Posts by Mark

For a long time, we’ve only sold the Technivorm brewer. It was the only high quality brewer we could find that was simple, reliable, and brewed at 200 degrees for 5-6 minutes, two important factors for delicious, flavorful (and not bitter) coffee.

The US market now has access to a European competitor of the Technivorm, called the Bonavita. It is available in both glass and thermal models.

As you would expect, a lot of people are comparing the two brands and asking our opinion of which model to purchase. The Bonavita and the Technivorm have similar claims to brewing time and temperature, so we did a side by side test of each brewer, and here is our opinion of the pros and cons of each:

Read more…

Ellanie and Ethan give it a go in the Clive Coffee showroom, using the Izzo Duetto.

If they can, you can too.

Clive at Five is back! We’ve got some excellent cocktails in the works. Sneak away from the relatives for a minute and enjoy some good music and company. In the mood for shopping? We’ll have some showroom-only discounts available during the party. Whether you’ve got $20 or $6k to spend, you’ll get a little extra boost to your buck.

Jenn Lawrence of Letterpress PDX will have a mobile letterpress on hand. See it in action and take home a pre-holiday momento.

Bring a friend!

RSVP here

Clive Coffee deals exclusively with a carefully curated selection of the highest quality coffee making equipment available today.  Our passion for the best gear is born from a passion for the best of what coffee has to offer. We’re in it for the craft, the ritual, the pause for reflection inspired by good coffee, the first sip on a freshly roasted, carefully brewed cup that causes your world to break for a sublime moment of gustatory relish. But once in a great while, something challenges your paradigm.

Read more…

The La Spaziale Mini Vivaldi II has had a place in our showroom for almost a year now. We’ve admired its gush of powerful dry steam for microfoam and consistent shot temperature for nice, sweet pulls. However, the black plastic side panels just weren’t quite up to the finish level of the other machines on our bench, such as the Andreja Premium and the Izzo Duetto. We decided to build some side panels out of the same Oregon black walnut that we use for the Clive Stand. The walnut plays nicely with the shape of the Vivaldi, lending it a mid-century aesthetic. Pricing available upon request.

The classic French press is renowned for its simplicity and rich, full flavor. Follow the steps shown in this video for delicious french pressed coffee! 

The press shown here is the Frieling French press.

I’m pleased to announce that Clive Coffee is moving! We have found a space that is more than double our current 738 SE Washington location. Our new showroom will have an expanded line of products on display and ready for a hands-on demonstration, plus a new lineup of classes for making great coffee at home. Home espresso machines in Portland can be difficult to find, so we’re pleased to move to the centrally located historic building at 79 SE Taylor St, just six blocks north of OMSI. Our neighbors include clarklewis, Bunk Bar, Water Avenue Coffee, and Hair of the Dog Brewery. We are moving this Saturday, and the new showroom will be be open on Wednesday, June 29th at 11 am. Stay tuned for details on our grand opening party!

Here’s a preview of the showroom space.

Check out our 90 second video on the Rancilio Silvia; it gives a quick overview of how you can use the machine to make great espresso drinks. Stay tuned for a “how to” on the Silvia which will demonstrate our version of temperature surfing and our tips for getting great microfoam out of the Silvia.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dr9kH8JCmDk

If you’re wondering, the intro is a short animation that Mia Nolting did for us. It’s a quick glimpse of the Portland skyline view from our place in SE Portland. The birds are the famed Portland swifts. You know, cuz we like to put birds on things.

Our friends at New Deal Distillery have taken our Ethiopian Harrar Longberry and turned it into a delicious coffee liqueur. We’re celebrating the launch on Friday, March 4th, 5-7pm. Taste the liqueur straight, with espresso, or as a custom White Russian, on us. RSVP at the Facebook event page.

Making great espresso at home requires a certain amount of practice. We are pleased to announce our home barista classes, which are designed to give you an introduction to the principles and practice of the craft.  This two hour class will cover the basics of dialing in your grind, pulling a great shot, and steaming milk. This class is very hands on, so come prepared to get your hands dirty in pursuit of great espresso! Class size is limited to 2 to 4 people to ensure a great experience.

Read the details and reserve your seat! Next class is Saturday, February 19th from 10 am to noon.