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Ambitious, inspiring and caring are just a few of the words Myshel Portz’s friends and family use to describe her.
“She’s a legend in these parts,” said Woodside resident Becky Thatcher.
Portz said she was the “house mom” at Buck’s of Woodside for more than 21 years, working as a host, server and bartender. She then was a bartender at Alice’s Restaurant for three years, where she organized the music programs. Her experience in Woodside’s hospitality industry, coupled with her reputation for attentive service, earned her the nickname “Mayor of Woodside.”
In May, the Woodside resident fulfilled her longtime dream of opening a coffee spot, Mountain Mama Java, and has since been growing a loyal customer base.
“I think we all follow her anywhere, really, just to interact with her, say hi, support her,” said Thatcher, one of her regulars.
Portz’s business is centered around a mobile trailer made from a 1967 Stidham two-horse trailer outfitted with a La Marzocco espresso machine. She travels all over San Mateo County, from Woodside to the Coastside – and her regulars follow.
“It is the best coffee in town,” Redwood City resident Joe MacKessy said. “She’s very personable, and she has a connection with everybody. She’s the glue of the community.”
The name Mountain Mama Java comes from Portz’s caring demeanor as well as her roots in Woodside and the community at large.
“Everybody calls me mom, because I mother everybody, whether you’re older or younger than me, doesn’t matter,” Portz said. “It’s just in my nature.”
Portz grew up in the restaurant business, with her dad working as a chef and her mom as a server. At 18, she worked at Printers Inc. Cafe in Palo Alto and always loved the idea of owning a coffee shop of her own, drawn to the community-centric aspect and the comforting feeling of a cup of coffee. While she dreamed about a brick-and-mortar store, the startup costs were just too high, so she pivoted and searched for a trailer.
While the enterprise may be small, the menu is expansive, with all sorts of espresso-based beverages made with beans from Redwood City’s Connoisseur Coffee as well as teas and Italian sodas. Portz offers eight milk options – including organic lactose-free low-fat milk and coconut milk – and 14 syrups ranging from blackberry to lavender. All drinks are customizable.
“I love making you just the best cup of coffee, just how you want it: stronger, weaker, one pump of vanilla, whatever it is,” she said. “I just feel like there’s a closeness, like you make a new friend every time somebody comes to your coffee shop.”
The drink Portz is most known for is her Mexican mocha, a spiced chocolate-forward latte.
“The Mexican mocha is a wonderful, wonderful drink. I think she does it the best,” MacKessy said. “She’s got secret ingredients that she won’t divulge.”
Another specialty beverage is the OMG Becky, named after Mountain Mama Java regular Thatcher. It’s an iced double espresso with a thick layer of foam that’s topped with Mexican hot chocolate.
“(Portz is) everybody’s angel, watches over people,” Thatcher said. “I’ve seen her almost jump over the bar to catch a child who was about to hurt themselves before their mother even saw what was happening.”
Portz says her own children have been a big help in starting her business. Her daughter, Sara Portz, described her as a “go-getter.”
“(My mom is) just relentlessly ambitious,” she said. “I don’t think there’s anything in the world that could stop her her drive.”
Portz’s sister, Maria Bowen, said Portz’s hardworking nature is a trait instilled by their father, who was a business owner and chef. When Bowen started a clothing line, Portz organized pop-ups at Alice’s Restaurant, and the outpouring of support was astonishing, Bowen said.
“People wanted to support my sister, therefore they wanted to support me and all her friends,” Bowen said.
Lucky customers may even find fudge at Mountain Mama Java, handmade by Portz’s sister, Liz Ruiz. Ruiz’s business, Fudge Love, features flavors such as rocky road or dark chocolate orange.
But beyond the fudge and coffee, Mountain Mama Java regulars say it’s Portz’s presence that brings them back.
“She doesn’t just make coffee,” Thatcher said. “She gives advice, she encourages, she makes you laugh.”
To find Mountain Mama Java, check her Nextdoor profile. You can often find her at the Horse Park at Woodside, Silicon Valley Motor Club, Half Moon Bay Nursery and OceanCiders.
Mountain Mama Java, 650-630-0447, Instagram: @mountain_mama_java. Find her at Half Moon Bay Nursery (11691 San Mateo Road, Half Moon Bay) March 13-15 and March 27-29 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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