Last week I stopped by Futura Coffee Roasters, a new cafe that opened in the old Fillmore Coffee shop location on NE Glisan in Montavilla. It’s a beautiful space with a full range of coffee drinks, plus a small food menu, pastries and bagels. Bottom line: it’s a great addition to the neighborhood.
Fillmore Coffee Is Just a Memory
My memory of Fillmore Coffee was of a dark space—looking at photos on their Yelp page, I can see why. The walls were painted black, there was a big dark blackboard above the counter, and the tables had medium-brown hues.
With Futura, the cafe seating area is light and airy with white walls and light-colored furniture that leans closer to a minimalist style, comparatively speaking. There’s an open seating area in the front, with tables, chairs, and bench seating heading toward the back.
My Coffee and Danish at Futura Coffee Roasters
I ordered a 12oz latte and a danish, both of which I enjoyed. With the coffee, the more I drank it, the more I liked it. It was made with a single-origin bean from Colombia and the most pronounced flavor it had was of cacao nibs. It was rich and delicious.
The danish I ate and the other pastries were made by Tabor Bread and it was filled with a layer of sweetened cream cheese topped with a berry compote. And if they aren’t already there, vegan pastries are in the plans.
Their “Choripan Sandwich” also sounds really good: Campfire Farms chorizo, salsa de ajo, La Porteña chimichurri, and a fresh cracked egg on a Dos Hermanos bolillo roll.
Additional Options
The coffee options include espresso drinks made with either a blend or single-origin coffee. You can also get your coffee as a pour over or via Aeropress—again, with either a blend or single-origin bean. Cold brew is also available. Add-ons include syrups, alternative milks, or even a breve.
There’s also tea, matcha, and chai among the drink options. “Ask us about our signature and seasonal beverages” also appears on the menu, and that’s certainly intriguing.
I won’t deny I like the branding of their bags of coffee, which you can always pick up there. I purchased one of the Act bags, and am looking forward to brewing it soon.
Futura Coffee Roasters and Regenerative Farming Practices
One of the things that sets Futura Coffee Roasters apart from the pack is their commitment to supporting regenerative agriculture practices (I mentioned this in an earlier post). Owner CJ Speelman brings up “regenerative agriculture” in a short quote in Montavilla News: “As a company, Futura Coffee Roasters see regenerative agriculture, the rehabilitation of soil and increasing of biodiversity among many things, as one of the key forces in combating climate change.”
You may be familiar with soil rehabilitation in biodynamic farming, which is similar but not identical to regenerative agriculture. But both approaches are dedicated to improving soil quality and making a positive impact on the Earth. Overall, the approach is very thoughtful when it comes to sustainability.
Developing relationships with farmers is key, and ethical sourcing is really important to Futura. That includes the materials used in the buildout—again, sustainability was high on their list, and that lead to using handmade materials (like the tiles behind the counter), and eco-friendly furniture, fixtures, and even in the wall treatments.
Futura Coffee Roasters is a comfortable place to spend time in, with high-quality coffee and food. Definitely stop on by and check them out. I’ll be back! They are open from 7am to 5pm on weekdays, 8am to 1pm on weekends.
Futura Coffee Roasters [opened February 2022]
7201 NE Glisan Street, Portland
Futura Coffee Roasters website | Instagram | Facebook
Updated April 21, 2025.
Meg Cotner
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