6 Coffee Shops Near Portland
Looking for a great coffee shop by where you actually live?
You don’t want to drive into SE Portland for a great coffee shop, but don’t just want to sit the Starbucks down the street. Try these 6 great cafe options in Beaverton, Tigard, and Oregon City.
Let’s set the scene… My ideal coffee shop: Somewhere with interesting and possibly mismatched chairs. Cafes with generic chairs just never feel as cozy. I want velvet chairs, I want the couch from Central Perk, I want that eclectic living room feel. I want to meet a friend I haven’t seen in ages and not feel like we are in a business meeting in a strip mall.
Downtown and east side Portland have some great options. I mean Portland is known for the coffee scene, but don’t be fooled, Beaverton and the other surrounding areas, have some great options too! As someone who lives just outside of Portland, I don’t want to drive into the city just for some good coffee.
I have found these places are so great that they aren’t even my second choice to Portland cafes anymore, they simply are where I want to go. I have discovered truly great gems that are some of my new favorite cafes and go to places in their own right.
Here are 6 great recommendations for coffee shops and cafes in the Greater Portland Area:
1. Brickhaus Coffee
Location: Beaverton
Brickhaus Coffee has become one of my favorite cafes after just one visit. From the cozy leather chairs to sit and work in, to the Harry Potter theme and Hogwarts house flavored drinks, Brickhaus instantly became a top player for me. The staff was friendly and welcoming. There are tables and chairs up front and a little nook with big leather chairs and small coffee tables around to the side. Small and “rustic chic”, Brickhaus is the perfect place to enjoy a cup of coffee and get some work down on a rainy afternoon.
Brickhaus Coffee is also right around the corner from BG’s Food Cartel Food Truck Park, if you work up an appetite!
Overall: 4.5/5
Check out Brickhaus’ offerings, address, hours, and more at their instagram.
2. Lionheart Coffee Company
Location: 2 in Beaverton – one in downtown off Watson – one off Scholls Ferry (I prefer the downtown Beaverton location)
If you want to feel like you are in a cool, hip, Portland coffee shop, Lionheart is the place to go. It feels modern and like a place you would love to work on your laptop for a couple of hours.
Like I have mentioned, I love cozy coffeehouses. While this isn’t necessarily a “cozy on up to the fireplace and read with a mug in your hand” vibe, I enjoy this modern kind of vibe, as well. It feels like you are in a hip, happening spot. The location is great on a main street in Beaverton. You can walk to a couple other shops or enjoy the outdoor seating area created during COVID.
They also serve alcoholic beverages and are open later than average Thursday to Saturday (8pm). My coffee was very good and later on in the day I ordered a Beer/Kombucha mix. I loved it. Because of serving alcoholic drinks, if you have some casual work to be done, this is a great place to enjoy a drink and work. If you are working with a friend or partner, you can come after your day job, grab a beer and do some work together in an enjoyable environment.
I love working at a brewery, but sometimes I feel a bit out of place with a laptop there. This would be the perfect place that is still an enjoyable atmosphere, but less out of place. I want to mention this is a good place to work with a partner or friend, as well as solo working. While the space feels welcoming for laptoppers, it is still comfortable to talk and communicate with others.
Note: Only street parking at Beaverton Watson location
Overall: 4/5
Check out Lionheart’s offerings, address, hours, and more at their website here.
3. Ki Coffee
Location: Beaverton
I was pleasantly surprised by Ki Coffee. Again in Beaverton, there are plenty of “strip mall” locations, but have gems inside. Ki Coffee is one of those places.
Ki Coffee serves local roasters and has a creative menu. They offer their own recipes and creative drinks. The decor is Japanese inspired and really creates an atmosphere of inclusivity. At Ki Coffee, I really enjoy the decor and the gift shop area with diverse, local artists. My only note would be the tables are chairs. They are your typical hard tables and chairs. Although this is great for getting work done at the tables, it feels less cozy. I would have given the atmosphere a higher score with the decor and feelings of inclusivity, but the tables and chairs are what knock it down a notch.
On the other hand, there is a back nook area that is perfect for working. When I visited, the front area had a couple tables of friends meeting and chatting, while the back nook had those studying or working on laptops. I enjoyed this layout, as I didn’t feel like I was taking up a table from someone who wanted to just enjoy their coffee and a chat, and felt comfortable working.
Overall: 3.8/5
Check out their offerings, address, hours, and more at Ki Coffee.
4. Jim and Patty’s Coffee
Location: Multiple locations- Beaverton, NW Beaverton Cedar Mill area, Happy Valley, and NW Portland
When I saw the outside of Jim and Patty’s, I was skeptical. Again, my vibe is a cottage serving coffee in mugs, not a strip mall location. But walking in, you were transported out of this little strip mall. It feels almost retro? Comfortable in an inviting, inclusive way. Unpretentious and friendly.
Jim and Patty’s have a couple different locations and offer a variety of delicious coffee drinks, tea, smoothies, milkshakes, house made baked goods, and breakfast items. While you can order your basic coffee order, I would suggest taking the risk and ordering something different at Jim and Patty’s. With a unique and extensive menu, it isn’t hard to find something you’ll enjoy. I ordered a Peanut Butter Fudge Mokka (mocha). Now chocolate and peanut butter are one of my favorite combos, and to be honest I have never had peanut butter with my coffee, but I decided to give it a shot. It was beautiful, truly a “Reeses in a cup”.
Because of the inviting feel, Jim and Patty’s would be a great place for conversation and to meet a friend. There is plenty of seating with a section on the right and left side of the main serving counter. There is a bookshelf of games and books. I am not 100% sure how often they actually are used, but because of this, kids are welcome here. While I visited their Beaverton location, I would go stop by any Jim and Pattys wherever I could.
Overall: 3.8/5
Check out Jim and Patty’s offerings, address, hours, and more at their website here.
5. Symposium
Location: 2 Locations – Tigard and Sherwood
While I lived in Sherwood, Symposium was my favorite coffee shop in the area. The coffee is delicious and feels just like a Portland cafe would. I loved ordering an oat milk latte, then walking around main streets in Sherwood. While the Sherwood location is smaller, there are a couple of tables inside. During the evenings in the warmer months, they have a fire pit outdoors, while serving a selection of alcoholic beverages.
The Tigard location is bigger and feels like a better place to work for a bit.
Symposium is on the more expensive side, but on par with other specialty coffee houses.
Overall: 3.5/5
Check out Symposium’s offerings, address, hours, and more at their website here.
6. Black Ink Coffee
Location: Oregon City
Looking for a charming cafe in Oregon City? Black Ink Coffee is a locally owned, independent coffee shop that shares a space with White Rabbit Books and Gifts. They serve Stumptown coffee and perfectly pull each shot of espresso. They serve a limited coffee menu, but include all of the classics, including pour over coffee with a variety of different beans selection. They carry pastries from local Portland bakeries, including Latino owned Dos Hermanos Bakery and Shoofly Bakery, which includes a few vegan and GF options. Black Ink is unique and truly feels like you are in the center of Portland, with their colorful walls and decor and excellent selection of local vendors they stock in the White Rabbit shop.
Black Ink is the perfect place to grab a delicious latte and then stroll the streets of Main St. Oregon City.
Note: Only street parking (meters), limited inside seating with only 3-4 tables + bar stools
Overall: 3.5/5
Check out more from Black Ink including offerings, address, hours, and more on their website.
Looking for other great Portland Suburb recommendations? Check out these great Food Truck Pods all located in the the greater Portland area!
Have somewhere you think I should check out next? Leave a comment and let me know what cafe or coffee shop is your favorite!
