The space has a warehouse feel, with floor-to-ceiling garage doors, and warm, international decor, thanks to the owners' frequent travel to the beans' countries of origin. They serve a lovely selection of Speckled Ax coffee as well as locally sourced pastries, teas, and herbal goods. Those obsessed with espresso can choose from a bevy of single-origin selections, and the bakery puts out tender, flaky pastries worthy of a stop in their own right. It’s right down the street. © 2020 Condé Nast. Its chalkboard-painted tables, bright colors and oversized polka dot pillows will inspire your inner writer, while the good coffee brewed fresh will keep you working (or not) all day long. Updating Map... Return to Map . The coffee is solid (my personal favorite is the malt iced coffee) and there are a ton of pastries to choose from. If there’s such a thing as an old guard in Portland’s coffee world, Coffee By Design could be it. Not only is Tandem Coffee one of the best coffee shops in Portland, Maine, but it’s arguably one of the best and most Instagrammable cafes in all of New England. They serve coffee from the local who’s who of roasters and have a thumping take-out selection of beer and wine. The husband-and-wife duo behind this coffee shop moved around the country before making Portland their home. “Fun unique coffee shop - great food and...”, “Scrumptious breakfast sandwich combo make...”. 3. Higher Grounds, a small cafe on Wharf Street, a pedestrian-only thoroughfare in the Old Port, is part coffee house, part cannabis apothecary. I’ve included a few other spots below to check out too: Coffee Me Up is a newer spot here in Portland, I’ve been a few times and the coffee and food is good. It’s impossible to create a list of the best coffee shops in Portland, Maine without mentioning one of the absolute best – Coffee ME Up. Be sure to try the baklava, which are homemade by the owner's mother. I’ve never had any trouble with wifi at any of their locations either, which is a plus if you work from a computer. Can I grab a seat at Bard? As its name suggests, Hilltop Coffee Shop is a quaint, greenery-filled corner cafe atop Munjoy Hill. Coffee ME Up. If you’re looking to take a break and get a bit of work done, make sure to check this place out. Best Coffee Shops in Portland, ME. You’ll find organic beans prepared in a wood-fired roaster, third-wave principles galore, and one shop that’s poised to embrace the recent legalization of recreational marijuana (once Maine’s legislature finishes hammering out the details). Ready? If you’re a coffee nerd like myself, I recommend checking out their location in East Bayside (122 Anderson St). The husband-and-wife duo behind this coffee shop moved around the country before making Portland their home. Fuel up before you work your way down Commercial street. The coffee is great, the space is great, and the people are friendly. It’s a hipster paradise. With a faux pressed tin ceiling and exposed Edison bulb fixtures, Speckled Ax is the epitome of industrial chic. Though their processes are traditional and manual, sometimes the old practices are the best way – their coffee tastes great! With four locations in Greater Portland (including one in the flagship L.L. You can see a photo below: If you’re coming to town on a cruise ship, the location on Commercial street is super close to where you’d get off the ship at the Ocean Gateway terminal. After scanning some websites with similar lists online, I thought I’d create a definitive guide to Portland’s coffee shops. Note from Luke – Many of the guides on Mainer I’ve personally written, but I recently had someone reach out and asking where they should shop. See restaurants with gift cards. They roast their coffee using a vintage Italian Petroncini that’s wood roasted. Ad Choices. You’re in luck. 1.) When I moved back, I checked out Speckled Ax and it’s my favorite coffee here in Portland. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 1/1/20) and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement (updated 1/1/20) and Your California Privacy Rights. Map. Its East Bayside location is the largest, home to a roasting operation, an expansive espresso and coffee bar, and plenty of seating for the laptop crowd. 620 Congress St. Portland, ME 04101. The location is near the West End on Congress Street (which cuts through the middle of town). Cafés in Portland Filter and search through restaurants with gift card offerings. ), Internet access? The shop is especially busy on weekday mornings, filling with commuters en route to work, neighborhood moms with young children, 20-something Hill residents, and the occasional remote worker on a laptop. … I refer to it as jet-fuel because it has a ridiculous amount of caffeine or something else that gets you absolutely wired (unlike any other spot in town). Satellite. The menu here is fairly standard for a 24-year-old coffee shop: coffee, espresso drinks, and tea, all served hot or iced. You can’t go wrong at any of these locations. The barista was serving Blue Bottle Coffee (he seemed to know what he was doing) and said something like “there’s this place in Portland where they wood-fire their coffee.”. CBD oil can be added to any drinkfor a bit of extra chill. We and our partners use cookies to better understand your needs, improve performance and provide you with personalised content and advertisements. Best Coffee Shops in Portland, ME. Map updates are paused. If you drink beer, check out this list I made of great breweries in the Portland area or our favorite cocktails list. You won’t have to look far for good coffee in the Forest City. Higher Grounds is a stylish coffee shop in Portland’s historic Old Port ‘hood. Find the best spots to drink, including fun, trendy, rooftop bars and more. Zoom in to see updated info. As someone who avoids shopping like the plague, I definitely... I’ve lived in Knightville, South Portland for almost three years. It’s a great place that’s conveniently tucked away from the busyness of the Portland area, yet still close to a lot of the action. For example – does Tandem have wifi? Stop in to impress someone with your coffee knowledge, for some of the best nitro cold brew in town, or to recharge while exploring the Old Port. This shop is a must-do for anyone on a food-related visit to Portland. These 10 Unique Coffee Shops In Maine Are Perfect To Wake You Up. Reset zoom. I can’t comment on the wifi, but it’s pretty popular spot so far. Filter and search through restaurants with gift card offerings. Bard Coffee may be 10 years old, but it's keeping up with its third-wave competitors with single-origin coffees, lighter roasts, and perfect pour overs. Tandem opened in a cozy East Bayside brick building in 2012, only to expand a few years later into an old laundromat. 7. Hilltop Coffee Shop (100 Congress Street). We have suggestions. Over the last few years, Portland has established itself as a great city with a lot of great cocktail bars. Drip coffee, espresso drinks, and pour overs are also available. Zoom in to see updated info. Owned by a couple from Albania, the shop has Middle Eastern influences. If Tandem is too busy for you, go here instead. The Proper Cup is a newcomer to the scene, but it’s my wife’s favorite spot in town. Bean store), Coffee By Design is Portland's oldest coffee roaster, celebrating 25 years in business this year. Owner Bob Garver recently redid the interior, ditching the shabby-chic furniture and replacing it with rustic farmhouse tables, bright orange stools, and large-format prints of coffee farms. For a city of 70,000, Portland, Maine punches above its weight when it comes to coffee, with more than a dozen local coffee shops packed into the two square miles of the downtown district. Satellite. It’s a solid spot and I’ve never been disappointed with the coffee. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. (I work from a computer, so this matters quite a bit). They also purchase exceptional coffee from farmers at prices far above the fair trade minimum. If Tandem is too busy for you, go here instead. This website is sponsored by Friday, a tech company here in Portland…that I happen to have founded , The Best Coffee Shops in Portland, Maine (2020 Edition), The Best Breweries in Portland, Maine (2020 edition), The Best Cocktail Bars in Portland, Maine (2020 Edition), Our favorite local shops in Portland, Maine, Knightville, South Portland (A complete guide to the area), Ease of seating (can I get a seat easily or not?