Whether you’re getting one to go or debating over your second cup (or third, or fourth, etc. – no judgement from us, your fellow caffeine addicted friends!), Portland, Maine has a whole latte cafes, coffee shops and roasteries to love, and more importantly, where you can grab a good cup of Joe for National Coffee Day.
With an expansive list, here’s just a taste (or should we say sip?) of coffee shops, cafes, and roasteries in Portland, Maine where you can celebrate this National Coffee Day, September 29th.
Buzz Coffee
19 Exchange Street, Portland, ME, USA
Pardon another obvious coffee pun (we promise we’ll stop at some point), but the buzz-worthy Buzz Coffee is the Old Port’s only underground “micro cafe”. Originally starting as a coffee cart along the Eastern Promenade, Buzz Coffee put a jam on the brakes and opened its doors to its permanent location in December of 2021, with the coffee cart returning to the Eastern Promenade every once and awhile.
With a trendy tone and a focus toward community, Buzz Coffee brews up incredible coffee with beans from Little Wolf, a high quality roaster with a small, intentional selection built with care, in addition to espresso based drinks, drip coffee, lattes (matcha included), cold brews, teas and more.
Ad Terrarium
Ad Terrarium
98 Cross St N Suite A, Portland, ME 04101, USA
Offering a unique perspective on the cafe experience, green thumbs and coffee lovers are welcome to Terrarium in the Old Port. As Portland’s newest and only indoor plant shop and café, Terrarium specializes in common and rare house plants. You can come browse their inventory or pull up a seat at their cafe and create your own terrarium! Cafe is open with snacks, soups, beer, wine, and of course, coffee!
From its beginnings as a food truck gracing the scenic Eastern Promenade, Eighty8 Donuts has transformed into a beloved destination for both locals and tourists. With additional locations at the base of Sugarloaf Mountain and a convenient spot at 225 Federal Street in the heart of the Old Port, it has solidified its reputation as a must-visit establishment. Operating seven days a week, year-round, Eighty8 proudly serves up a delectable array of warm, bite-sized mini donuts, perfectly paired with a variety of coffee options featuring beans from the renowned Tandem Coffee Roasters.
Their unyielding commitment to quality and their dedication to delivering the finest donuts and coffee have firmly established Eighty8 as a cornerstone of the Old Port. Don’t miss the chance to experience the enchantment of their warm, mouthwatering donuts and savor their well-deserved, 2023 Portland Old Port award-winning iced coffee.
“I think coffee shops are the happiest places on Earth. I hope for Moonday to tap into this aquifer of love and joy and release some of that sweetness into the world.” – Moonday Coffee website
Another coffee cart-turned-micro-cafe, Moonday Coffee now lives in The Black Box of Washington, a unique retail experience using repurposed shipping containers, serving up coffee, traditional chai, and fine teas.
Happy to be apart of Portland’s rich coffee scene, Moonday Coffee resources their beans from Portland neighbors, Speckled Ax. Perfect for the coffee-lover who loves their cup to go, seating is not available indoors, however, on sunny warm days, Moonday Coffee does have a table outdoors to sip in the sun.
Speaking of Speckled Ax…
With ten years in Portland and three locations, Speckled Ax now roasts both certified single origin organic coffees and small lot, high quality conventionals still using an intuitive and completely manual roasting process that includes a vintage Italian Petroncini fired with local hardwood. Despite their impressive growth, Speckled Ax’s simple objective of roasting coffee that is on par with the best has not changed.
Their newest location adjacent to the Portland Foreside development offers both cups to go and indoor seating. Conveniently located by Portland’s waterfront, including Casco Bay Lines and where cruise ships dock, Speckled Ax on Thames Street is just a short walk from the Old Port and all of Portland’s highlights.
A staple to the Portland coffee scene, Coffee By Design now has four different locations; three sprinkled throughout varying Portland neighborhoods and one in Freeport. Committed to arts, the community and quality coffee since the beginning, Coffee by Design boast 100% traceability, which means they can follow the coffee back to the farmer, or community of farmers, that produced it. Each cup at Coffee By Designs tells the story of the farmer or the cooperative from which they buy.
Coffee By Design’s inaugural coffeehouse on Congress Street in Portland’s Art District first opened it doors in the summer of 1994, quickly bringing the downtown neighborhood together in the name of great coffee, community, and the arts. The coffeehouse received a recent revitalization in the spring of 2016 but similar to all their locations, you can enjoy visual art created by Maine artists.
Founded in 2013, Rwanda Bean‘s founder and CEO, Mike Mwenedata, embarked on an inspiring mission: to empower Rwanda’s coffee farming community and provide them with a platform to share their plentiful harvests and compelling narratives on a global scale. Rwanda Bean lives its commitment to creating a positive impact by reinvesting 50% of its profits to support Rwandan farmers and communities. Located conveniently in Deering Center, Rwanda Bean has organically woven itself into the fabric of the neighborhood, becoming an essential part of its identity.
A warm counter-serve shop for coffee drinks, Coffee ME Up is just a short walking distance from all of Portland’s bustling spots, including the Old Port, Munjoy Hill, Downtown and Washington Avenue. The selection at Coffee ME Up includes a perfectly extracted shot of Espresso, a well balanced cup of Arabica coffee, a smooth nitro cold brew, and even a delicious latte or two (teas and lemonade available as well). Enjoy outdoor seating during the warmer months, indoor seating year round.
At Coveside Coffee, come for the eye-catching and Instagram-worthy mural, stay for the fresh baked goods, the charming outdoor patio and backyard, and most importantly, the speciality brewed coffee. Fueling Portlanders for their daily adventures, Coveside Coffee is a neighborhood and family-friendly gathering shop that brews 44 North Coffee, a fair-trade, organic coffee roasting company based in Deer Isle, Maine, and serves pastries from Solo Pane in Bath. Finally find yourself finishing that book you’ve been working on? Feel free to leave a book, or take a book from their Little Free Library out front!
Gross Bakery
57 Exchange Street, Portland, ME, USA
If you’ve frequented Gross Confection Bar for their delectable desserts and cocktails, here’s a delightful insider tip: during the weekend mornings, they evolve into the charming Gross Bakery, crafting outstanding cups of coffee and pastries. Whether it’s a morning coffee, an espresso, or a latte that tickles your fancy, they take pride in serving top-tier craft-roasted coffee sourced from Coffee By Design. Conveniently situated on Exchange Street in the vibrant heart of the Old Port, their location offers unmatched accessibility.
Since opening in 2009, Bard Coffee has been all about providing a special experience to its visitors. They take extra care in finding, roasting, and making their coffee to bring out the best flavors in each cup. Over the years, they’ve become known for their delicious drinks served by friendly and well-informed baristas, making them a go-to spot for coffee lovers seeking both quality and a welcoming atmosphere.
Established in the autumn of 2017, Higher Grounds has left its mark on the constantly evolving cobblestone path of Wharf Street. It has swiftly gained recognition for serving some of Portland’s finest coffee and CBD products. Their establishment also doubles as a tranquil green haven for those seeking a peaceful spot to savor their coffee while tending to emails or social media. Don’t forget to visit them the next time you stroll through the historic streets of the Old Port.
Looking for more cafes, coffee shops, and roasteries in Portland? Check out Burundi Star Coffee, Smalls Cafe, Tandem Coffee and Bakery, Yordprom Coffee Shop, LB Kitchen, Onggi, The Proper Cup, and Arabica Coffee House.
