Some places are worth writing about. Not because they asked, not because they paid, but because something about them lingers—long after the plates are cleared and the check is paid. Castor is one of those places. This isn’t a takedown, a critique, or a ranking. It’s a reflection. A thank you. A defense, maybe. And most of all, a celebration of a restaurant that changed the way I think about food in a small town.

Corvallis might be a small town, but when it comes to coffee, it punches above its weight. Three shops rise to the top—Coffee Culture, Bodhi, and Futura—each with its own flavor, philosophy, and following. This isn’t a ranking. It’s a look at the places I keep going back to, the ones worth sitting down for. Whether you’re chasing consistency, community, or something a little more conscious, there’s a cup here with your name on it.

Corvallis has no shortage of places to grab breakfast—but not all of them make the cut. In this post, I’m sharing the three spots I always come back to. The ones I send people to without thinking twice. Maybe your favorite made the list. Maybe it didn’t. Either way, here’s where I think breakfast actually matters.