Portland is the largest city in Oregon and is known for many things, from beer to bicycling. The city is known for small businesses, especially in food and drinks, so it is safe to say it is a haven for foodies.
Not unknown to many, Portland is famous for its coffee scene, just like Seattle. If you’re a tourist or a local, one is bound to notice the ocean of coffee spots in the city and want to explore the varieties the place has to offer, just like Chicago. Here is a comprehensive list of the best coffee shops in Chicago for you.
In Portland, Oregon, there are so many options, and it is likely that one will get confused. To save you, here is a list of the 10 best coffee shops in Portland, which is also called the hub of Third-wave coffee.
With mastering infinite stops from roasters to shops, Portland takes the game of coffee very seriously. So, without any delay, let’s dive into it!
1. Coava Coffee Roasters
Starting in 2008 at Matt Higgin’s garage roaster, Coava Coffee Roasters now has four locations in Portland and one in San Diego, California, and is undeniably the best coffee shop in Portland, Oregon.
Located South of Portland, they are known for their location and extraordinary roasted coffee taste, which has taken the bar of coffee lovers and baristas too high. It is common for multiple cafes in Portland to source from Coava beans like Albina Press.
All of the Coava coffee roasters‘ in Portland are large and the tables have enough space so customers don’t feel suffocated and ventilation is taken good care of.
The flagship store on Grand Avenue is the most famous of all Coava Coffee Roasters as it has an industrial vibe or what one might categorize as a modern coffee shop as it has a rustic vibe and a cozy atmosphere with exposed wood and if that wasn’t enough, natural light but for the record, every Coava shop has this décor giving everybody a chance to experience their specialty.
The friendly baristas are always polite and maintain a welcoming and respectful atmosphere. Their skilled hand makes it one of the best coffee shops in Portland making it a must-visit for not only locals but also tourists.
If you’re of environmental concern and a coffee addict, Coava is a must-visit as it is sourced sustainably, and every delicious coffee cup is ethical to the environment. It is all about quality and hosts free coffee cuppings, giving all caffeine addicts a chance to feed their addiction!
From the menu, visitors often recommend trying out the Kilenso coffee- it is a type of Ethiopian Coffee. It is made through a natural process, and people describe it as drinking a strawberry.
Every Coava store menu has two filter coffee options, which are different, and also 2 espresso options. Besides that, it also is special when it comes to latte art. In the famous flagship Grand Avenue store in SE, the filter coffees are made on Chemex and are not batch-brewed.
2. Good Coffee
Standing up for their name- the only thing they can never go wrong about is serving a delicious cup of coffee or what their regulars call it- excellent.
Besides coffee, another good thing about them is that they partner with NGOs and local organizations to promote a better future for Portland. They do this in a way where they make special coffee bags and tell about an organization’s story on a cup of coffee and donate 20% of that price to the organization!!
That’s a bargain to have coffee AND support development and an inclusive community for all coffee lovers.
Their space is big, with comfortable seats and a natural atmosphere that gives a homely feeling. One can visit this place if in a cozy mood as it has warm décor and a welcoming atmosphere with plants all around, making the place feel dreamy, as some people put it.
One can relax here or even work if they prefer, as it is equal to working from ‘home’ except you have a ‘good’ coffee and support the Portland development.
Even if one is not local and is simply visiting, you can also take a look and get yourself a souvenir of mugs made by hand by locals.
All five locations of this café adhere to the promise of good coffee. The five are modern and ventilated, where one can work, catch up with friends, or read books. The place has dreamy vibes anyway, and on top of that, one can either choose inside or outside to enjoy their menu order.
Good Coffee’s roastery is in Troutdale and although nothing from the menu can disappoint, it is recommended to try anything in a latte or drip coffee.
Specifically, one can go for Tamarind Date coffee soda– a Colombian coffee that is cold brewed for almost 22 hours and dates and tamarind fruit.
With its high-quality beans, one can buy a bag for themselves or order online by subscribing and getting the ‘good’ beans at the doorstep.
3. Proud Mary Cafe
Both a restaurant and a roaster, Proud Mary Cafe is indeed one of the best coffee shops in Portland, Oregon. This Melbourne-based company is only located in NorthEast Alberta, making it a must-visit for people living in Portland and around.
Proud Mary is the best coffee in Portland, and its coffee can be found all over the city, for example, at Cathedral Coffee in North Portland.
The café has brought the Aussie-style coffee shops by including brunch and has outdoor seating that is full of greenery. Despite the high price, every cup you order includes an explanation of bean origin and information on the farmers that harvested them on a card, making it worth the money.
The long menu does look confusing as hell, but if you feel adventurous, there is no need to worry cause nothing is disappointing about it. Proud Mary is aware of the long menu; for your convenience, it is categorized into wild, mild/deluxe, and curious.
Besides brunch, this best coffee shop also has breakfast and pastries available, so you can enjoy a little snack besides your little dose of caffeine. Even though everything is delicious and worth trying here are a few things one can try if super-confused.
Proud Mary has the options of avocado toast, flat-white, new-to-you coffee bean, filter coffee, pour-over (which is usually temperamental, but theirs is fruity, acidic, and bright, chocolate-dusted cappuccino, tea (chai/loose-leaf), avocado toast, Dungeness crab omelet, any espresso, sourdough toast with koji cultured butter and chickpea fries.
One can also order and subscribe to get their whole beans at home and make a brew, making it a perfect place that just wants to serve the best coffee and bring the Australian culture to the USA.
4. Stumptown Coffee Roasters
With multiple locations (four in total) across Portland, Stumptown Roasters is where no one wants to miss the opportunity to visit. Starting in 1999 in Portland, it has raised the bar for good coffee to the level that no one other than Starbucks broke worldwide. But it is still considered the OG and the best coffee in Portland.
The popularity of this roaster and its coffee can be easily noticed by the fact that one can get it from any local place in Portland and can also be found in other places around the USA, like New York City. Cause of this, people also say that Stumptown had led to a mini-revolution during the third wave of coffee shops.
One of Stumptown’s coffee roaster stores, which is also a hotel- The Ace, is fairly popular too! And with its quality and popularity, it also has stores in cities like Seattle.
Despite developing a new coffee place on every street corner, Stumptown is still the god of all and is treated with the same devotion by the locals.
Currently, Peet’s Coffee owns it. This world-known roaster is known for its professionalism and the coffee quality with variety. The baristas here are friendly, and if you have an issue with deciding what to order, they readily suggest or answer your doubts. If it’s not rush hour, you can sit and chat with them too!
One can try a light and fruity single origin, a dark roast, any latte cause of their perfect latte art, cold brews, or any of the espresso drinks at the Stumptown coffee shop.
You can also purchase their beans and get to make them according to your taste and comfort since it’s all about the quality that the gem-like Stumptown has mastered.
5. Water Avenue Coffee Company
This roaster café started in 2009. Despite being new in the pool of coffee shops in Portland, Oregon, it has made its reputation throughout Portland as one of the best coffee places.
Popular amongst the locals, Water Avenue coffee is popular for taking care of the environment, and economic and social issues. Water Ave coffee shop delivers its partners their coffee within a 50-mile radius, including Bean Box.
The southeastern café of Water Avenue Coffee in Portland is located near the Willamette River giving a different vibe to the customers. The place used to be an industrial area, so the café has a similar theme décor. Another café opened in 2016 in Portland’s downtown location, showing its demand.
This place is perfect for any event, from casual office meetings to friend reunions or reading that unfinished book.
Besides the best coffee in Portland, you can also try their breakfast, which is equally amazing as the popular coffee. They serve the very famous BAKESHOP pastry. One can also try the breakfast bowl.
Amongst coffee options, smooth pours are more famous than cream drinks. One of the unique options that set Water Ave apart from most coffee shops is bean Mexico Guienashi which originates from South Oaxaca.
Due to the popular roasting quality, any of their espressos especially won’t disappoint.
You can also get a subscription and their seasonal brews!
6. Heart Coffee Roasters
With the founders from Finland, this roaster has Nordic vibes. It was started by a couple who began roasting coffee beans at their home, but now it has grown big enough to have its own supply chain.
They source their beans from all around the world, such as Brazil, Ethiopia, Guatemala, and Mexico. Due to the high quality of these beans, heart coffee roasters have made a special spot at the heart of their customers.
With several locations in Portland, Oregon, they are said to be minimal and hygienic. The places are perfect for any activity, from meetings to solitary activities. The cafes are majorly famous for their chic interior, which Gen-Z readily considers Instagram-worthy, apart from their excellent coffee.
The thing that sets Heart Coffee apart making it the best coffee in Portland among the countless coffee roasters in Portland, is the report on Transparency. Unlike other commercial companies, Heart Coffee took this job and has been doing it pretty perfectly.
The report includes Heart Coffee’s impact on supply chains by including exact prices the company paid for the coffee and farmers they buy from.
The report is evidence of how much care and effort is put into a single cup of coffee and it also helps the corporation have good and direct relationships with the farmers, something which is uncommon usually.
Heart Coffee shop has also gained appreciation from popular critics like Conde Nast. Of all three locations, Eastside café is most popular for again an ‘Instagram’ worthy picture due to its centerpiece of a coffee roaster.
With Scandinavian décor, the three cafés make every cup with precision and quality. Brews like Chemex are normal here, which makes the customer come back.
7. Never Coffee
The small shops in Belmont in the East and one in downtown Portland are fun places to spend your time as it is one of the best Portland coffee scenes. Unlike the name, this place always serves coffee, and the ‘?’ is meant to keep you excited about the surprises.
Each colorful coffee bag has different flavors with the funniest descriptions. One can look at those through the Never Coffee website, as it is bound to make you smile and want to visit this place.
Despite the off-beat name in the list of the best cafes, this one is bright and full of energy cause of its pastel indoor décor. The neon sign near the door gives a retro vibe, which is Instagram-perfect and gives a glimpse of what you can expect.
These tiny cafes are also known for serving in vibrant cups which are an important part of the caffeine experience and get ignored usually by other companies.
The coffee at Never Coffee is the best besides the service. The barista here is said to be friendly, making you feel comfortable, but is equally professional. Their precision hands will brew your favorite cup.
Never Coffee also has seasonal flavors like fennel and shishito peppers, which are made creatively and perfectly. This artisan-like and innovative place that serves drinks with cocoa and herbs is said to be less of a coffee shop and more like a lab due to the diversity in coffee.
Their specialty coffee is said to be creative as they have many traditional and innovative flavors that one can hardly try at other places. One can also choose non-dairy milk.
If feeling too indecisive, you can always choose from the recommendations from their customers, which include Hug- a spicy mocha, Oregon- made with dulce de leche, cascade hops, and Jacobsen Sea Salt, Rich Kid- combined with saffron, cardamom, and rose water and lastly the oat milk latte.
These special names with funky descriptions make one bound to try anything they haven’t tried before, and it’s never disappointing.
One can order an amazing coffee package at home, which is also delivered with a free prize.
8. Prince Coffee
This Dutch-inspired café was made possible when the owner started loving Holland and tried introducing their culture when settling in Portland.
Prince Coffee gets its beans from many roasters in Portland, including Proud Mary– another gem of the best coffee in Portland. Because of this, people often categorize them as curators, which are shops that source beans from different roasters, which are usually local. There are very few best cafes in this category, and Prince undoubtedly tops this one.
Due to being locally sourced, one can get experience and a taste of the diversity that Portland has to offer in terms of coffee.
Coffee at Prince is as extravagant as the name. One can try made in-house stroopwafels (waffles with the filling of caramel) and, Stroop latte– the most Dutch things, Anijsmelk Latte- a Dutch recipe that is made by mixing anise syrup with warm milk, espresso, and nutmeg.
It also has its kitchen on the site and serves baked goods like pastries, bagels, and Sandwiches.
9. Roseline Coffee
Roseline Coffee is popular in Portland, Oregon, and owes its name to two origins- Portland is known as ‘rose City’ and rosetta- a latte art.
Apart from serving excellent coffee, it is a small roster and is famous for its different coffees of single origins and sweet options like lemon, apricot, and honey.
The most famous drink here is the Rose Honey Latte, which is topped with cardamom and rose petal garnish. If not, one can always try decaf macchiato or any of their pour-overs and single-origin offerings. Besides coffee, one can also get pastries to satisfy their sugar tooth.
10. Ovation Coffee and Tea
This well-lit and spacious coffee place has its uniqueness, which sets it apart from the ocean of coffee shops at every corner of Portland and makes Ovation Coffee of value.
Known for its great coffee, it has a huge diversity of coffee. It also has options for tea drinks.
If you’re visiting and confused about the long menu of quality coffee, Rosie Sun, Bean Box E-Commerce Fulfillment Manager recommends Spiced Matcha Latte and Moroccan Pistachio Latte (customers recommend trying it with homemade scones) as they are their specialty coffee.
If these two don’t work for you, you can always try any of the espresso-based drinks and cappuccinos, but the Moroccan spice is its specialty.
Closing Thoughts
Portland is the place to visit if you’re a coffee addict. From ambiance to options, it never disappoints. Being home to world-known supply chains, the Portland coffee scene is no joke.
If you want to host a party, get together, have a meeting, read a book, have a date, or simply feed your addiction, you can get a good coffee within walking distance. Hopefully, this list of the 10 best coffee spots will help you sort out your must-visit places for coffee.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Are coffee shops in Portland open late?
A: The hours of operation for coffee shops in Portland can vary. Some may stay open late, while others may have shorter hours. It’s best to check with the specific coffee shop for their hours of operation.
2. Are there any unique or specialty coffee shops in Portland?
A: Yes, there are a variety of unique and specialty coffee shops in Portland that offer unique blends, brewing methods, and atmospheres. Some may focus on local beans, and others may have a specific theme, such as a bookstore or coffee shop.
3. Do coffee shops in Portland offer food options?
A: Many coffee shops in Portland offer food options, such as pastries, sandwiches, and other snacks. Some may also offer a full menu. It’s best to check with the specific coffee shop for their food options.
4. Are there any outdoor seating options at coffee shops in Portland?
A: Some coffee shops in Portland may offer outdoor seating options, such as patios or decks. It’s best to check with the specific coffee shop for their seating options.
5. Do coffee shops in Portland have wifi?
A: Most coffee shops in Portland offer their customers Wi-Fi. It’s best to check with the specific coffee shop for their wifi availability.
6. Are there any pet-friendly coffee shops in Portland?
A: Some coffee shops in Portland may allow pets in their outdoor seating areas; it’s best to check with the specific coffee shop for their pet-friendly policy. Don’t forget the check out the coffee menu, it’s only filled with things like coffee drinks, cold brew, and deadstock coffee roaster specials.
7. Are there any coffee shops in Portland that are sustainable or environmentally friendly?
A: Some coffee shops in Portland may focus on sustainable and environmentally friendly practices, such as using reusable cups or sourcing beans from ethical and sustainable farms. Researching and checking with the specific coffee shop for their sustainability practices is best.
