Coffee Avenue

Contrary to another reviewer’s opinion, this coffee shop has great bubble tea! As a bubble tea fan, I’ve visited dozens of Portland bubble tea vendors, and I honestly think this is one of the better options, though it can be slightly spendy for boba. At any boba shop, tapioca ball consistency can differ based on the cooking time, but Coffee Avenue usually gets them just right. I’ve ordered dozens of boba teas here, and I’ve never had one that tasted overly syrupy or bland. The owner often makes the drinks herself, and she offers a wide array of flavors for either coffee or boba tea. Non-​dairy and decaffinated drinks are available too, depending on the flavor. (Black tea boba, for example, can’t be made decaf.) The atmosphere is comfortable, thanks largely to the faux fireplace (electric) and a few easy chairs. The music is quiet enough to be conducive to students cramming for exams, although the customers themselves can be overly-​friendly! A chess set helps make this a great hangout. Give this locally-​run coffee shop a try and you’ll find it is a great asset to the Gresham community.

I feel bad, but I must tell the truth — this bubble tea sucks. It’s made with gritty, garishly colored powders, and the boba are too hard, with a displeasing flavor. I was assured twice that this is non-​dairy mix, but my vegan intestines tell me otherwise. So don’t get boba here. But! It is a cute little coffee shop and I bet they can do italian sodas and coffee pretty well. If you aren’t in the market for boba, test this shop out.