portland neighborhood coffee shops series ☕️
Diving right into the next neighborhood in my Portland coffee shop series, I visited 10 coffee shops in Kerns.
This part of Portland is absolutely thriving. Located on the city’s east side, Kerns strikes the perfect balance between residential charm and vibrant city energy. The neighborhood is packed with incredible coffee shops, wine bars, cocktail bars (including two of my personal favorites, Too Soon and Tropicale), restaurants, and locally owned businesses. It feels community-focused while still buzzing with activity.
This was such a fun neighborhood to explore. Every coffee shop I visited had its own personality, and not a single one disappointed (Portland’s coffee scene is truly ridiculous–in the best possible way). Most of my visits happened in the late morning or afternoon (I’ve been sleeping in lately, don’t judge me), and I somehow ended up staying at several of these places until closing time. I was actually asked to leave because they were closing at four different coffee shops. What can I say? The atmosphere at these spots practically begs you to linger, which is a true sign of a great coffee shop.
I also want to give a huge shoutout to all the baristas I met along the way. Y’all are incredibly kind, welcoming, and genuinely passionate about what you do. Thank you for supporting the blog and for putting up with me taking photos of absolutely everything.
Let’s dive in.
heart roasters
Heart is one of Portland’s most well-known coffee roasters, recognized for sourcing exceptional coffees that highlight bright, fruit-forward flavors. They specialize in lighter roasts, and while their coffee tends to be lighter than what I usually gravitate toward, every latte I’ve had there has been incredibly balanced and enjoyable.
They have two café locations in Portland, one on Burnside and one in Woodstock. Both spaces have a polished, modern feel that makes them great spots for meeting a friend or settling in for a while. One thing to note: Heart doesn’t offer Wi-Fi. Their goal is to create a more social environment for guests, so keep that in mind if you’re planning to work remotely.
seven virtues coffee roasters
Seven Virtues is another Portland roaster focused on showcasing single-origin coffees sourced from recent harvests around the world. During my visit, their featured espresso was an organic washed coffee from Peru with tasting notes of orange peel, graham cracker, and chocolate. My latte was fantastic. If you’re someone who enjoys learning about where your coffee comes from, this is definitely a roaster worth checking out.
crema coffee + bakery
Crema has multiple locations around Portland, but the Kerns location serves as their flagship cafe. Along with a full coffee menu, they offer an impressive selection of house-made pastries and a full breakfast and lunch menu. The space itself is huge, with plenty of indoor seating and one of the largest patios I’ve found in Portland so far. As someone who loves sitting outside whenever possible, this was a major win.
I also stepped outside my comfort zone and ordered their seasonal Sunrise Latte with raspberry and mandarin. It sounded unusual, but wow—it was incredible. Bright, refreshing, and perfect for summer. This place absolutely rocks.
slow haste coffee
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a coffee shop as busy at 11 a.m. on a Tuesday as Slow Haste. When I arrived, there was a line out the door and the cafe was buzzing. I’m obsessed with everything about this place—the branding, the aesthetic, the décor, and especially the logo (a snail riding a skateboard, which might be one of the greatest coffee shop logos ever).
The energy here felt different from many of the coffee shops I’ve visited. It genuinely seemed like a neighborhood gathering place where everyone knew each other. Between the atmosphere and the coffee, it’s easy to see why it’s so popular. I’ll definitely be back..
nova coffee
Nova is the younger sibling of Two Strokes Coffee Roasters in St. Johns. Located on the ground floor of an apartment building, the space features a clean, minimalist design that’s perfect for getting work done or catching up with a friend. I switched things up here and added lavender to my oat milk latte, which ended up being the perfect choice for a hot summer day. The subtle floral notes complemented the espresso beautifully. If you’re looking for a calm, comfortable workspace, Nova is a great option.
see see motor coffee co
See See Motor Coffee Co. is one of the most unique coffee shops I’ve encountered in Portland. The cafe is connected to a motorcycle shop, and the entire space reflects that identity. Motorcycle memorabilia is everywhere, there’s an entire wall only displaying helmets, and when I visited, a projector was playing an early-2000s reality TV show in the background.
As someone who knows absolutely nothing about motorcycles, I still thought the atmosphere was incredibly cool. It’s one of those places that feels completely authentic to its community and culture. They also host events and bike shows throughout the year. I ended up hanging out for a few hours, and my latte was excellent. Highly recommend making a stop here.
shroom coffee bar
Shroom is one of the newer additions to Portland’s coffee scene and has quickly made a name for itself. What makes this cafe unique is that it’s Portland’s first adaptogen-focused coffee shop, offering mushroom blends that can be added to coffee drinks. Mushroom coffee has become increasingly popular thanks to its potential wellness benefits, so I decided to give it a try. I ordered an oat milk latte with their mushroom blend, and it was surprisingly delicious. The mushrooms added a subtle earthiness and spice that almost reminded me of cinnamon.
The real surprise, though, was the space itself. This is genuinely one of the most beautiful coffee shops I’ve visited. Coffee bags cover the ceiling, plants fill the room, massive windows flood the space with natural light, and there’s even a stunning book wall. The atmosphere felt more like something I’d expect to find in Europe than Portland. I absolutely loved it.
la lucha coffee
La Lucha is a newer coffee concept serving drinks inspired by flavors from across Latin America. The coffee cart operates inside Enso Winery, which immediately earns bonus points from me. Coffee and wine in the same space? Say less.
The setting is beautiful, featuring an open-air warehouse-style atmosphere with garage doors, communal seating, and outdoor tables. It’s a space that’s easy to spend a few hours in. I ordered the Mazapán Latte, which incorporates melted peanut candy into the drink. The barista recommended oat milk, and it was one of the best latte recommendations I’ve received all year.
Also, Masa Bakery, their source for pastries deserves major recognition because the chocolate croissant I had may have been the best chocolate croissant I’ve ever eaten.
no preference coffee
Located just down the street from Heart on Burnside, No Preference quickly became one of my favorite discoveries in Kerns. They roast their own coffee and the cafe has a cozy, welcoming atmosphere with plenty of seating. There’s even a hidden basement area that’s perfect for working, escaping the rain, or cooling off during one of Portland’s occasional heat waves. The staff was incredibly friendly, my latte was excellent, and the playlist was so good it somehow launched me into peak productivity mode. A great place to settle in for a few hours.
dear sandy
Dear Sandy is part coffee bar, part cocktail bar—which is pretty much my dream combination. It’s one of those rare spaces that works for every mood. When I arrived around 2:30 p.m., nearly every seat was occupied, yet the room was almost silent as people worked on laptops. By the time I left three hours later, the atmosphere had completely transformed into a lively after-work crowd.
The space feels both sophisticated and playful, and it’s easy to see why people spend entire afternoons here. Whether you’re looking for a productive work session, an afternoon coffee, or an evening cocktail, Dear Sandy delivers.
final thoughts
Kerns might be one of the most well-rounded neighborhoods I’ve explored so far in this series. The coffee scene here is incredibly diverse—you can grab a meticulously crafted light roast from one of Portland’s most respected roasters, sip a mushroom latte in a plant-filled cafe, work from a hidden basement coffee shop, or hang out in a motorcycle-themed cafe all within a few blocks of each other.
What stood out most to me wasn’t just the quality of the coffee (which was consistently excellent), but the personality of each space. None of these coffee shops felt interchangeable. Every shop had its own story, its own community, and its own reason for existing.
If you’re visiting Portland and only have time to explore one coffee-focused neighborhood, Kerns deserves a spot near the top of your list.
Thanks for following along with another stop in the Portland Neighborhood Coffee Shops Series. More neighborhoods are coming soon, and honestly, I can’t wait to keep discovering what makes each corner of this city so special. ☕️
Thanks for reading 🙂
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