Riff

I was crushing hard on this coffee shop on our trip to Bend, Oregon. Riff wasn't just a coffee shop either. It was a bar, restaurant, and maker of specialty cold brew coffee. There are really only a few places out there that even serve cold brew, let alone a place that specializes in it! Riff seems to have really found a void in the coffee market in the Bend area and have made themselves a nice little niche to live in.

First, to talk about the cold brew, I tried the Southpaw cold brew on Nitro. Riff organizes their cold brew menu according to the caffeine level... Southpaw was fairly middle of the road, but was still more concentrated than a single cup of traditionally brewed coffee. It was also served with the option of Nitro. I learned that weekend that a beverage that is described as "Nitro" is infused with nitrogen in the same way that a carbonated beverage is infused with carbon dioxide. While carbon dioxide makes a beverage bubbly, nitrogen makes a beverage smooth, with a creamy head. The cold drink was served in a double-walled glass that was both stylish and functional. Southpaw was delicious and creamy with hints of cocoa nibs and I would have easily had another if I didn't mind the caffeine jitters!

Not only was the cold brew amazing, the entire shop was designed. The funky color scheme was apparent in the furniture and even the mural on the wall matched the entire vibe of the space. One of my favorite details was the taps on the bar, providing a contrast to the fun pops of color with dark welded metal. The varying heights and turns add interest to an otherwise simple bar top.

And lastly. The restroom. Am I the only one who loves to look at the design of a restroom in a public space? Seriously, the restroom is usually the first place to be value engineered when it comes to meeting the budget and I always love to see how the restrooms are designed in cool spaces. The restroom itself was very simple: concrete floors, painted walls, rubber base. It was clear that either design was not taken into consideration or some really cool things got cut out here to meet the budget. This being said, I was pleasantly surprised to see the fun color on the grab bars and wall hung equipment! As low budget as a restroom like this might be, I'm sure it did take a bit more to keep the color on these pieces. Not to mention, without taking a tape measure, this restroom seems ADA compliant! But that's another post for another time.

Are you craving cold brew now? 'Cause I am. -C