The Love of Coffee and Community Giving

How great is this- there is now a training program for homeless youth and teaches the art and science of becoming a barista. Coffee shops, as we well know, are an integral part of Portland's landscape. What a great skill to teach to help kids get off the street and into the working class.

P:ear and Caffe' Vita have teamed up to create the training program. Hope it goes well!

Find out more here:

http://www.pearmentor.org/

http://www.caffevita.com/

Looking for a night owl barista:)

Southeast Grind is once again hiring and we are looking for a qualified barista with experience that is a night owl. If interested, please apply at the cafe. We only accept applicants that turn in a one-page, professional resume. At the moment we are looking for someone to work the 12am-6:30am shift.

What we are looking for:

• Someone who loves coffee shops and the people that frequent them
• A knowledgable barista with experience
• Ability to maintain a positive attitude, regardless of circumstances
• Earth and health conscious motives
• Self motivated and a team player
• Hardworking and ambitious
• Excellent customer service skills
• Fun, flexible, outgoing personality
• INTEGRITY a must!
• Ready to start immediately

We look forward to meeting you!

Cheers,

Kacey and Paul

Art Showing This Friday at 7pm!

Here at Southeast Grind we believe in promoting what makes Portland such a stellar place by featuring local artists, choosing local vendors, and honoring all things eclectic and fun.

We also love any excuse for a celebration:)

So this Friday, May 15 we will be featuring a new local artist and would like to invite YOU to join us for the fun. Starting at 7pm at the shop, 1223 SE Powell Blvd, we will have drinks, snacks, art and music for your enjoyment. The artist that we will be featuring is the girlfriend of our first regular, John. Andrea, the artist, has a website portfolio where you can check out her work, and it's very easy to browse. It's http://www.magicpugpictures.com/. John and Andrea have a cute little pug that loves baseball and going to Bark in the Park Days at PGE Park. Here's a little blurb about Andrea:

"I grew up in Bakersfield, California, and graduated fifth in my class of five-hundred from Bakersfield High school in 2003. I received the Bank of America award for promising artistic performance, after participating in the advanced placement art and animation program.
I started college at the University of California, Santa Barbara as a double major, art studio and art history, but was not blown away by the studio program, so I just kept the art history major. I graduated in 2007 with a bachelors degree in art history in the top five of my major, and received the thesis paper award for that year, earning a distinction in the major.
I just moved to Portland this year, and love love love it! My next adventure I think will be going to tattoo school- I'm so excited!
Other things I love... playing the piano, dogs with squishy faces, anything Disney, cheese, comic books, lord of the rings, nerdy stuff, coffee, tee-shirts, good beer, changing my hair color, cooking, movies, decorating, painting and drawing, and lots of other stuff too:)"

If you haven't had a chance to stop by the shop yet and seen how the place has evolved, now is a great time!

Hearts,

Southeast Grind

Why choose local coffee roasters?

Coffee tastes the best when it is fresh roasted and made with love. It tastes even better when it is creating better working conditions for the farmers that work so hard to make it available to us.

We know that there are many great local roasters here in Portland (we're so lucky here). Even after considering and tasting most of them, Paul and I both came to the conclusion that even if we served another great local roaster we would still seek out a cup of Stumptown's Hairbender blend now and again. After realizing this, it makes the most sense to choose OUR favorite coffee to serve at Southeast Grind.

It's not just the flavor though; we choose to serve Stumptown Coffee for more reasons than just the fabulous taste. The way that they handle thier relationships with the coffee bean growers is shaking up the coffee industry in stellar, progressive ways. Not only do they buy beans at higher prices than 'Fair Trade' but they work directly with the growers to insure that working conditions are suitable and healthy. One Portland independent business working with independant growers all over the world. It's this direct relationship and keeping things transparent that we like as well. Get the story straight from the horse's mouth here:

http://www.stumptowncoffee.com/

This is also the reason that we choose as many small, independant business as we can when selecting our vendors. Small business has not got the love that it has deserved lately and we like to support and promote the ones that are doing great!

Now it's your turn. Come down and support your local coffee shop, Southeast Grind!

Back to the Grind

I am finding that people already call us 'the grind'. It's cute to hear over the phone when people say, 'wanna meet up at the grind later?'

Thank you so much to all the people that came and helped us do the quick change over. At one point there were about 20+ people working, cleaning, organizing, painting and just being plain awesome. We appreciate your help more than you can imagine!

Sarah, our logo artist, came down and painted the windows to draw in some of the Powell traffic. I saw a video that she posted somewhere that I'll try to find and post up here as well.

If you haven't been into the shop yet, it's time. We are in full operation. All of the baristas are super friendly and knowledgable about the menu. I think that we are all having a blast, but the most important part is that the customers are enjoying their experience. So far the Hemp Hazelnut Latte and the Marionberry/Blackberry Smoothies are the biggest hits and they definately are yummy!

We are still in the creation process, so if you have requests or suggestions, send them my way.

Did you check out the website yet? It's www.southeastgrind.com

Logo designed by Payton with 1 Family Productions

Website up and running

Here's the link, check it out:

www.southeastgrind.com

The site is still a work in progress, so we appreciate your patience. It will be awesome when it's up and running. Thank you Patrick! It has an awesome messenger board that you can access from the coffee shop or home.

Would you use a printer if it was at a coffee shop?

New Coffee Shop in SE PDX

Those who may be familiar with Fireside Coffee Lodge located at 1223 SE Powell Blvd will be happy to know that as the new owners we will be making positive improvements and changes.
My partner and I will be reopening the shop as Southeast Grind, A Music and Art Cafe.
Southeast Grind will be featuring:

• A clean, comfortable atmosphere
• Improved coffee, beverage and food selections
• Excellent customer service standards
• Hours TBA, but will stay open later
• Free wifi and computer use
• A warm, cozy fireplace
• Rotating local artists
• Earth and health conscious methods and products

We appreciate feedback and suggestions on how to make Southeast Grind your favorite local coffee shop!

Now Hiring!

We will be opening our doors soon and we are looking to hire a couple baristas fitting the description of:

• Hardworking and ambitious
• Excellent customer service experience
• Barista experience
• Fun, flexible, outgoing personality
• INTEGRITY a must!
• Positive mental attitude
• Effective communication skills
• Earth and Health Conscious

How to apply:

1. Email resume to southeastgrind@gmail.com
2. Email us what you love/hate about coffee shops
3. Write contact information in body of email

We are a new coffee shop opening in inner Southeast Portland on Powell Blvd. Interviews will begin on 3/30/09. Please apply by 3/29/09.

e: southeastgrind@gmail.com

Thanks!

Paul & Kacey

Opening April 20!

Southeast Grind will be opening it's doors by April 20, 2009!