Cenote
Double Espresso on Ice
Seemingly a city cut from a cloth similar to Portland but laced with southern charm I was still a bit put off on the local coffee scene after my experience at Irie Bean when I stopped into Cenote for a pre-dinner pick-me-up, the cozy confines offering shelter from inclement weather even if baristas again proved far less hospitable than hoped. Located in a converted home built in the late 1800s and serving local roaster Cuvee’ in nearly every form but drip it was with the request for a double over ice that I received an obvious eye roll and without a word save for the fee due I was left to wait, another youngster who never made eye contact prepping my drink as the clerk turned attention back to a local ‘weekly’ mag. Admittedly less contrived and far more chill than Irie while also serving a more balanced brew with better music I must say that after my front door experience I quite liked Cenote, but left to chuckle at the bathroom graffiti about beards and thick glasses I think it is safe to say my service was not an isolated incident and in a city otherwise quite friendly I think this is one area where ATX could stand to be more PDX – a city where coffee is gospel and baristas guide and speak sermons to the beans without the holier-than-thou horseshit.
