Columbia River Coffee Roaster

Columbia River is a working roastery, not a finished cafe. The W Marine Dr site in Astoria is mid-renovation, and the owners give tours and pour samples to walk-ins anyway, which is the whole point of stopping by while the work is still going on around you. The shop is moving toward a full cafe but isn't there yet, and the owners are honest about that. Drip coffee and milk options are the extent of the drink menu for now. No espresso bar. The bag to take home is the Thundermuck dark roast, which is also available as drip for people who want to try before buying. Other roasts in the rotation include the Johnny Tsunami, the Yes! roast, and a pink bourbon medium roast for people who want a lighter cup with more clarity. Sparkling strawberry lemonade shows up when it's in stock and worth grabbing if it is, which it isn't always. The coffee is also sold around town, including at Labor Temple, so you can find a cup without making the trip to the roastery itself. The trip is worth it if you want to meet the people doing the roasting and watch the operation work. The owners are the main draw of the visit, more than the menu, which is part of why the mid-renovation state isn't the dealbreaker it would be at a more finished operation. Plenty of easy parking, which Astoria appreciates. Hours are limited compared to a normal coffee shop, so check before driving over and don't expect the schedule to match a cafe with a full barista program. The owner-led hospitality and the samples are the reason to make the visit a destination rather than a pickup. Best for Astoria visitors and locals who want to talk to the roasters, see what they're working on, and grab a bag of beans on the way out. Not for anyone expecting a full barista program with espresso and milk drinks ready to go. Come back for that in a year, maybe. The operation isn't there yet, and the owners aren't pretending otherwise.