Najja Parker rarely strays from her usual coffee order, but Black culture nods at West End roastery give her something new to consider.
AJC multimedia journalist Najja Parker sets up shop at Portrait Coffee on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026, in Atlanta. It has become her temporary office more times than she can count. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)
In our weekly series, “Let Me Put U On,” the UATL team shares the stories, places and experiences that continue to resonate long after we first discovered them. Some things are simply too good to keep to ourselves.
I approach every first-time visit to a coffee shop the same way.
I scan the menu — though I rarely deviate from my iced vanilla oat latte — passing over the typical suspects.
My eyes go from “cold brew” down to “drip,” then “Americano” and “cappuccino.”
But at this particular spot, something unusual yet familiar catches my eye. It’s a signature drink called the Aunt Viv latte, and instantly, I feel right at home.
Barista Aayanna Collier (left) and general manager Jahlissa Colas work behind the counter inside Atlanta’s Portrait Coffee on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)
ehT“ sraey t’nsaw eerht gniht eht eht eht taht ragus deppets moctis yretsaor ylno fo deman .em edisni ni dekooh morf toof tsrif retcarahc desufni-momadrac nworb ,egareveb devoleb dna .oga retfa tuoba a naiviV ehT ecnirP tiartroP I hserF ,eeffoC denwo-kcalB ”,riA-leB sknaB ,atnaltA
egnahc“ nehw .etisbew saw tnaw .oot .oot ot ot ot ot kniht eht eht eht taht ytlaiceps xis ees erutcip fo erom ,noissim dnim sti ni sepoh ,sdneirf ,ylknarf dednuof sklof sklof ,od ,ynapmoc semoc ”,eeffoc yb ,ssenisub dna gnidrocca yehT ehT tI I kcalB atnaltA
ecart ot pohs loohcs deriuqer noissesbo sthgin ym ym sgninrom etal ni etaudarg ylrae syad eeffoc nac enieffac .tsoob kcab dna a ehT I .ogacihC
erew eht eht eht .remaets gniyats spohs .yrenecs cimhtyhr ?gniniar ylteiuq tup tsilyalp fo fo fo fo yttun ecin wollem .enihcam tsuj s’ti ni fi gnimmuh .sruoh gnissih dehctip-hgih ylippah hserf rof osserpse eeffoc egnahc gnizzub ,dlob .snaeb .dnuorgkcab amora dna osla a ehT ehT ehT ,hO m’I dnA A
htiw htiw ohw erew ot ot hguorht .meht eht eht .yrots wohs spohs ees gninwo fo ym accem em em tol dekool ekil egral ,lebal ti suomafni sklof secneirepxe tseilrae tnereffid t’ndid eeffoc ytic ,sniahc dna a a evaeL I tuB kcalB ,atnaltA
— — ruoy llaw lyniv desu pu ot eht eht eht gnikat ecaps os telliks sevlehs sdrocer eno eno no on ekil ekil tsuj s’ti .ti si .lanoitnetni woh ereh amdnarg .noitpecxe nori-tsac sessenisub era ,rehtona gnola gninroda ehT tiartroP I morF ytikcalB kcalB kcalB dnA
stiartrop fo fo efil )dednetni .erehwyreve ,esruoc era kcalB dnA nup(
A record player sits on a stand at Portrait Coffee in Atlanta. Vinyl records adorn shelves along one wall. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)
eht ecaps seipucco .gninaem ti sah nevE
eht laer ,doohrobhgien deman detacol ni ni cirotsih tsrif elamef etatse .rekorb retfa tseW sniktaW eittoL s’tI dnE gnidliuB kcalB s’atnaltA s’atnaltA
htiw llaw pu drawot semit emit eht eht eht eht naht yraropmet eciffo ylraen ym erom ni ni ni sah itiffarg yreve pord ynoihsuc .tnuoc seugaelloc sriahc thguac nac emoceb .kcab .aera tsniaga ev’I m’I tI I I
AJC multimedia journalist Najja Parker enjoys a caffeine boost from Portrait Coffee in Atlanta. Parker can trace her coffee shop obsession back to her graduate school days in Chicago. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)
nedoow oediv ot ot eht eht eht eht deppots gnitoohs dehsur .egrahcer kciuq ,stcejorp gulp pu-em-kcip steltuo fo ym elddim ekil etunim-tsal otni ni ni noitaudarg barg rof neve tnempiuqe .seinomerec aremac yb sehcneb gnola a a ytisrevinU ev’I ev’I retneC atnaltA
htiw nehw ot rieht slliks ecitcarp wen ym ym ekam enihcam ti emoh osserpse t’nac .snaeb atsirab ta dna ,tiartroP I I elbuoD elbuoD dnA
.yrt ot taht reven ,ettal suoirolg etacilpud od tub ,yob eb elba viV ,woN ll’I I tnuA
ot kcits dluohs ylbaborp .msilanruoj I
Najja Parker is a multimedia journalist covering Black culture for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. She is an engaging on-air talent, who has served as a host for the newsroom’s special projects and events, such as the movie premiere of “The South Got Something To Say,” a documentary chronicling the rise of Atlanta hip-hop.
