BREATHE WITH A CUPPA

Photo by Bethany McCurley // the Advocate

The wind whirled like the storm of essays, bills, and responsibilities clouding my thoughts. I let the music blast on the way to my 9 a.m., but it wouldn’t drown out all the stress of a busy life, so I kept driving. The turn to Division passed, the route I normally take to school, but it was blocks too late to convince me I was going to class.

So, where could I go for a day to escape? Where could I go to catch up to my thoughts? Normally I would head to the hills to be alone with the trees, but nothing came to mind.

The moment I entered Intent, the smell of a freshly brewed cup crashed over me and seemed to stop the business of life from following me past the door well.

It was the first time I visited the eight-week-old coffee shop that replaced Silk on the corner of Stark and Hogan, and I was pleasantly surprised.

If you want a regular coffee stop where you are known by name and drink, Intent is the place. Although the decor changed when the owners closed the Gresham Silk to concentrate on the home-location by Dodge-Park, the new Intent owners kept three of the previous baristas, who maintained the familiar atmosphere for previous customers.

The service was always friendly at Silk, but I wasn’t a fan of the girlie cluttering of decoration. Intent’s rustically modern style is a perfect mix between clean-cut and cozy. Exposed wood, pipes, brick, and an accent wall offer warm colors to the window-covered café.

On usual mornings I drink a strong, home-brewed breakfast blend with a splash of milk. I drink coffee for the taste, not the sugar. I am by no means a coffee snob, but when the manager talked about his favorite blueberry infused roast and his 10 years of exploring coffee, I knew I would get a quality cup.

When I finally settled into a leather sofa snuggled in the corner with my New York Times Magazine and a bold cappuccino, I looked about and knew I could finally breathe.

Advocate Staff