Arabica Coffee Company

Arabica Coffee in Portland has a fun, funky vibe that immediately sets it apart. The service was excellent—friendly and attentive—and my flat white was perfectly made, smooth and flavorful. Great location too, making it an easy stop whether you’re exploring the area or just in need of a coffee break. Highly recommend!

Coffee was lackluster and I even had straight cold brew. No greeting, and staff looked like they would rather be anywhere else than here (2 young ladies). Service was fast so 3 stars. Definitely least favorite of the 6 different coffee shops we visited during our stay. Skip it and head to Bard or Tandem.

Super friendly service and high-quality coffee & baked goods. Really great place to chill out and enjoy some flavorful goodies! Recommending the Dubai chocolate cold brew — yes, it’s a fad flavor, but man did they nail it.

Coffee was great. The green tea they give is a VERY generous amount. Coffee got us warmed up from the cold. Seating is a bit tight but will fit 3-4 people comfortably. The aesthetics of the place is peaceful but if you are looking for a "quiet" place to work or study, it's not here. You can get snacks here. We didn't try the snacks or hot foods here but they looked delicious! A great place to stop by if you're walking around the area and need to rest for a bit!

This was a cute place to sit and chat! The inside space is small, and be warned- there are very few outlets, so this is not a great place to work or study. Other than that, the service was quick and baristas were friendly, and my dirty chai tasted amazing. I would definitely recommend stopping by to spend an hour or two to hang out.

Excellent all around! Their blueberry pancake latte is one of the best I’ve had and their blueberry muffin was tasty. Will come back when I’m back in town

Good atmosphere & Wi-Fi for working and some small tables in the back which is nice. The outlets are old and can’t hold up a converter which was disappointing. Least favorite part was the chaider I got which had WAY too much spices to it and made it undrinkable. Other good options around for non-coffee options. Coffee options looked better!

This place used to be my favorite. Now I don’t think i’ll go here ever again. I stood alone waiting for 5 minutes to order. Was not very busy. I got a cappuccino which is what I always got. They used to specifically have the best foam in their cappuccino’s, this time it’s like the girl whipped up some airy foam and made no attempt at latte art, which is never how they used to be.

We've had breakfast at a different coffee shop every day we've been in town and today was no different! We had seen Arabica when we were roaming around one day. Since today is our last day in Portland, today was the day. It's cold and grey and rainy. Walking into the coffee shop was nice and warm and welcoming. We were greeted enthusiastically by the person taking our order. We each ordered a latte (the lavender honey was yum), my husband got a slice of quiche and I got a delicious blueberry lemon scone. I usually eat some protein for breakfast, but this was calling my name! If we're ever back in town, we know where to go!

It pains me to write this, because I used to love Arabica with my whole heart, but I feel like the only good thing is the fact that they're a great place for WFH-ers because of their spacious interior, plentiful seating, wifi, and single-stall bathroom. However, their drinks don't match up quality wise to some of the other coffee shops in the nearby area. As other reviewers have said, there are times that certain staff members can be rude, fake, or unfriendly. This is especially disappointing because I was a routine regular who always tipped 20%, yet often received no warmth from baristas. As someone who works in customer service, I think a positive disposition and attitude is a must (unless dealing with someone unreasonable). To top it off, the space is usually unbearably hot in the spring/summer months.

(updating my review after going here quite a bit recently) the only thing that really stands out about arabica is the location and atmosphere. the natural light, plants, and plenty of seating options are great. however, as others have mentioned, the acoustics are strange and whatever you say echos across the room. the coffee itself is okay--never wows me nor disappoints. their matcha is bland. pastries are hit-or-miss, there's usually few left by mid-day anyway. the staff is super weird, often literally won't acknowledge you or say a single word to you while you're ordering. which is fine, but it's always just uncomfortable and cold. overall it's kinda sad to see arabica never improve despite how beautiful their space is!

Updating my updated review now that I've been more recently. The space: picture kind of a long, wide hallway with high ceilings and exposed brick with a funky layout that they make work (there are stools at the window in the front which are great for people watching, there's also couches in the middle-ish area, and a raised platform with limited [like two or three?] tables in the back if you want a little bit more privacy). Lots of seating options, is the point! But heads-up: the acoustics here are horrible. You can hear everything everyone is talking about, so if you get overwhelmed by excessive noise you'll definitely want to bring headphones. The staff: not the friendliest or engaging. Several times in the past year they've not even said a word to me when I was standing at the counter. It's very awkward and off putting when, as the customer, you have to ask the employee (who is staring you down) if you're allowed to order. The coffee: the best drink here is the iced maple oat milk latte. Add an additional shot of espresso to cut down on the sweetness (or a little blueberry syrup if you want an entirely breakfast tasting coffee drink). They're not the only place in the city doing this exact flavor profile, though, so as someone who doesn't live in downtown Portland/doesn't want to deal with the parking issues in this area/likes quieter places to WFM or meet with friends, I wouldn't come out of my way here for anything.

Atmosphere would be much brighter if the staff weren't so rude. Came in the other day and asked where the bathroom was (it was our first time coming in) and the barista with brown curly hair rolled her eyes and said it was in the back. She then turned away and ignored me for a few minutes while I stood there waiting to order a drink. Completely turned off by this experience. Will not be returning. I have never hit "no tip" so quickly in my life, and I'm usually a 20% or more.

Loved the warm welcoming environment. This seems like the perfect spot for a fall/winter hangout. Blueberry pancake latte was pretty good!

Cute coffee shop in downtown Old Port. Hard to find parking unless you work/live in the city. Very cute inside but typically always busy and loud. The drinks are typically very great! The service the last time I was there was not very friendly. Overall lots of coffee places to try in Portland and this isn't my favorite.

Sweet place to hangout and get work done. The maple oat latte is delicious but just a hair too sweet for me. I usually get an iced Milky Way which is basically chocolate milk w coffee.

This probably deserves slightly higher than 3 stars but there is so much coffee competition here in Portland, this simply wasn't a favorite. My coffee was a little watery. The space is pretty and made even more so with fresh flowers. There is seating but not a lot, enough to accommodate but if more people had come in while we were there it would've tough. Additionally some of the seating, a few steps up, and downstairs bathrooms make it inconvenient for physically challenged folks.

When I heard #arabicacoffeeme made blueberry maple lattes, this was a immediate need where it needed to be quench and it was. On the outside this latte look liked any typical latte with a blue straw but once sipped it was delicious and satisfying with the blueberry syrup and swirled with maple syrup. It was so good that the finished this drink way too quickly. Inside of this coffee shop is welcoming with its like bright and airy windows and there are nooks inside for catching up with friends or remote/work .

Warm interiors are inviting and comforting in this cold morning, and so are the smiles from the hostesses. I can sip coffee here and watch the world go on in their own matrix. Cappuccino was decent, but has potential to wow the enthusiasts. The first few sips had citrus notes that were followed by chocolatey coffee. Sadly mine had a blob of milk foam on top that I had to scoop out to get real taste. So, no crema for me this time. Beans 5/5 Barista skill W/ cappuccino 3/5 Ambience 5/5

Always want to like this place. And frankly I don't come in that often but when I'm in town, I stop in. I find the staff stuffy, the prices high, and the offerings anemic. And with all that said, you are served with a bit of attitude. I think I'm done. There are so many warmer and friendlier coffee shops in town.

Cute coffee shop on a fun street in Portland. Coffee was decent. Service was good. Nice environment to enjoy coffee and a book!

After spending two months in Portland for the summer and trying 10 different coffee spots for both their pastries and coffees, I have to say Arabica is top two in the list. For starters they have a great coffee selection sourced from coffee growers all over the world. The coffee is delicious by itself, but they have a variety of homemade syrups. I'm obsessed with their quiche and order it every time I stop by for coffee. The staff is very sweet and they have a nice space to sit and enjoy your food.

Happened to be walking past Arabica and decided to stop in for an iced chai. The space is very nice and the staff was too. Unfortunately, the iced chai literally had no chai in it. Was milk + water + ice. A bit surprising.

You think the perfect coffee shop doesn't exist? Walk into Arabica. You'll be met by a massive coffee tree (a real one!), plenty of seating and space to read a book or do some work, local magazines and newspapers (free!), and just the best vibes all around. I've been here dozens of times and they never disappoint. The coffee's great, the baristas are awesome, and their love for our Portland community is felt as soon as you walk in. Some of my favorite things about Arabica: - They have a huge amount of space inside, which is quite impressive as it looks somewhat small from the outside. - They close at 4:30pm, even in the coldest months of the year. I so appreciate that. - They have a rewards program. 1 free coffee for every 12 purchases. - Plenty of tables with outlets nearby, as well as couches and stools. Thank you for being such a gem in our community, Arabica. Love ya!

I stayed at an Airbnb near by this place and tried a couple different drinks. One was a cherry mocha which was very good, there wasn't a super distinct cherry flavor but still very good. The other was a vanilla blueberry late which I got with extra flavor so that the fruit flavor would be strong. Again very good! Also the morning bun was so so yummy! I would definitely recommend this place.

Good Lord, this atmosphere is perfect for me. It's a beautiful old building and the inside retains all that character. Love the decor, and high ceilings, yet it also feels cozy. Big windows with lots of light! Got a fancy coffee drink, and it was delicious. Despite being busy and the high ceilings, it didn't seem particularly noisy. A good mix of seating for groups and solos. Reminds me of a place I used to go to all the time in Milwaukee that I miss very much that was on the lakefront. Will definitely be back. Probably a lot.

Such an awesome place. Cozy vibe plenty of places to sit, the staff is extremely nice and very willing to make your drink dreams come true. Drinks are great and they have a wide selection of bagels available.

My friend and I stopped by for drinks on a Sunday afternoon. I ordered the hibiscus iced tea with lemon. It was super refreshing and tart. My friend ordered a lavender lemonade, and said it was some of the best lavender syrup they had tried! The barista was super nice and made my friends drink to taste, since lavender is such a strong flavor. Overall, good drinks and great staff!

Nice place but $6.00 coffee cakes and $5.00 cookies. No thanks. I know costs are up especially in Portland but this is ridiculous.

I got the maple oat milk latte and it was amazing. the maple was real maple from vermont and i could tell. it really blended well with the latte and gave it the fresh taste. they were very friendly when we walked in and helped us pick a great drink. also a great place to study or do work or have a catch up with friends! would come back!

Really cool spot to relax and have a cup of Java! Had the BeeStingler Latte along with a fresh tasting berry muffin. The latte creation with a touch of honey is just right (not to sweet).

Great beans and a skilled bartista made for a strong and tasty cortado. It's a clean place with friendly staff. I would come back!

Before my 2-hr drive to Portland, I had only had tea, the reason why I rather not get into right now. Anyways, I parked and started walking. Saw this place, whipped out the Yelp, saw the good reviews, and hopped in. Though I usually wait till the end, I want to say now that the service was wicked friendly! Ordered myself a small maple latte, where lots of things just went right. The coffee was strong, too many lattes dilute the coffee until it becomes a milkshake that only dreams of bearing the name "coffee". Sweetness and maple flavor were on point! Not so loaded with sugar that the maple became unrecognizable. Alright, this is all great, why then did I only give 4 stars? Well, it comes down to the prices. If you read my reviews you know I am a stickler for value, and I feel that when I got vs the price didn't go hand in hand. My coffee was small as far as smalls go (8oz), and was a little pricey on top of that. Still, when I return to Portland I shall return here.

One of my worst cases of being bent over. Went in here at 8:15 in the morning on a rainy winter day. No one else in the place. Only gluten free bagels left so we had to go with that and also ordered 2 microscopic teas. After some financial black magic the total came out to 17 dollars some how. Taking it on the chin I took the order to go and off I went in the car. Strangely found a plastic knife in the bag which alerted me that there may not be any butter on the bagel just yet, as I had ordered. After inspecting the bagel my fears were turned to reality. 17 dollars and you gotta put the butter on yourself. I'm not a Mainer so maybe this is a regional commonality I'm not familiar with, but either way I think it's insulting. Last kick in the nuts was finding a container of cream cheese in the bag instead of the butter I asked for. All that said the people working there were very nice, and the tea was fabulous. Many other places to get breakfast in Portland, I'd try any of them before this one. Heed my warning

My husband and I had never tried Arabica, however, we have passed it numerous times in walking to specific destinations. Arabica is one of those places where it doesn't grab you upon initial glance, but it certainly is a must try! This morning, we decided to try it out as we wanted to check out a new breakfast/coffee spot. Upon walking in, Arabica makes you feel at home with the warm hues of the cafe and the decadent lighting. With high ceilings and a spacious venue, it's a perfect place to bring your work or a book to just lounge around. With a wide selection of teas, coffees, and breakfast food, there is something to please everyone. We walked up to the register to order, and the staff was friendly and welcoming. I ordered the Iced Cold Brew on Nitro while my husband opted for the mocha latte. For food, we ordered onion bagels with veggie cream cheese. It was hard to decide between the infamous toast or the cheddar, sour cream, and chive scone, however, we decided to save those for another time. The service was very prompt and within a couple minutes, we received our drink orders. A couple minutes after that, we received our bagels. OH. MY. GOD. Their veggie cream cheese is everything you could want and more in a cream cheese. It was flavorful and loaded with veggies. The bagel also was jam packed with onion which was also great! My better half and I were totally impressed. Our coffees were also delicious and we were totally pleased with our experience. We will definitely come back to Arabica as I need to try their scones, toast, and maple latte!

Overpriced coffee and terrible tasting products. 3.50$ for an espresso is insane, especially when the rest of the drinks hover around that 3-4$ mark. The plain croissant is also overpriced but worst of all it's whole wheat! It tastes like sandpaper. Their "famous" Maple Oat Latte is also horrible and I just plain don't recommend it. Couldn't finish any of my overpriced items and left the place with a bad taste in my mouth. All in all the coffee here is absolutely a miss, but the place does have a very nice atmosphere inside (therefore avoids 1 star). Rethink the prices and I could reconsider! Also please let people know your pastries are made with whole wheat, that croissant alone can be the reason I wouldn't come back.

Beautiful coffee shop with cozy vibes. The vanilla cappuccino had a deep rich taste. There is a beautiful coffee plant growing in the entrance way surrounded by floor length windows.

Love this place, fun decor and ambiance ... love the chai tea! Thanks so much. We've visited several times.

This place is absolutely gorgeous, and they made me the most perfect latte. I loved the black and white tiled floor. The employees were all very friendly and helpful. It was a clean and quiet environment with tons of natural light. I'll definitely come by again next time I'm visiting Portland.

For all you vegans out there, they make the best chai oat milk latte in town! I was getting it practically everyday for a couple months! Not to mention their berry crisp and banana bread are also mouth watering! The staff are super friendly and down-to-earth. Great conversationalists and always make customers feel welcomed. Definitely my favorite coffee shop in Portland

Both my drip coffee and my husband's chai tea latte tasted "off". It may have been the barista, but it's hard to mess up drip coffee

UPDATE : Let me just say that I am beyond disappointed with Arabica and my most recent experience. In hopes of enjoying the beautiful weather, a couple of us decided to go on a walk in the Old Port on 1/20/18. Prior to starting our walk, we figured we would get a coffee to enjoy while we explored the Old Port. I had been hardcore craving a Maple Latte all day and was determined to get one. Being that I wasn't sure if Hot Suppa would get me one of theirs to go, I remembered that Arabica had a Maple Latte. So away we went. We got to Arabica at approximately 2:45 PM. There was a few people there but by no means was it busy. There were 2 workers, 1 taking orders and 1 making the orders. My friend and husband both ordered an Iced Maple Latte and I ordered the Grande Hot Maple Latte. Within minutes both my friend and my husband had their drinks.... I waited and waited, watching numerous customers that came in AFTER me get their orders prior to myself. Finally one of the staff members was like "did you get your drink?".... WHAT?!?!, I mean there's only 2 of you here, did you give me my drink?... ummm no! The staff member at the register told me that my order was in her system but that it did not print and goes, "you got a Tall Latte right?". Kindly I reminded her that I paid for a Grande MAPLE Latte. Within 2 minutes I had my drink in my hand and diva walked out the door given my extended wait and frustration with the staff. To my mistake I didn't try my maple latte until I was about a block down the street....... and I'm sure you can guess it...... it was NOT a maple latte. Needless to say I was furious! It sounds silly I'm sure, but when you have a craving for something and you THINK you are satisfying that craving, you get excited and when it's not what you wanted or thought, there is a HUGE let down. Not to mention there was also a price difference from the Maple latte (more expensive) and the regular latte... super frustrating and disappointing. I get accidents happen, but when I remind you several times of what my order was (the order I paid for) and you still get it wrong.... there is simply no excuses for that! END RANT.

Fantastic coffee but well into the end of the pandemic(and i mean like, very much after masks were coming off) these guys made you show a vax card just to sit down. I watched a guy who just wanted to sit down with his coffee have to frantically search for his vax card like its nazi germany and he just decided to dip. I honestly dont blame him but he missed out on great coffee. Moral of the story here: some places (like Arabica) have phenomenal coffee and baristas but when it comes to prioritizing dystopian ideas like vac passports over the interests of the customer, you'll piss people off and lose money. But the coffee is amazing. Id go here again

This is a new find for me! My sisters and I came here today for coffee. The service is awesome and the staff is very friendly. The coffee made us feel very happy. This is my sister first time having Arabic coffee and they were very impressed at the taste and presentation. I highly recommend this spot for a local gathering or simply a coffee date with your special someone.

The chai wasn't real, but was made by pumping chai flavor into a cup. The Non dairy drink I ordered had dairy in it and my my friend very sick, and the scone I got tasted freezer burned, and was dry. Will not go again.

The latte I had here was not perfect but Arabica was a very good specialty coffee shop overall. The drink was smooth on top. However, there were certain points throughout the drink that were too watery. The balance between the water and milk was off. There was no bitterness anywhere in the drink which means the beans were extracted correctly. If you are visiting and planning a trip to Portland and looking for recommendations, feel free to message me for my itinerary. You can also find the electronic copy through the link my profile.

My latte at Arabica was well balanced, without any particularly distinctive flavor - just the sense that it was a really good cup of coffee. The top of the latte had a lovely artisinal-cookie surface of browns, as if the "batter" wasn't quite stirred all the way. Dark chocolate and caramel-colored bubbles swirled along the rim, encircling a pale foam heart at the center. What's most distinctive about Arabica is the space itself - an old building with high-backed, pub-style benches; curved, floor-to-ceiling windows in the front; and porcelain mosaic tiles (little black crosses evenly spaced in a snowy field) partially covering the floor. A large wedge of worn wooden flooring along the eastern wall gives away the old floor plan. It's a place that shows off its age. The space is skinny and deep, with a good amount of seating - including a cozy spot in the back with a couch and board games, as well as a bar of composite stone in a polished brown background (like what you might find along a silty spot of a river bank that's flecked with white and orange and green and blue and black pebbles - but sharper and smaller than pebbles, as if they had been crushed in the terrible mouth of some mythical beast and spit out in a Milky Way pattern). Anyway, there's good people-watching. The large windows face one of Portland's main pedestrian arterials. Come to think of it, sitting here has that sense of being perched along a gentler slope of the river bank, where the human wild life gravitate out of reptilian common sense. In a similar way, Arabica is time-tested in its quality and universal appeal, but it's perhaps a less unique spot along the river than Bard or Tandem, with their more particular joys. Oh, and the bathroom here is a dim, filthy dungeon, so, yeah... With baked goods wrapped in cellophane, it doesn't appear to have the selection or quality you come to take for granted in Portland. You don't get that here. What you get is the feeling that you're at the center of something that's both always current and deeply ancient, something fundamentally human and, for that reason, good - the primordial coffee shop.

Not sure what's happened here but the service has become so...passive that I wanted to update my previous review. The coffee is still good, the atmosphere is still true American coffee house but each time I've come in lately, the staff leave a lot to the imagination of what else is going on in their lives. Not much smiling, no one ever seems to be in a good mood. On one recent day, I paid $6-plus for one slice of quiche (an emergency lunch) - I had to go back twice to ask for it. One of the two guys had forgotten it; he then gave me the one I hadn't paid for, (a less expensive slice) and nuked it for three minutes! (I asked for them to go ahead and take it out when I noticed the timer on the microwave). Sadly, this was around 1:45 and it wasn't very busy at all. No one else at the counter when I ordered or when I had to keep reminding them for my coffee and food. Of course it isn't some tragedy, but when you're paying premium/crazy high prices for something as simple as an iced coffee and a piece of quiche, the least you should expect is a little service to go along with the somewhat gouging price tag. :-(

Entered, approached the barista who was running the register, who said nothing and looked at us. She did compliment my friend's nails. Ordered the maple latte. Asked if we wanted it for here or to go. Told her for here, and then sat at the bar counter. Started to get busy. Several other patrons entered after us who were served first. Eventually got our coffees about 10 minutes later, which were in to-go cups, which made me think the barista making coffees forgot about our order. The other two employees kept saying "I'm sorry" over and over again to the non-binary blue-green haired barista in hoop earrings who seemed a little overwhelmed and spoke in whispered angst, though the Riot grrrl music playing over the Bose speaker kept they/them/ze/zir in good spirits. A long ventilation pipe ran the length of the bar that was covered in a thick layer of dust, which ran directly above their toaster oven. An overall ambivalent experience.

LOVE the atmosphere and LOVE the downtown location. I ordered the Honey Lavender Latte and it was SO good, my boyfriend ordered an espresso and it came with a heart on top super cute, love the vibes

The coffee was great and I also had their gf cherry cheesecake, which was amazing! Love the atmosphere and vibe there. The service was wonderful

One of my main concerns with studying at a coffee shop is actually being able to grab a table. I was very surprised by how spacious this place was, since most joints in the old port are pretty tiny. So, plenty of tables to go around if you're trying to get some work done. Maple latte was delicious. Friendly baristas, awesome music, cozy atmosphere. Definitely will be coming back to try out more from their menu.

Super COVID cautious and safe! Picked up a wonderful and tasty cappuccino and was very impressed how quickly I was served.

Living Social took us to Arabica for a warm drink on a very cold day. We had $10 to spend, so we splurged on a piece of chocolate cream pie to go with our Maple Latte and Cappuccino. The cream pie filling was tasty. The crust was ok! The drinks, however, were really, really good. (That's really why you'd go to a coffee house anyway, right?) Go there. Have a great drink. Relax! Lots of seating. Use the spooky bathroom in the basement. Wash your hands. Return to seat. Continuing drinking your delicious brew. Rinse and repeat.

Very nice staff. Laid back to the point that you have to relax too. Great coffee and pastries. Worth the stop. Cool spot of town too.

I happened upon Arabica when I was early for a haircut at the two-doors-down Hairlines for Men. Needing to kill some time, I stopped in for an iced coffee and it was great. While Dunks has its place, Arabica offers more of an opportunity to relax and enjoy your company (or your solitude). The coffee drinks are well-crafted and the pastry selection is of perfect size - I don't need a million choices; just make a few things as well as you can and you can't go wrong. The curved front window along Free Street is perfect for people watching. It offers more seating and more natural light via windows than does nearby Bard Coffee. In a city with such stiff caffeine competition, Arabica certainly shines.

Really great, solid coffee shop. It's one of my first stops every time I'm in town, and I always get the maple latte. It's a simple concept, but I rarely see it done with real syrup elsewhere. Arabica nails this drink. Just the right ratio of espresso, sweetness, and maple goodness. I love it. Good location and great ambiance inside, to boot.