Wired On Burnside: Great Local Coffee in West Portland, Oregon

Atmosphere is the biggest scoring opportunity in the contest for coffee-drinker loyalty. Portland's coffeehouse owners know we want a cafe to offer us intimacy when we need it for a date or meeting, and community when we feel like talking about the rain or the news. Nowhere else do you find an atmosphere of intimacy and community like Wired On Burnside, a tiny java joint with a huge personality.

Wired is the communal living room for its city block, and in classic neighborhood-watering-hole style, everybody knows everybody. Its defining characteristic is its size; less than 200 square feet of seating area means that customers share tables and crowd together on the loveseat. Fixtures like "Sally the Coffee Nana" make sure newcomers and regulars get to know each other, and a brief stop for a cup to go can easily turn into fifteen minutes over a shared crossword puzzle.

Not that Wired can be dismissed as quaint. Portland has been recognized as America's new capital of coffee culture, and Wired rides that current without ostentation. Daily drip is an occasionally rotating slate of world-class coffees from local microroaster Kobos. Shots are hand-pulled on a vintage La San Marco cappuccino machine that is worth a trip just to marvel at. The best reason to give Wired a try is the service; power barista Justin Mosley (who staffs the place singlehandedly five days a week) has the gift of making every customer feel like his favorite customer.

Wired's menu features traditional and contemporary espresso beverages, adventurous hot and cold tea drinks, and blue-collar breakfast carbohydrates. There are no drinks over four dollars; a 12 oz. latte is $2.05 ($1 on Wednesdays), large black coffee is $1.75. A steamed concoction called the Bowl of Soul is the best sore throat remedy I've ever had, combining chamomile, lemon myrtle, honey, and vanilla soy for $2.00.

Lunch at Wired is one of West Burnside's best-kept secrets, just steps away from the glut of Trendy-Third Street bistros. House special sandwiches include a delicious hot corned beef rueben and The Dude, a mountain of cream cheese, veggies, and deli cuts on a bialy bagel. Go early in the week for Justin's fresh curried chicken salad. Portions are generous, and at $3.15 for a half sandwich and chips, Wired is a fantastic alternative to fast food if you need to eat and drink for less than five bucks.

Wired On Burnside: 2190 W. Burnside Suite A. (503) 221-9786. 7am-5pm Monday through Friday, 9am-5pm Saturday, closed Sunday. Two people for lunch and coffee, $10-$15. Free wifi. Small as it is, you can't miss it from the street--look for the bright green neon proclaiming "CAFFEINE."