Portland has been known internationally as one of the United States' most progressive and cultural cities, renowned for its world-class music and cuisine scenes. Though the city is best known as the microbrewery capital of the world, it has also grown in recent years to become a major competitor to nearby Seattle in terms of specialty coffee roasters.
Either-Or
Either/Or is a hip hideaway in Portland's Sellwood neighborhood, named after the third studio album from iconic Portland singer-songwriter Elliott Smith. The coffee shop, which is owned and operated by Ro Tam, is anchored around a unique multi-roaster program, serving up the best offerings from Portland-area roasters selected through a blind-cupping process to avoid brand bias. A coffee mocktail selection features rotating seasonal beverages crafted to mixology standards, while a flight tasting program lets visitors taste several variants of coffee, espresso, tea, and chai beverages. At the company's second location on North Williams, visitors can also enjoy globally-inspired food options such as Chinese-style sausage bowls with kimchi, bok choy, and soft-boiled eggs. Cocktails are served during the evening hours, complemented by late-night DJ sets.
Address: Either-Or, 4003 N Williams Ave, Portland, OR 97227, Phone: 503-235-3474
Nossa Familia Coffee
Nossa Familia Coffee is a delicious coffee shop offering four locations throughout Portland, originally opened to the public in 2004 by Brazilian native Augusto Carvalho Dias Carneiro, who brings more than a century of his family's experience in the coffee growing industry to the Portland coffee scene. The company is the first Certified B Corp roaster in Oregon and is committed to sustainably and ethically sourcing the world's best family-farmed specialty coffees, which are responsibly imported from top growing regions such as Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Peru. Specialty beverages served up throughout the day include Portuguese-style spicy mocha fogos and traditional Brazilian-style cafezinhos. A full menu of tea beverages is also served, along with bagels from Bowery Bagels and pastries from local bakers Gabriel's.
Address: Nossa Familia Coffee, 1350 NW Lovejoy St, Portland, OR 97209, Phone: 541-304-9234
Upper Left Roasters
Upper Left Roasters is a clever Scandinavian-influenced coffee shop in Portland's Ladd's Addition neighborhood, opened to the public in August of 2015 by father-daughter duo Jim and Katherine Harris. The boutique cafe and roastery has converted a former dive bar space into an inviting, airy breakfast spot, serving up delicious small batches of floral-forward roasts of ethically-sourced single-origin coffees. A limited food menu focuses on creative toasts crafted from locally-sourced bread by Little T Baker, including avocado toasts and variants topped with Bee Local honey. Open-faced sandwiches are also served, along with clever specials such as Turkish-style eggs with herb and garlic yogurt. A second location of the shop is also offered downtown on SW Morrison.
Address: Upper Left Roasters, 1204 SE Clay St, Portland, OR 97214, Phone: 503-477-8469
Extracto Coffee House and Roastery
Extracto Coffee House and Roastery is a family-friendly coffee shop in Portland's Concordia neighborhood, originally opened to the public by owner Chris Brady in 2006 as one of the first coffee offerings along the neighborhood's now-vibrant NE Killingsworth business stretch. The micro-roasters offer a unique glimpse into the roasting process at their flagship location, with much of the company's roasting done onsite during business hours at its open-style roasting station. A wide selection of international roasts is available in classic pourover styles and espresso beverages, with local pastries served up from several area bakeries. A second location on NE Prescott Street offers outdoor seating with dog-friendly bistro tables.
Address: Extracto Coffee House and Roastery, 2921 NE Killingsworth, Portland, OR 97211, Phone: 503-281-1764
Tov
Tov is Portland's only mobile coffee shop, parked at a permanent location on SE Hawthorne Boulevard since 2015. The double-decker coffee bus, owned and operated by Egyptian immigrant Joseph Nazir, serves up a wide variety of classic espresso beverages alongside authentic Egyptian and Turkish-style coffees and teas, including rose-flavored lattes, pistacho and coconut sahleps, cardamom-infused blends, and clever mochas mixed with wine sauce or aji panca chiles. A variety of Egyptian-style pastries complement beverages, including falafel croissants and baalawa. Middle Eastern decor pervades the shop's space, with comfortable seating and colorful rugs offered in its second-floor dining area.
Address: Tov, 3207 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland, OR 97214, Phone: 541-908-2555
Never Coffee Lab
Never Coffee Lab is a vibrant, art-inspired coffee shop in Southeast Portland, showcasing interior decor reminiscent of French artist Henri Matisse and brightly-colored custom Strada espresso machines. The coffee shop, which opened to the public in August of 2016, is known for its unique signature espresso beverages, including its flagship Holy Grail latte, which is infused with turmeric, orange blossom water, and locally-produced Bee Local cherrywood-smoked honey. Other clever beverages include the Scandinavian-inspired Midnight Oil, which highlights black licorice and sweet fennel seed, and the Oregon, which blends Jacobsen sea salt, dulce de leche, and Cascade hops. All drinks are served up in locally-crafted mugs, adding to the shop's quirky ambiance.
Address: Never Coffee Lab, 4243 SE Belmont St, Portland, OR 97214, Phone: 541-223-3580
