Friends Share Cà Phê Opens November 3 in Portland

Banh mi and phin coffee. — Photo credit: Friends Share Cà Phê

Friends Share, a community space in outer southeast Portland located in a former dispensary, opened their doors on Saturday, October 12 after months of planning and work. Among the activities happening there is a Sunday pop-up called Friends Share Cà Phê—a “slow drip” social cafe inspired by Vietnamese coffee culture. Their launch is this Sunday, November 3.

When I came across Friends Share Cà Phê, I knew I wanted to learn more. First, the location intrigued me; I am a big supporter of efforts to build and nurture community in East Portland. (And yes, it’s nice when there is food and drink involved!)

Second, I had seen fleeting references to Friends Share Community Space earlier this year, and I wondered if they were connected—and they are. The community space’s goal to provide a place where everyone can feel welcome, safe, and can connect with their fellow humans. And some of those opportunities will be through endeavors like Friends Share Cà Phê.

So, along with my research, I contacted the folks behind Friends Share Cà Phê, and was able to connect with Daisy Cao, Founder and Community Programs Director there.

The Friends Share Cà Phê Grand Opening

First, though, what’s going on this weekend with their grand opening? On Sunday, November 3, head there from 10am to 2pm. There will be a menu of coffee, tea, chocolate, and banh mi, all made to order.

Banh mi artful. — Photo credit: Friends Share Cà Phê

Here is a quick rundown of the menu (full details on their Instagram).

Coffee: Black or made with housemade sweetened condensed milk (both available hot or iced), brewed with traditional Vietnamese phin metal filters.
Tea: Jasmine tea with a seasonal syrup option (both available hot or iced).
Cocoa: Hot or iced, sweetened with their housemade sweetened condensed milk.
Bahn Mi: Fried egg, fried tofu, or fried chicken sausage. You can add paté, veggies, or pickled things to it.

The Friends Share Cà Phê Location: Hopefully a “Third Place”

Daisy was kind enough to tell me more about why they chose this location in East Portland, in a small mall on SE Powell near SE 150th Avenue. Essentially, they found there was a void worth filling when it came to building community in their part of town. “After moving into our neighborhood out at the edge of East Portland, it became apparent that a cozy little cafe was just what was missing for us,” she explained.

She continues, “Our pop-up cafe is one of many ways we are working to bring folks together. We pride ourselves in being a third place, a ‘neighborhood living room,’ and creating this space where people can immediately feel safe and at home is crucial for us.”

“Our whole team is incredibly excited and proud to be opening Friends Share Cà Phê. We chose to be a slow drip, social cafe because in a sea of quick fix coffee, there is an obvious need for more community-centered spaces that prioritizes intentional connection. It will be a place to catch up, gossip, share stories, exchange ideas, and connect.”

Community Through Vietnamese Coffee Culture

Daisy believes the coffee culture of Vietnam is a perfect vehicle to get folks to slow down, relax, connect—all while savoring a delicious cup of coffee. She finds it deeply inspiring, in part because of its importance in her own Vietnamese heritage.

“My connection with coffee is deep,” she explains. “I grew up drinking coffee super young. My grandma always made a hot cup of Folgers instant coffee mixed with a spoonful of condensed milk that sat in a porcelain container on the counter.”

She continues, “I also spent almost six years working in specialty coffee, learning everything you could possibly know about coffee. I met some of my best friends while working in the coffee industry, both customers and co-workers, many of whom became chosen family.

“As someone who is now working in an office environment, I genuinely missed the social aspect of being a barista in a coffee shop. We knew all of our regulars, their orders, how they liked their coffee, their stories, who they were. We learned about their lives, the good and the bad, and without even realizing, it deeply connected us to our community.”

Daisy’s Picks

I love asking folks I encounter in my work about their menu favorites, and Daisy shared hers. “My favorite thing on the menu is just a traditional cup of Vietnamese iced coffee (cà phê sữa đá),” she said, “sweetened with our housemade condensed milk.”

She adds, “And add a fried egg banh mi on the side! Now you know what my Sunday breakfast has been for years. Pro tip: ask for added bird’s eye chili for some real spice.”

Friends Share Cà Phê grand opening poster.

Final Thoughts

I really enjoyed learning about this new pop-up and hearing Daisy’s thoughts on creating community. The coffee-social ritual cherished in Vietnamese culture that she is able to bring to Friends Share Cà Phê is a beautiful thing. “To me, coffee is truly about community, and what makes it special are the conversations you have while enjoying it,” she explains.

“By emulating Vietnamese coffee culture, slowing down to get to know someone new sitting next to you or catching up with a friend, we hope that Friends Share Cà Phê becomes a hot spot for connection, bringing new friends out to East Portland or just being part of our neighbors’ Sunday routine.”

I think this is absolutely wonderful. I hope you will head to Friends Share Cà Phê this Sunday, and for Sundays to come. P.S. Remember—our clocks fall back to Standard Time on Sunday!

Friends Share Cà Phê [opening November 3, 2024]
14814 SE Powell Blvd, Portland
Instagram