortado of their Hawthorne blend was very even, with all of the major tasting notes of coffee coming in at the same intensity and evenly distributed across a sip. In our opinion, the Hawthorne blend does what the Stereo blend from Heart Coffee, as featured in last week’s Double Shot, attempted to do, but with a greater effect. It is a very even blend for wide appeal, with noticeable notes even to those who are less accustomed to tasting coffee. This blend is a good place to start for those who are trying to get into coffee tasting. We also tried their Ethiopia Limmu Cosa, which had a stronger nutty/fruity flavor up front, and a pleasant lingering acidity. There is more complexity in the Limmu Cosa than the Hawthorne blend, but it’s definitely tuned for a more specific palate. Once again, due to a lack of lavender syrup, we ordered a latte with their house-made maple-cardamom syrup. This one came with orange zest, which was a delightful accent. The Hawthorne held up very well with the addition, with its individual tasting notes complimenting the added sweetness and neither aspect overpowering the other. In our opinion, despite the higher-than-average price tag, the flavored lattes at Harder Day are delicious enough that the cost is worth it. [A]
Food Quality (and Option Variety): As mentioned, we ordered the maple glaze bun, a croissant, and a bacon, egg, and cheddar cheese breakfast burrito. Harder Day sources their pastries from Musette Pastries, a Portland-based company. The maple bun used a croissant dough with a light and sweet maple forward glaze which excelled due to an excellent internal consistency and crisp external texture preserved by the glaze exclusively being on the top of the bun. The croissant was just as good, crisp externally with a fluffy and chewy interior. It’s worth mentioning that we had these pastries warmed, which amplified their qualities, though they are still excellent when cold. Their burrito had a good egg texture with Tillamook white cheddar which paired well with the bacon. The cut was thick with a great lingering black pepper flavor that wasn’t too sharp. The black pepper is what takes this burrito from standard to great. It was hardy without being heavy, though it was less filling than one from Heretic due to the lack of potatoes, but that is a personal preference. [A]
Atmosphere: Harder Day has a cozy-industrial aesthetic similar to Heart. In addition to the typical bar seating at the window and small two-person tables, there’s a longer bench in the center for a more sociable experience. Those wishing to read or work undisturbed can still do so in the nook off to the side, with less overhead lighting and warmer desk lamps. [A]
Alternative Drinks: Harder Day utilizes Portal Tea’s West Coast Chai concentrate. Due to the way they mix it, the chai is less sweet than other places — but still sweet. The flavors are well-balanced with spice. As per usual, our personal preference would be to order with higher amounts of concentrate. At $5.25, it’s very reasonably priced while beating most of the competition. Additionally, they serve Portal Tea matcha and other loose leaf teas, many of which we recognize from Portal. [A]