Now that I’m officially a Portland resident, it’s time to dive headfirst into the city’s wild coffee scene! I decided to start in the Alberta Arts District, one of the most hip & happening parts of town. I tried every coffee shop in Alberta (plus a few nearby). Let’s get into it! ☕
alberta street coffee
First up is my go-to spa day coffee stop. Tucked inside Cascada—the Alberta District’s new spa hotel—Alberta Street Coffee serves specialty lattes and teas in a modern, wellness-focused space.
One of my favorite aspects of this coffee shop, and what makes it so unique, is its selection of house-made, plant-based milks. They offer almond, pepita, cashew, and hemp! They even provide a menu outlining the health benefits of each option (for example, pepita is rich in zinc, magnesium, and healthy fats), so you can choose your milk with intention and actually know how it’s supporting your body. They also don’t serve oat milk–the hotel follows a strict no-seed-oils policy across all of its food and beverage outlets, and many popular barista oat milk brands (like Califia and Oatly) contain added seed oils. Oat milk made from scratch also typically isn’t fatty enough to steam to that perfectly silky texture most of us expect. As someone who loves an oat milk latte, this was initially a little heartbreaking, but I genuinely respect the commitment to their wellness philosophy–and I’ve actually become a big fan of their cashew milk!
My favorite drink on the menu is the horchata latte, which is subtly sweet and perfectly spiced. They also offer a wide selection of grab-and-go cafe items, all made fresh in-house with nourishing ingredients. The standouts for me are the chocolate tofu pudding, the chimichurri steak bowl, and the gluten-free blueberry muffin topped with toasted coconut (it tastes like a Samoa Girl Scout cookie…in the best way). The cafe is located in the hotel lobby, which is open to the public, so there’s plenty of seating. And if you haven’t checked out Cascada’s spa yet, I highly recommend it—the thermal springs include five heated pools, a cold plunge, a steam room, and two saunas. The entire space is beautifully designed and makes for the ultimate reset day!
Alberta Street Coffee’s website
case study coffee roasters
Case Study is a Portland staple, with five (soon to be six) locations across the city. I’ve also visited their NW 23rd location, and overall it feels like a well-loved, reliable roaster with a strong following.
The location on Alberta stands out for its large outdoor patio and upstairs loft space. While I thought the coffee was solid (though not my absolute favorite in the city), the atmosphere really shines. It feels social and inviting—somewhere you could easily spend a few hours catching up with friends or easing into your morning. It’s a great, dependable option for coffee and conversation.
the great north
The Great North has four locations in the Portland area, with its roastery housed right at the Alberta shop! It’s a well-rounded, down-to-earth cafe with everything you could need–good coffee, friendly staff, and cozy ‘Pacific Northwest vibes.’ The location on Alberta has limited seating and seems like more of a productive spot for work, though it works just as well for casual hangs! I’ve ordered a cappuccino each time I’ve visited, and it’s consistently delicious. 🙂
jet black coffee company
I stopped into Jet Black on a sunny afternoon to get some work done, and it ended up being the PERFECT place to camp out for a few hours. This vibe is grungy and worn-in in the best way (very 90’s coded). Think skateboards on the walls, paint-splattered floors, and R.E.M. or The Cranberries playing overhead. There’s even a mini skate area right next to the shop with a garage door that opens right into the cafe. I could easily see this place getting packed on a weekend morning with people ordering bagels and lingering. It gave me major laid-back, beach town vibes, like it should be steps away from the ocean. My oat milk latte was amazing–smoky and bold with deep dark chocolate notes. I will absolutely be going back…frequently.
roseline coffee
Roseline is one of Portland’s larger, more established roasters, with a central roastery and seven cafe locations. I was pleasantly surprised by the vibe when I visited the shop on Alberta! The space feels antique wood cabin meets snazzy cocktail bar–warm and moody but still polished. It seems like the perfect spot for a friend date (there were plenty happening around me), though it also works for a casual solo work session. It did get a bit loud while I was there. The coffee was solid and enjoyable–it didn’t blow me away, but Roseline is definitely a reliable stop.
extracto coffee roasters
Holy cow this might be my new favorite spot in Portland! You know that feeling when you’re walking toward a cafe and can smell freshly roasting coffee before you even reach the door? That’s exactly what happened the first time I went to Extracto—I could smell it from a block away. And sure enough, their roasting operation is running full steam right inside the shop.
This place feels alive. They had about seven people working when I went (that I could see): baristas on bar, someone manning the roaster, another person scooping and weighing beans. Most cafes keep this side of things behind the scenes, but here the entire roasting process is part of the experience, and it completely works. It adds energy and movement without feeling chaotic.
The coffee shop was bustling, with a laid back but social vibe. It feels like the kind of place where you could meet a friend–or sit solo and disappear into work for hours. The decor is minimal, but the lighting and layout make it feel warm and homey. There’s even a disco ball hanging above the bar. The playlist jumped from mellow Parisian-style jazz (the kind that makes you want to sip a cappuccino and pretend you’re in a black-and-white film) to funky house music to classic indie (think TV Girl and Harmless), and it worked perfectly. I ordered an oat milk latte, and it was amazing with rich toffee and caramel notes. I felt fully caffeinated and oddly inspired while working there. All-around immaculate vibes at Extracto.
autumn coffee roasting
I had such a pleasant experience at Autumn Coffee! The space is sleek and modern, with subtle gothic touches and colorful wall art that makes everything feel thoughtfully curated. The energy inside was warm and community-oriented—the baristas were incredibly friendly and struck up a conversation with everyone who walked in. It felt like a true neighborhood cafe with a healthy mix of people working and socializing.
They were featuring a house-made raspberry syrup for February, so I ordered a raspberry latte. It was smooth, balanced, and just the right amount of sweet. I’m already looking forward to seeing what their seasonal specials are next month!
Autumn Coffee Roasting’s website
Stay tuned as I slowly (but surely) make my way through Portland’s insane coffee scene…
Thanks for reading 🙂
Caffeine & Chianti 
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