Bard Coffee is a cafe in Old Port, Portland.
Bard Coffee on Middle Street, since 2009, was Portland's first dedicated third-wave cafe, pouring espresso flights and pour-overs from rotating roasters.
Tip: Mon-Sat 07:00 to 17:00; Sun 08:00 to 17:00. Pours coffee from rotating roasters, not just one house program.
Address: 185 Middle Street, Portland, ME 04101
Arabica Coffee House on Free Street has run since 2001 as Portland's bohemian third-wave room, with house-roasted espresso, lattes and a summer patio.
Signature drink: Caffe latte with Arabica's own roast
Tip: Daily 07:00 to 18:00. The room is small but the patio opens in summer.
Speckled Ax on Congress Street, since 2012 from Matt Bolinder (roasting since 2007), is Portland's wood-fired coffee roaster with house-roasted beans.
Signature drink: Wood-roasted espresso
Tip: Daily 07:00 to 17:00. The wood-roast lineup rotates seasonally; ask for the latest single origin.
Coffee By Design on Diamond Street is Portland's flagship coffeehouse and roastery, since 1994 from Mary Allen Lindemann and Alan Spear. Tours by appointment.
Signature drink: Rebel Blend espresso
Tip: Daily 07:00 to 18:00. The Diamond Street site is the working roastery; tours by appointment.
Higher Grounds Coffee on Forest Avenue, since 2002, runs Fair Trade Federation single-origin coffees from a longstanding Portland third-wave cafe.
Signature drink: Fair-trade single-origin pour-over
Tip: Daily 07:00 to 17:00. Wholesale beans available retail at the cafe.
Arabica Coffee House on Free Street has run since 2001 as Portland's bohemian third-wave room, with house-roasted espresso, lattes and a summer patio.
Signature drink: Caffe latte with Arabica's own roast
Tip: Daily 07:00 to 18:00. The room is small but the patio opens in summer.
Little Woodfords is the Woodfords Corner neighbourhood cafe, pouring Speckled Ax wood-roasted coffee with house-baked muffins, scones and sandwiches.
Signature drink: Speckled Ax espresso, fresh-baked muffins
Tip: Mon-Fri 07:00 to 14:00; Sat-Sun 08:00 to 14:00. Cash and card both fine.
Dobra Tea on Middle Street is the Portland outpost of the Czech-rooted tea house chain, with single-estate Chinese, Indian and Japanese teas on a full menu.
Signature drink: Single-estate Chinese and Indian teas
Tip: Daily 11:00 to 21:00. The full tea menu rewards a long unhurried visit.
