Last Updated on April 5, 2023 by Sammie
Top Coffee Shops in Portland Oregon to Work In
In the land of rainy days and caffeine-filled mornings, it’s important to know where to get your cup o’ joe fix. Here’s a list of the best coffee shops in Portland Oregon.
It must be stated that when I asked multiple locals where to get the best coffee, most kind of giggled and said “anywhere”. But I appreciate a good ranking like the next guy and coffee is life so I did some digging, sampling, and researching.
I concluded Portland is Coffee Land.
“Barista” is one of the top guys in the Portland Coffee Scene
Is Portland Known for Coffee?
Oh my dear yes. Portland has hundreds of coffee shops. Some joke that you can enjoy a cup of coffee at one coffee shop while watching another coffee shop open up across the street.
Portland is the epitome of specialty coffee. Just as microbrewing became hot in the 80s, Portland took and continues to take the science behind coffee to new levels, year after year. Though Portland is home to the original Starbucks, I’m not talking about big coffee retailers when I say this city does coffee HARD. This city prides itself on their independent coffee roasters.
It started when Stumptown Coffee Roaster took the city by storm. Portlanders wanted something true to the city, something pure, nothing big and corporate. And that is exactly what Stumptown gave them. From then on, indie coffee shops have been popping up left and right, each one trying to out caffeine the next.
Yes. This is what I want in a city. Go Portland.
Bring on the caffeine shakes.
Best Coffee Shops in Portland Oregon
ADDRESS: Find a Stumptown Location
First up we have Stumptown. A Chain but with serious street cred. They still hold a place in Portlanders’ hearts and that’s a competitive space to occupy for long. As I mentioned, Stumptown is the OG in indie coffee shops in this caffeinated city. Though in this day and age, their expansion to other cities has taken away their image of the cute little indie shop they once were. Now it’s a household favorite that continues to innovate and expand and delicately dissect the intricate molecules of every coffee cup.
It’s difficult not to find a Stumptown shop because they have locations all over portland. You will also be able to buy their bags of beans at local grocery stores and some coffee tools & products to make a cup of joe at home.
What’s the vibe?
Most locations feature a friendly neighborhood vibe. The baristas are smiling and there are lots of locals swinging in and out of the store. You can be sure to hear some nice music playing and people chatting away while eating Stumptown’s locally-made pastries.
ADDRESS: 4243 SE Belmont St. Portland, Oregon
Open daily 6AM- 6PM
For a truly unique and awe-inspiring latte, head over to Never Coffee. Not only is the coffee strong enough to give you a wake-up call, their flavors are concocted in various never seen before combinations. Well, combos I’VE never seen before. Try the “Oregon” which is made with cascade hops, dulce de leche, and Jacobson sea salt. Or opt for the “Midnight Oil” with sweet fennel seed, star anise, and black licorice. It’s called a coffee lab for a reason. I’m just surprised I didn’t see things bubbling up behind the counter.
What’s the vibe?
Light, bright, and cheery. The coffee will energize you but so will the colors of the coffee shop. From the aqua-colored floor tiles to the handmade ceramic mugs, it’s a nice creative space to hang out in.
ADDRESS:
Pearl District- 539 NW 13th Ave, Portland, OR 97209
Nob Hill- 823 NW 23rd Ave Portland, OR 97210
Downtown- Koin Tower 222 SW Columbia St. Portland, OR 97201
Alberta- 1725 NE Alberta Street Portland, OR 97211
When I first read that Barista was an original “third wave” coffee shop. I was like “cool, not a clue what that means.” Let me explain for the ones thinking the same. Third wave coffee shops put a special importance on coffee origin, sustainability, quality, and appreciation. In other words, they are super duper serious about this coffee biz. Barista has a string of cafés with a few locations around Portland. The Pearl District location is just big enough for 4 or 5 people to sit in. Their classics are what to go for here. They offer 3 high-quality roasts to choose from as well as a few specialty drinks such as the their chai latte made with ginger forward tanglewood chai.
What’s the vibe?
Small and intimate with a few lunchtime professionals grabbing a pick-me-up. It’s a nice spot to check out while in the Pearl District, Downtown, Alberta, or Nob Hill. The Pearl District location is the smallest. Might be a bit small for working the afternoon away on a laptop.
ADDRESS:
1876 SW 5th Avenue, Portland OR 97201
This cute little shop is right up 5th Avenue and we almost walked right by it. It has limited seating but the vibe is nice and cozy for those rainy Portland mornings. Unfortunately, it is only open until 3 PM so don’t expect to make this your afternoon workspace. They offer a strong traditional coffee menu with a few unique options such as their “Bee Pollen Latte” [bee pollen melted into espresso], their “Golden Latte” [a latte with cinnamon and turmeric], and their “Boba Latte” [an iced latte with brown sugar boba]. I will definitely be coming back for their Boba Latte.
What’s the vibe?
You immediately get a strong sense of community as soon as you walk it. The barista was smiling and it gave me the feeling that my buddy was in his kitchen making me a sandwich and a cappuccino. 5 stars for making a tourist feel homey!
HEART
ADDRESS
Burnside Location– 2211 E Burnside St, Portland OR 97214
Woodstock Location– 5181 SE Woodstock Blvd, Portland OR 97206
You’ll feel the serious coffee vibes as soon as you walk in the door. For those of us who take our cup with a side of knowledge, this place is for you. They specialize in lighter roasts to highlight the complexity of their single-origin beans. What you’re going to get at Heart is some very high-quality espresso. It was founded by Finland native Wille Yli-Luoma in 2009. The design is something less Americana and more sleek European with dark wood and clean lines.
NOTE WORTHY: Wifi is currently unavailable
What’s the vibe?
Relaxed and sophisticated. Heart will draw less of a mocha double frap caramel drizzle crowd and more of a double shot espresso variety of human. If you feel like a coffee connoisseur or feel like impressing your coffee-addict friends, this might be your spot.
ADDRESS
Flagship Store– Coava Coffee Roasters, 1300 SE Grand Ave, Portland, OR 97214
Other locations found on their website HERE
Welcome to industrial vibes. Coava’s flagship location shares its big industrial space with a bamboo furniture manufacturer. Another coffee shop that takes their coffee very seriously and in return makes seriously good coffee. Coava founder, Matt Higgins, wanted a coffee shop that focused on the hard work that the coffee farmers did before the coffee ever reached US soil. This shop is completely self-funded, that way they can reinvest in their farmers’ operations to ensure production is improving, thereby improving their coffee year after year. Come here to choose your Chemix single-origin adventure.
What’s the vibe?
You’ll be seeing all the worker bees here with their laptops fully charged up to handle a few hours of work. I also noticed a handful of people stopping in for a quick cup on the go before running to catch the bus. It’s a nice open space for working and catching up with friends.
ADDRESS
4637 N Albina Ave, Portland, OR 97217
5012 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland, OR 97215
Where there are sleek industrial vibes there are also spots of warm-homey-coziness. The Albina Press is nothing special which makes it all the more inviting to come to day after day. It feels RIGHT to be a regular local coffee shop. With their worn-out wooden floors and cushy leather sofas, it’s easy to feel comfortable enough to spend multiple rainy days here, tapping away at your laptop. As for the caffeine hit, try their espresso drinks or their single-cup french press coffees.
What’s the vibe?
Inviting and warm. The Albina Press has students studying and adults working the morning and afternoon away. There’s lots of seating and outlets in case you need to juice up your device. It’s a nice community feel.
BLEND COFFEE
ADDRESS
2710 N Killingsworth St, Portland, OR 97217
An independent Portland native coffee shop that offers great coffee and a mean bagel sandwich. Similar to The Albina Press, Blend Cafe hosts a great atmosphere for the remote worker. The decor is soft with thick wooden tables and tons of natural light. This is one of the few spots that offer AMAZING espresso alongside some food so you won’t need to leave for hours and hours. It’s another airy community hub that brings together friends from Portland and further. Grab a Honey Badger latte then come back for a slice of espresso cake.
What’s the vibe?
Easy local hangout with fast wifi and room to layout your books. They offer fantastic espresso drinks and food to linger over. You get a strong sense of familiarity when walking in which begs you to come back daily for your caffeine fix. Did I mention this amazing coffee shop also serves wine and regional beer? What a win.
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We are coffee snobs so we are always looking for great suggestions for coffee shops. And since we visit Seattle when we are on the west coast, we are keeping this list of coffee shops. On our first visit we could not resist seeing the starting point for Starbucks. But that is never our coffee shop of choice. I love that the coffee shops are creating such unique blends.
I wish I could try out every coffee shop in this city! So happy you enjoyed the list :)!