So deep is Portland’s coffee legacy, so closely aligned is Portland’s coffee identity, that it’s almost impossible to visit the city’s impressive bumper crop of historic cafes while also paying tribute to the exciting new players on the scene. The correct visit to Portland requires you to do both: enormously important third wave bars and exciting brand new locations, one right after the other, a living history of coffee in the 21st century with an eye to the future. One brand new cafe in Portland is called Matta, owned by a family from Colombia with a background in coffee cultivation. Add this to your ever-growing list.
The 2024 Build-Outs of Coffee is presented by Ceado and Dona. The 2024 Build-outs of Coffee is sponsored by Pacific Barista Series, La Marzocco, Acaia, and Ghirardelli.
As told to Sprudge by Aura Matta.
For those who aren’t familiar, will you tell us about your company?
Matta Café is a special place that showcases the incredible coffee that my father Manuel and I produce on our farm in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia. We take great pride in growing and selling microlots of honey and washed coffees that are full of flavors like caramel, chocolate, and nuts.
Our farm spans 59 acres, and every step of the coffee production process is done with utmost care and attention. Along with selling our coffee internationally, we also run coffee shops in Santa Marta, Colombia. And now, I am thrilled to share that we are expanding to Portland, Oregon! We are eager to bring a piece of our family’s legacy to the vibrant coffee scene in Portland and create a welcoming space that reflects our passion for coffee. Our goal is to establish a headquarters for Matta Café in this new location and continue sharing our love as farmers for specialty coffee with the world.
Can you tell us a bit about the new space?
Our cafe was meticulously designed to evoke the essence of my roots in the coffee plantations of the Sierra Nevada and the vibrant spirit of Santa Marta. Our goal was to create a sensory experience that combined the Caribbean lifestyle with the rich history of coffee farming. In collaboration with Colombian architect Julián Gómez, we selected materials such as wood and natural tones to create a warm and authentic atmosphere that reflected our heritage. The space is adorned with handmade lamps and green foliage, including banana leaves and palm trees, symbolizing our connection to nature and coffee farming. The predominant green color throughout the cafe pays homage to the Colombian jungle and our pastoral roots.
We have also brought a thriving coffee plant from our farms to adorn the entrance, emphasizing our ties to the land. This living coffee plant is our way of teaching our customers about the coffee process from cultivation to cup.
Our menu features traditional Colombian dishes that evoke a sense of home, including Pan de Bono, arepas with various fillings, empanadas, and plantain chips. We also offer a selection of espresso cocktails that highlight the unique flavors of our coffee. Our signature drink, the cold brew coconut coffee, is a favorite among our customers and transports me back to hot afternoons in Santa Marta. Each dish and drink on our menu holds a piece of my heart and aims to offer a taste of Colombia that will make you feel connected and alive.
Having officially opened on May 26, 2024, we are excited to spread the word about our coffee shop. We are preparing for the next harvest and plan to introduce a special honey from our microlots.
What’s your approach to coffee?
We are a Colombian coffee farmers family with more than 20 years of experience in the cultivation of high quality coffee beans. We have great recognition as producers in Colombia and as international distributors/roasters.
Any machines, coffees, special equipment lined up?
We work with a Linea Classic from La Marzocco.
How is your project considering sustainability?
Sustainability lies at the core of our project. We have taken significant steps to ensure that our business operations are environmentally friendly and supportive of our community. We utilize multi-crop soils to cultivate our coffee, not only yielding high-quality beans but also replenishing soil nutrients. Our water conservation initiatives involve the use of plants that facilitate water management and safeguard the water from the pristine springs of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta that originate on our farm. As both producers and direct sellers of our coffee, we reduce the carbon footprint linked to intermediaries and bolster the local development of our community by providing fair wages to our workers and emphasizing the use of honey coffee, an environmentally friendly method that results in exceptional flavor.
As coffee growers, we prioritize sustainable practices in our technological processes, employing precision technology to reduce waste and mitigate our environmental impact. Through these endeavors, our aim is to educate and foster a culture that celebrates the land from the viewpoint of dynamic coffee producers. We have established a sustainable business model driven by the desire to take action and enhance our community, while, as stewards of the land, we tend to our crops diligently.
Thank you!
Thank you so much! As specialty coffee farmers, this moment is beyond exciting and absolutely emotional for us. Taking this monumental step into the exciting world of entering the international coffeeshop scene is a dream come true!
The 2024 Build-Outs of Coffee is presented by Ceado and Dona. The 2024 Build-outs of Coffee is sponsored by Pacific Barista Series, La Marzocco, Acaia, and Ghirardelli.
