I am happy that I finally have a coffee shop that is a) in my building, b) cheap enough to patronize daily and c) my own. I enjoy being able to order things like “what John normally has” or “It’s afternoon, so you know what I want” (Earl Grey–it’s an afternoon tea! English Breakfast is for forenoon only–what am I? A farmer?!). I have a wonderful mug that I get to use every day. Tea–and I don’t mean, like, Lipton’s, I mean hand-filled linen (or is it muslin?) tea bags from Japan with good loose-leaf high-quality tea–with milk is only $.75 when I bring my own mug. Happiness.

Mr. French’s is at 107 SE Washington St., Portland, 97214 should you wish to sample. 7am-4pm M-F. Also yum yum pastries and nom nom snackaroos.

For PDX-ers still mourning the loss of local coffee chain Coffee People (summarily bought out of existence by Starbucks, who coveted their two drive-in locations on MLK Blvd.) might feel a little bit better knowing that there is somewhere that is still carrying the flame.

There is a shop on SE Grand Ave and approximately Oak Street (quite near Nicholas, the Miller Paint Store and Andy and Bax) called something like “Coffee Shop People” (it’s kind of hard to parse) . They serve Black Tiger and Velvet Hammer espresso drinks and milkshakes. Granted the coffee itself is Dietrich, but that’s as close as you’re going to get. Perhaps my Google fu is weak but they don’t seem to have a Web presence whatsoever, even on GMaps. I didn’t actually get a milkshake today (they’re $4.55 for a “small” and I’d just had a stuffingly yum Nicholas mezza), but I’m very glad to know they’re there.

Girl behind the counter says they’re all authentic Coffee People recipes. Anyone seen this place or tried their clones?

Also, RIP Torrefazione. You were too good for S’bucks, too.