The Daily Meal – known for its extensive online culinary content – highlighted four Portland coffee shops today as part of its list of America’s 50 Best Coffee shops. To create the list, a handful of coffee experts “scoured the nation from Portland to Florida looking for truly remarkable spots to pop into for a little cup of heaven.” The criteria was based on the quality of the coffee, the culture of the shop, well-trained baristas and food. No. 35, Coava: "The friendly folks at Coava are all about two things: craft and hospitality. Their coffee buyers travel the world learning about farming practices, soil, and production methods to bring the best tasting coffee they can find home to their community. The shop itself is a welcoming space designed for coffee lovers to come together, united in their appreciation for the perfect bean. Coava is also committed to partnering with other coffee shops around the country, helping small businesses expand and succeed." [caption id="attachment_14814" align="alignright" width="297"] Coava Coffee. Photo courtesy of: TheDailyMeal.com[/caption] [caption id="attachment_14815" align="alignright" width="286"] Stumptown Coffee. Photo courtesy of TheDailyMeal.com[/caption] No. 28, Stumptown – Various locations: "Throw Stumptown into the great coffee debate, and you’ll get a variety of opinions. Some people love it, some hate it. Some say it doesn’t deserve to be called a great coffee shop -- that it’s gone corporate. Yet the coffee experts we spoke with all acknowledged that Stumptown is a damn fine cup of coffee. No doubt that Stumptown was the game-changer in the field of coffee; what Starbucks is to Seattle, Stumptown is to Portland." No. 24, Barista: "Serving three locations throughout Portland, Barista’s owner, Billy Wilson, is barista royalty in the Pacific Northwest, having won three Northwest Barista Championship titles. His coffee shops focus on showcasing obscure and out of town roasters, giving the little guys a chance and breaking from the norm. In addition to delicious coffee, Barista also serves pastries from Food and Wine’s Best New Chef Nominee Joshua McFadden’s Roman Candle Baking Co." No. 14, Heart: "Heart Roasters owns two beautifully minimalist locations in both East and West Portland where they serve up their Thrive Farmer’s Good Food Award-winning house roasted coffee. But they’re also willing to ship their beans around the country; they even sell the same equipment they use to brew their coffee on their website. Their shops are as sophisticated as their flavors, with Scandinavian chic décor and an in-house DJ on Friday afternoons." [caption id="attachment_14816" align="alignright" width="260"] Heart. Photo courtesy of TheDailyMeal.com[/caption] What is your favorite spot for coffee in Portland? Why? Renaissance Homes is an award-winning Street of Dreams custom home builder specializing in green building, remodeling and renovations for the Portland market. Visit our Design Studio to personalize your next home.