A J Java

I just moved right across the street from this place. If you’re a baby about a «chic» setting and ambiance, or if you’re a total coffee snob, this might not be the place for you. I know good coffee when I taste it and this isn’t the best in the world, but I absolutely love this place nonetheless.
The coffee is good enough and the people are so friendly. The vibe when you enter is so welcoming. I am an online student– I haven’t come to study yet but I most definitely will be. I would take a friendly atmosphere and kind, excellent service over coffee snobbery and chic settings any day. High quality coffee is easy to find but it’s not often you happen upon a place with such friendly people. But that’s my flavor, and that’s what I value, and I know it’s not for everybody.
4-​stars

This place is rather nice. It has a lot of newspapers scattered about a table. It probably is a standard for all coffee places. There are seats where you can sit down and read. I ordered my white chocolate mocha to go and I didn’t leave. No — what I did was to sit down and read more newspapers. Yes, the mocha and all coffee drinks maybe a bit expensive. However — the fact is that it has the air of a lived in house and does have a lot of bike parking. It’s a coffee shop. There’s not much you can ask for with a full sheet of grades on specific areas — which is ironic given that this review is on Unilocal.It’s a coffee shop off of Albina.

2 stars for friendly service and convenience. The coffee is okay. Everything is very commercial and cookie cutter here. They even have Costco muffins. I hate when coffee shops have stupid store bought pastries. Especially in Portland! The shop itself also is not welcoming or inviting.

First and only impression: how is this place still in business in Portland of all places?
A J Java just fails on every level, and there is nowhere to hide. Portland is a coffee-lover’s town, and people know the difference between coffee that is properly roasted and brewed and coffee that tastes like a throwback to the 80’s. This place has no atmosphere, and the coffee is terrible. It’s weak and bitter at the same time (think «French Roast» but with less body – or diner coffee, but more bitter). And do they really think they’re fooling anyone with those Costco muffins?
There is so much roasting and brewing knowledge in this town. There are so many lovely bakeries that would be happy to deliver fresh pastries. There are so many garbage dumpsters that would be happy to receive your «decorations.» There is no reason that this couldn’t be an awesome café in such a great location, right across the street from Peninsula Park, and there are people willing to pay good money for good products and support their neighborhood café. I live a block away, and I walk to Arbor Lodge or Woodlawn for a nice coffee. I simply cannot brook bad coffee and chemically-​preserved muffins when the real thing is just a little bit more effort.
I really sincerely hope they get it together, or fail and let someone else deliver us the café we deserve as Portlanders.

Popped in for cold coffee beverage on a hot day. And… eh. The espresso in my iced latte was mediocre at best. Took the latte to-​go, and the indoor atmosphere (kind of dumpy) did little to inspire me to return.

This place is the worst. When I walked in, the barista was texting, with earbuds in, standing in front of the case. I didn’t even realize she was talking to me because she didn’t look at me. The sandwich I got had stale dry bread and giant chunks of raw onion. There was like half an onion on this sandwich. Not tiny little slices either; it was cut like an apple.
The rude barista also started poking my feet with a broom until I lifted them up for her to sweep under me. This was 45 minutes before closing. Probably the worst service ever.

I love this place. Eleza is wonderful, and the AJ style Americano is delicious. I have spent a lot of time here, a lot of time, and miss it everyday. When I was going to PCC it was the perfect distance to just walk down, grab a cup, relax and read before my next class started.

Great place for a great coffee… Unilocalers check it out
Great service everytime
Great conversation
Great atmosphere

This place is strange. I really don’t understand how they are still in business. Perhaps it’s because they are located near a bus line. Or maybe because it’s for the parents because it’s across the street from the playground at Peninsula Park. I’ve been here once and don’t really see the need to go again. Although it’s very near my home, I’d rather walk to coffee in the Dekum Triangle or to Arbor Lodge.
Food options are minimal and suboptimal. Had a breakfast bagel sando there… saw the meat being heated up in a microwave. It’s possible that even the foodiest of places do this too but I didn’t like seeing it with my own eyes. And the bagel was stale despite being toasted.
I do, however, like their intentions for their business. They partner with the community and help disadvantaged youth via a training program. They aim to reflect the diversity of the neighborhood, which it does well. I’ve seen a good variety of people flow through here, something I also see at Peninsula Park which is one of many reasons why I love this neighborhood. They also roast their own coffee. Good on ya!

My wife and I went here for one of their coffee roasting classes on a Sunday afternoon.
The owner herself teaches the class, (6 students max) and she is so friendly and helpful and knowledgeable. She spent all the time we needed answering our questions and never once made us feel dumb for asking, I’m sure, ridiculously silly questions about coffee roasting.
Before the class even started we were offered our choice of free coffee drink.
After the class we were given a free bag of fresh roasted beans and 2 bags of unroasted beans for us to try our new-​found skills at home roasting!
We live in Hillsboro, way too far to regularly frequent this place but we will certainly make the effort to buy our unroasted beans from them.

I’m not a coffee fan, but my boyfriend and I had to go here to use the Groupon I purchased for AJ on the Rails which recently closed for good. Fortunately they honored the Groupon at the coffee shop. Eddie and I arrived for a late-​morning breakfast. He ordered an espresso while I had my little hot chocolate. We sat on the comfy couch and noshed on our bagels.
Eddie also bought a bag of coffee beans which has been well-​received by his co-​workers for their morning caffeine jolt. I think if we lived closer, we would probably frequent this place. But living downtown puts us so much closer (and in walking distance) to Stumptown.

I really want to love this little spot. The couch is comfy, the wi-​fi is free, and the lady that made my coffee was truly lovely. All of those things and the lack of sweetened/​flavored soy milk prompt me me give AJ Java the third star.
But… it is a coffee shop and I really found the coffee to be uninspired at best. It tasted rather over roasted to me lending a faintly burnt taste to the the somewhat bitter note I expect. The foam for a soy cappuccino was one of those over-​steamed, giant clouds topping the cup. I know this a standard for some people for cappuccinos, but I’m a dense layer of foam type of purist.
The bagel was the kind of giant squishy white bread types you can find a lot of places. The hummus that topped it, a sun-​dried tomato variation, was both pasty and overly salty. All in all it satisfied my need for a quick breakfast, but aside from the squishiness and saltiness it was really unmemorable.

My wife and I went to this store a couple of times. We feel the place was pretty cool and the coffee was really flavorful. It would need to be as I think I’m kind of a coffee snob. Cozy place. Off the main drag (MLK) but still within the freeway. Pay them a visit. Mmm…

I’ve rambled into this coffeeshop disheveled and in some pretty wacky outfits several times in the last month.
No one’s made fun of me or made any snide comments, shot any looks of judgment, or otherwise inferred that perhaps I should get my life together and not stumble through the door at 6 am wearing last night’s fishnets, eyeliner running down my face, and clutching a handful of coins that will hopefully total $ 1.90, which is the exact price of a delicious Americano.
And I thank them for that.
The brewed coffee is terrible; opt to spend just a teensy bit more coin on espresso-​based drinks (opt for AJ-​style, the shots are pulled longer) instead. The pastries/​bagels appear to be of the Costco variety. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying I’m above that, especially in the (very) questionable get-​ups I’ve shown up there in lately.
It’s a pleasant neighborhood shop, and as long as they’ll have me, I’ll keep showing up in ridiculous outfits. On no sleep. In dire need of wake up juice, ready to face the day!

Part of the joy (seriously, joy?) of going to the gym at 5:30 every morning with my roommate is the tiny window of time between leaving the gym and getting home to shower and get ready for work. This window of time is best filled by one thing: coffee. Our house is located equidistant from Starbucks (…) and AJ Java. We, being bleary-​eyed most mornings, never really, heretofore, focused on the existence of AJ Java. We changed that this morning.
Thrilled! Couches, tables, wi-​fi, computers for public use, and I even spied a chess set on one table. They have a small tea selection and make a pretty delicious soy latte (with unsweetened soy milk — I realize I’m in the minority here, but I don’t need a post-​workout caffeine AND sugar jolt).
They do a punch card. except it’s a list. A handwritten list on which they’ll find your name and tally your drinks. Double punches on Monday!
The lady behind the counter was damn friendly for 6:30 AM and wished us a blessed day. From her personality to the latte to the abundant reggae fliers on the wall, I’ve found my new spot for my morning coffee.

Brandon is right about the Americano — I always get it AJ style! It is good! I put honey in my coffee and when they ask for room for cream it’s used up for the honey I put in. Now, I’m not a coffee aficionado, so I don’t know if it’s ‘wrong’ to put honey in or not, but honey is better for you than sugar, I think.
It’s nice to sit out side on one of their tables and watch the park on a weekend. During the week days it’s a little too noisy because of the auto detailing shop sharing the building.
Free Wi-​Fi and two computer stations to use, I think they are like $.50 per hour or less. Lots of local organizations and things are allowed to put up posters or drop fliers on the counter.
They have vegan muffins now for $ 1.95, which I haven’t tried.
Minus one star for having Charlie FM playing poppy music and no newspaper to read.
Here’s a sample of the music they should be playing:
I like my honey with coffee and cream
Got to keep it (the cappuccino machine) going keep it going full steam
Too sweet to be sour too nice to be mean

If you’ve read my other coffeeshop reviews, you know I always judge by the Americano. AJ Java first taught me to love the Americano. AJ Java made a woman out of me.
Or rather, the cowboy did. Every Saturday morning started with walking the boyfriend’s dog in nearby Peninsula Park, and every walk started with AJ’s.
I’d ask for an Americano, and on cue, the cowboy would tilt his head, flex a muscle or two, and innocently ask, «You want that long and stiff, AJ-​style, right, sweetie?»
Years later now, the boyfriend is gone, the dog is gone, the Saturday morning ritual is gone, but AJ’s still makes ‘em long and stiff. Best Americano, ever.
Minus a star because the pastries are bleh and the cowboy disappeared — probably fled town on the business end of a jealous shotgun.