Portland Street's slow-to-arrive Jimmy's Coffee at 107 Portland Street (Portland and King West) has become home-base for a snarl of area dwellers crushing for blueberry scones, muffins and croissants. This slender, clever café, with its deceptive breeziness and confident residential vibe gives off the general impression that Portland Street will be an upcoming hipster zone; other under-construction spots on the street are further confirmation.

The new coffee shop, just down from the Spoke Club and Bier Market, takes over what was an otherwise abandoned townhouse on Portland. Owner Phil Morrison (former actor, now contractor) swooped in and took over the space in spring 2009. Throughout a long summer of construction and city permit delays (there was a strike, remember that piece of business?), Morrison, who used to have The Bohemianbar, and was a partner at Healey's whipped the townhouse into a sweet little space for espresso gourmands.

The long narrow space is divided into two areas, both small but cute. An ornate metal ceiling was installed, and a handsome floor of quarter-sawn pine was resurrected. The resulting look-and-feel is a cross between Aunt Mabel’s Brooklyn home and a West Coast café. As for the name, Jimmy's, there doesn’t appear to be an actual Jimmy on premise; rather, the name is more of an ode to all the wickedly cool Jimmy’s in the world. To further that “Jimmy” ethos, the walls are graced with photos of famous Jimmy's: Hendrix, Dean, Carter, Morrison – they’re all here.

Behind the bar, Ashleigh “Max” Waters, (from Hank's) delivers friendly service, and she's damned serious about coffee. And what else would you expect from a java junkie other than the richest, most savory cup this side of Bogota?