Coffee

Portland's passion for fine ingredients and careful craft extends into coffee cups.

Deadstock Coffee blends sneaker culture with coffee culture.

Credit: Justin Katigbak

Since before Starbucks spilled across the map from its headquarters in the Pacific Northwest, Portland’s coffee culture has kept locals caffeinated with a mix of independent roasters and small cafés, each brewing up espressos, Americanos and lattes with beans from around the world. And if you know where to go, you can get a mugful of the scene’s rich history for yourself.

Origins and Trendsetters

Start with a step back in time at Jim & Patty’s Coffee, a friendly neighborhood haunt where the owners man the till and serve up hot drinks like spicy habanero mochas and hazelnut praline lattes. You may hear people refer to this shop as “Coffee People,” which was the name of Jim and Patty’s beloved chain that kept Portland caffeinated from 1983–1998 (and lived on under different ownership until mid-2016).

Picking up Coffee People’s torch, Stumptown Coffee Roasters kept Portland on the coffee map when owner Duane Sorenson started sourcing, roasting and delivering his own beans from his Southeast Division Street coffeehouse. With a variety of Portland locations, including Downtown and Belmont (and many other shops serving up his roasts), additional locations in other cities and their beans available across the country, Stumptown has brought living wages to coffee farmers worldwide through a financially transparent supply chain. While that sounds good, the end product tastes even better — whether it’s a bottled cold brew or a shot of espresso, their Costa Rican, Ethiopian and Indonesian blends each have distinct tastes and can be purchased by the bag to make at home.

two cups of coffee sit on a table — One of Portland's original coffee roasters, Stumptown Coffee on Southeast Division Street is a local favorite.

person buying coffee at a coffee shop — One of Portland's original coffee roasters, Stumptown Coffee on Southeast Division Street is a local favorite.

person preparing a cup of coffee at a coffee shop — One of Portland's original coffee roasters, Stumptown Coffee on Southeast Division Street is a local favorite.

two people sit at a window in a coffee shop — Discover one of Portland's original great coffee roasters at Stumptown's cafe on Southeast Division Street.

“Third Wave” Coffee Roasters

Coava Coffee Roasters owner Matt Higgins started making his artisanal brews in his garage in 2008. Today you can visit one of their multiple locations throughout the city — grab a bag of beans, sip an espresso drink or try a coffee flight to experience everything they have to offer. Since 2009, Heart Coffee has been perfecting the ideal coffee one cup at a time, using an AeroPress, precise timing and exact measurements. Taste for yourself — seven days a week — at one of their bright, spacious coffee shops.

Though Water Avenue Coffee officially opened in 2009, the father-son team behind this eastside roaster has a longstanding history with coffee: Bruce Milletto has spent a lifetime shaping the industry as a Specialty Coffee Association of America “Coffee Luminary.” He opened the American Barista and Coffee School in 2003 alongside his son Matt Milletto, who has also served as president of the Oregon Coffee Board.

Barista — with its gorgeous shop in the Pearl District — pours masterfully made espressos from a variety of roasters. Case Study Coffee, meanwhile, began as an espresso catering company but has since evolved into a range of locations where small-batch roasted beans and house-made syrups make cups worth savoring.

In 2012 Roseline Coffee started roasting beans and stocking coffee shops around town, like Good Coffee. Finally opening a shop of their own in the Goat Blocks in 2018, this high-aesthetic shop serves up meticulously extracted coffee, with single-origin beans roasted for the perfect cup.

Less and More Coffee

From an old bus shelter in downtown, find locally roasted coffee with traditional offerings, and coffee with a twist; Korean ingredients like purple yam and ssuk (mugwort).
Portland Cà Phê

Known for Vietnamese coffee (iced coffee with condensed milk), this Vietnamese women-owned coffee roaster specializes in single-origin coffee grown in the Central Highlands of Vietnam that can be enjoyed however you normally prepare your coffee.
Never Coffee

Known for their innovated coffee drinks and bean blends, Never Coffee roasts in Portland. Stop by for an espresso drink and a pastry, and Never merchandise and retail bags of beans.
Tov Coffee & Tea

A trip to Tov Coffee & Tea is truly a unique experience — they specialize in authentic Egyptian coffee and tea, traditional espresso and other house originals.
Carnelian Coffee

This quirky, colorful coffee shop in the Foster-Powell neighborhood offers micro-roasted specialty coffee, pastries and vegan options.

More Coffee Shops & Cafés

Portland is also home to a variety of spots where roasters and owners merge their love of coffee with other unique interests. Deadstock Coffee & Gallery pays tribute to sneakerhead culture and basketball history — sip a cup of “snob-free” coffee while perusing their collection of rare Air Jordans and vintage NBA memorabilia.

person stand outside of a store front with a coffee there is a mural on the building that says Coffee Should Be Dope — Sarah Sabino stands outside of Deadstock Coffee cooling a drink.

Jet Black Coffee Company will feel like home to lovers of houseplants and punk rock (the names of their shop and their “Dear You” custom blend are drawn from songs and albums by the beloved band Jawbreaker). Enjoy an espresso and a vegan pastry in their cozy, arboretum-esque dining room.

La Perlita features eight distinct roasts for their curated coffee menu from their roasting arm, Reforma Roasters. We recommend their True Mexican Mocha; a shot of espresso, your favorite milk and a little bit of magic. We can’t guarantee any wishes will come true with this drink, but you’ll still get to savor all the work and love it took to make it.