Speckled Ax is a cafe in Arts District, Portland.
Speckled Ax on Congress Street, since 2012 from Matt Bolinder (roasting since 2007), is Portland's wood-fired coffee roaster with house-roasted beans.
Tip: Daily 07:00 to 17:00. The wood-roast lineup rotates seasonally; ask for the latest single origin.
Address: 567 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101
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.
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.
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.
Tandem Coffee Roasters on Anderson Street, since 2012 from Will and Kathleen Pratt, is the working East Bayside roastery and cafe with espresso and filter.
Signature drink: Filter coffee from house-roasted single origins
Tip: Monday to Saturday 07:00 to 13:00. The Congress Street cafe handles weekends and full-day brunch.
