Double Shot: Push X Pull
Walkability/Accessibility [C]: We have, for the most part, exhausted the cafes close to Reed, so it is unlikely that any place will get an accessibility rating above a C in the future. That being said, PXP is still particularly troublesome to get to. It requires at least one bus transfer from campus, potentially using a less than frequent service bus, unless you want to take an extremely long ride on the 19. We were willing to make the schlep out twice to do this review, and are more than willing to do it again, but it is a long trip.
Pricing [B+]: The prevailing sentiment is that everything was absolutely worth the price, but higher than average for what you get. We had to split this review into two visits because of the price. The coffee is highly unique and peerless, but the food doesn’t reach that mark. You will pass by Dos Hermanos on the walk from the 70 bus stop; dip in there instead to get a sandwich or pastry before PXP.
Coffee Quality (and option variety) [A+]: Without a doubt, PXP has the best coffee we’ve ever had. The latte was solid, the cortado was great, and the pour over was beyond compare. We got a pour over of one of their coffees that was co-fermented with jasmine, and it was simultaneously fruity and floral while being perfectly balanced. The coffee combined the best elements of both jasmine tea and typical coffee in a way that compromised neither flavor. It needed absolutely nothing added to it, and indeed, it would have been a crime to modify it. At $12, their pour over is the most expensive drink we’ve rated, next to Heart’s pour over at $8. We think it’s worth it, and better than Heart’s pour over. Their Suzy specialty latte has honey, cinnamon, and salt: the beverage combines the elements perfectly and sets the coffee flavor as a backdrop upon which the other flavors can shine. This drink celebrates coffee in a way that we don’t often see places pull off. Their cortado is also very good; it’s rich without being heavy or overbearing, for a quality self-contained drink. It has almost earthy elements to it, while remaining familiar.
Food Quality (and option variety) [B-]: The sandwich had a perfectly cooked over-medium egg, bread resembling a sweet English muffin, and a touch of salt added to balance the cheese. It was very good, but too small to be a meal. Their waffle, judging solely by its quality (and not the toppings), was the best waffle we’ve ever had. It was firm and crispy, with high-quality maple syrup. The only downside is that there’s no protein, so it’s more of a gourmet snack than a meal.
Atmosphere [B+]: PXP has a cozy-industrial aesthetic, with visible structural beams, natural light, large blocks of bright color, and a lot of plants. It seems like a more pastel version of the style Heart is going for. We think they pull it off better, with the caveat that we’ve only been to Heart’s Woodstock location, not their main location in Burnside.
Alternative Drinks [A]: Their chai is Desi chai brand, which Ishani says is the best American chai he’s had. It’s aromatic and complex, with cardamom, nutmeg, and cinnamon. It’s more milk and sweetness-forward than spice-forward, but the spices stay in the picture rather than being drowned out, as we’ve seen in so many other chais. PXP has the best loose leaf tea selection that we’ve seen outside of actual tea shops, with a PXP-exclusive oolong flavored with roasted juniper berries. It’s a light and fruity green oolong, and the fruitiness completely disappears on the resteep to let the tea show more of its velvet oolong colors. The employees told us the correct steep time, which we’ve previously only experienced at tea shops. Their Mao Feng green is a light and complex sencha, pleasant and not astringent. They source their tea from a variety of vendors. The ones we tried were all sourced from AT Tea. They offer additional hot water for resteeps on all the teas, which is just the cherry on top.
We’d like to thank Zander Scholl for the PXP recommendation, and Steve Abrahão for the recommendations for Blue Kangaroo (last week’s review) and other upcoming reviews.