As Oregon transitions from cold, rainy winter to the first sunny days and green leaves of spring, you may be craving something different from eggnog and cocoa.
Margin Coffee Roasters in downtown Albany is making that change possible with their new springtime special menu, offering four beverages to usher in the proverbial April showers and May flowers. Joining the Margin menu for a limited time will be the cozy lavender honey latte, perfect for the unavoidable rainy days that Oregon experiences even into June, as well as an adaptation of traditional Indian golden milk infused with turmeric and ginger.
For an all-time favorite that was kept throughout spring and summer in 2024, Margin’s strawberry matcha returns for a victory lap, as well as the unique and refreshing espresso tonic that mixes fizzy tonic with ice cold espresso for a flavor experience that’s an acquired but surprisingly popular taste.
I was excited for an encore of my favorite from last year, the strawberry matcha, and it did not disappoint. Served in a delicate glass, the green of the matcha tea mixes with the pale pink of the strawberry milk to create a subtle ombré from sage to lavender to blush that calls to mind the appearance of budding spring flowers. The flavor is a fruity spin on the herbal taste of matcha, which has an iconic grass-like flavor that can be off-putting to some but is refreshing to fans of the tea.
Even those who think matcha tastes like drinking their front lawn should try this special, since the brand Margin uses (Jasmine Pearl) has a subtler flavor than many matcha brands and is also balanced by the sweetness and mild tart flavor of the strawberry milk. It’s a great introduction to matcha, which can take time to get used to.
Margin Coffee Roasters opened on Second Avenue in downtown Albany in 2018, serving pastries, sandwiches, and various beverages. The owner, Gabriel Anderson, opened a second location on I-5 in 2022 with a stronger visual focus on the craftsmanship of the coffee and a more industrial design.
It’s much quieter than the bustling downtown location if you don’t want to have to (non-violently, of course) fight for a seat on busier days. Either way, Margin is a staple of Albany’s downtown culture and their new special menu gives customers a chance to coast easily through the margins and onto the main page of spring.
This article originally appeared in the May 2025 edition of The Commuter.
