Carnelian Coffee

This is my go to coffee shop in Portland. Excellent drip coffee and a charming space. I come here to buy beans for my daily pourover, and like most other places, they offer a free coffee with the purchase of a bag of beans. I took advantage of that today to enjoy a pastry along with my coffee - Carnelian normally carries offerings from Tabor Bread (excellent stuff) as well as Shoofly, for a vegan option.

I thought it was kinda weird seeing reviews of people raving about the foam here, but now I get it. We got the mudslide cold brew and chai latte. The cold brew had a good chocolate kick to it without being too sweet and the chai latte was PERFECT. Such fluffy foam and the flavors were just right, with the perfect ginger zing down the throat. It was also served just hot enough that I didn't have to wait forever to start enjoying it. We shared the soy curl BBQ bun and it was delicious. Chill place inside but we sat in the alleyway off their building which was lovely. A definite do-over!

Great coffee. Lots of plant based options (including vegan breakfast sandwich). Super friendly staff. Lots of seating / table including patio.

Very tasty coffee and pastries and sandwich. Expensive though. We brought our own mugs to get 25¢ off. I recommend this (good for the planet!) the serving staff were not friendly and all seemed annoyed by my friend's questions about the menu. For a supposedly "rock themed cafe", they do not have anywhere near enough rocks. I took a bag of their Costa Rica beans home--best beans I've gotten in Portland. I will be returning for the 2lb bag at some point. $50 for 2lbs, if you're curious. Decent pricing for such high quality content. One last thing! Some reviews mention that this place has pour over coffee. That is technically true, but it is not a skillful or artisan pour over. If you are looking for premium, well crafted pour over coffee that's brewed one cup at a time with patience and intent, go elsewhere. Futura has good pour over.

Carnelian has become synonymous in our house with good, Portland light roasts. It's become a gold standard by which we grade other coffee establishments. We drink Carnelian nearly every day, generally via their 2 ACTUAL POUND (32 oz) bags. Throughout the maybe 50 or so bags we've purchased we're exposed to new, subtle tasting notes and reminded that coffee is born of a fruit tree. I realized how core to our life this coffee has become when they recently moved ~5 blocks down the street. I felt bewildered! Lost! Confused! All pre-coffee at 8am. They buy the best for pastries ($$) and bagels ($). Seems like they've added breakfast sandwiches. I'd describe the service as excellence (like I think they win coffee competitions) mixed with east coast coolness. Take that how you will. It's like a place you bring a first date to show you have discerning tastes (but like do you?). WHERE ARE THE ROCKS?!

Tried Carnelian for the first time this morning and what a hidden gem! I had an iced orange mocha and was really happy to find out all of their flavors/syrups are housemade and organic. I'm not usually a fan of fruity flavors in espresso, but I was really impressed with how smooth and balanced my drink was. The atmosphere in the place is very warm and our barista was kind and patient while we decided our order. The food options are assorted pastries and bagels with shmear. Small tables available in the back room for getting work done and on a sunny day they have tables outside. Will be coming back here!

In a city full of good coffee, this place is a strong contender for the best. It's really good. Love the new location!

Great coffee and tea and vegan selections. Dine in and outside seating available. Enjoy your warm drink with their beautiful rock and plant collection. We got a pour over and purple Pandan tea (no caffeine) and birth were great. Will need to try their thunderegg drink next time I go. Street parking wasn't too hard to find on a Saturday morning but seating availability maybe difficult.

The people make this five star worthy. The coffee is t too bad, either. Love the new location on Foster.

Overpriced, mediocre, coffee with baristas and clientele with bad attitudes. Barista looked annoyed after I asked a few questions and people try to cut me in line. Barista offered the customer in front of me multiple options for coffee and then told me they only had Peruvian because they had ran out of everything else even though the gentleman also got Peruvian, didn't make sense. I also got lots of stares from the people sitting and doing work on the computer, wouldn't go again. This was my third time here and every time it's bad energy, thought I'd give it one more try since it's so close to home but I won't be returning.

Best coffee, especially the thunderegg, perfect amount of sweetness, cream and caffeine. Highly recommended.

This is a cute little coffee shop with great service and yummy tasting coffee, I got a vanilla latte and it's was just the right amount of sweetness. They have inside and outside seating. It has a cool hip vibe with browns and tans.

The cafe has a rustic, industrial feel. Along with drinks you can purchase small batch loose leaf teas and coffee beans. The service is quick but thorough. I love that milk alternatives are already factored into the price! No need to pay more. The soy latte that I got was perfect.

The atmosphere is relaxed with nice gentle music that you can work and study to. There's one small seating area in the front and a larger one in the back. Both areas are comfortable. The decorations are simple but clever. The service is accommodating and patient. They don't have sugar free flavors. They make their own. I had the vanilla which was pretty good.

The coffee's fine but the service was...chilly. There's a real "too cool for school" vibe in this coffee shop and the baristas merely gaped at me when I walked in, almost sneering. Safe to say, I will not be coming back here cause I already graduated from high school.

We stopped by around 2pm on a Saturday and the cafe was empty. There was plenty of street parking outside. We ordered the Thunderegg (listed under Drink Specials) and got an asparagus pastry. A lot of their pastries were sold out. One of the baristas was super cold & unfriendly. We had the entire back room to ourselves. The plants create an earthy environment. Despite the service, I would come back for the unique space.

THE smallest of all coffee shops I have visited. And a very good display of plagioclastic feldspars. Neat. The house coffee is a roast less than medium. And I'm fine with that. Some pastries here, but I didn't notice. Nice neighborhood coffee shop.

update: i decided to come back to give this place another try, because i could tell that the beans they used in the thunder egg was fragrant and strong. and i'm so glad i did. i ordered a 16oz iced honey latte ($6.50) and it was GOOD. satisfied my coffee cravings- the perfect amount of coffee, sweetness, and creaminess. service was about the same as last time, not overly friendly but just a barista doing their job. i would come back again just for their regular drinks and not their specialties, because it's just not what i usually like drinking.

Still great! Love their flavors and unique drinks. They have a good mix between classic coffee combos and new treats!

The drinks were bomb. The vibes were up. It was chill and that's all I could ask for. The workers were so relaxed I lowkey thought the employees were high but they were super nice

Such a cute coffee shop. Love the angler interior design and the rock hound display. Inside seating is limited but there is a few tables outside for seating. They have pastry and bagels. I noticed the menu stated most food was pre-made and subject to availability. We found street parking very close by. I'd would return for another great cup of green tea. My hubby said the coffee was good too.

Delicious vegan food and coffee drinks. The Thunder Egg (and the larger DinoEgg) with oat milk were yummy! My non-vegan friends enjoyed it too. Their new location is nice.

Been driving by it for several times now, finally got a chance to stop in. Small rooms, yet cozy. Busy at the time. Got the Thunderegg to go and it was delicious. Perfectly made by the barista and hit the spot for a chilly and wet afternoon. Will go back again, hopefully at a time where it's not too crowded, for another cup of excellent coffee drink with relaxing ambiance. Great selection of teas as well. UPDATED REVIEW: Downgrade by 1 star due to service. First visit, the service was cold, but I chalked it up to being close to the end of the day. Second time, different barista and cashier, same surly service. Not asking for overly fake friendliness, just some plain old good service. I really like the coffee, but the lack of warmth makes me less likely to want to go back.

The service was subpar. The baristas were dismissive and pretentious. Maybe they were just having a bad day. The coffee was good. The ambiance was cool with rocks and the lighting was a nice hue of orange. But again with some many coffee shops I probably won't go back due to the service.

DELICIOUS FREAKING CUP OF COFFEE . Damn . Also the people were so sweet and homey . The whole place felt homey ! Great place to sit and do homework or read a book !

My child goes to school close by and I've been looking for something other than the Dutch Bros across the street. I loved the iced coffee I ordered. Husband opted for the house coffee with no extras and a free refill that he had no complaints with. Price point was good. The place is cozy and seemed to have a lot of foot traffic. (At least when we stopped in) BUT the customer service was a 1 star all around. If I read the other reviews before going, I would not have went because we received the same lackadaisical attitude from both the cashier and barista. The place was empty when we first arrived and we received no acknowledgment, not even as we stood in front of the iPad with the cashier facing us. I led the conversation by ordering my husband's drink then proceeding to add my drink to the order. The cashier said maybe 5 words to us while we were there although we asked different questions. They probably don't care but we would not return nor recommend the place to anyone.

Came here three straight mornings while visiting cherished friends nearby. A lovely interior cafe space for work or leisure, great coffee, and of course lots of rocks on the walls. Staff very friendly, and clearly a sense of community and care in the business.

Listless, rude, indifferent servers. Seemed annoyed that we were ordering coffee. Mocha was lukewarm. Latte was cold. Cute decor though. I live in the neighborhood and won't be back.

One of the best cups in Portland, if not, the best! Interesting ambiance. Tasty pastries.

The first time I went I liked it! I enjoyed the design of the space, the coffee was good and I was excited to come back. However after a few visits the one thing I noticed that was off was the the service. It almost feels like in order to work here you have to be a pretentious barista. Never a smile, never a "you're welcome" when I say thank you. Just a grumpy barista that seems annoyed that I even dare come in to have my order taken. There are plenty of other great coffee shops in portland with awesome baristas no need to come here and get some attitude with your coffee.

Such a cute coffee shop in SE Portland neighborhood. I tried the hazelnut latte with oat milk and it was pretty good, not overly sweet which is always a plus thing for me. Would definitely come back to try their tea drinks. Just something to keep in mind, they only have up to 12oz coffee drinks so if you would like a bigger size you can bring your own personal cup, and I believe you also get a discount for bringing a personal cup in.

Menu on point, atmosphere like an oasis you'd find somewhere along Mad Max's Fury Road. Definitely top 3 macchiato in the area.

Choose this place and happy I did. The inside is welcoming and cozy. I love the lighting choice and interior as it's very Portland. It's vegan, which I didn't notice when looking for a coffee shop, but delicious food. I chose the vegan toast with spicy tomato jam and it's great! Wonderful cafe to read, relax, do work, etc. parking is conveniently anywhere pretty much and the staff is great. If you're looking for a caramel flavored drink, no go, but they have set one thing close to it which tastes better. I just forgot the name!

Great coffee and food. Service was very attentive and efficient. Even though a small shop, it was well laid out and quiet.

I have the best neighbor in the world. When I fell down the stairs about a month ago, luckily for me, my neighbor Was found me in a disheveled heap at the bottom of the stairs and he even took me to urgent care where I got x-rays and a splint. You may be asking yourself what the heck does your clumsiness have to do with this coffee place? Well, it turns out that it is owned by Wes' son. And if you're still wondering where I'm going with this, I'll tell you. Wes brought up my mail for me and I lamented that I hadn't had any coffee in over a week. My Mr. Coffee passed away after 10 years of solid service. Wes told me that his son owns a coffee shop and they sell this Ugandan coffee that's just delicious. As promised, Wes popped in on me Monday morning with a thermos full of this coffee with a deep aromatic presence. I thanked him very much and poured it into my favorite coffee mug. I would love to have this coffee every day. It was so rich and smooth, so different than the Fred Meyer coffee I usually buy. I finished the thermos and returned it to Wes, thanking him profusely. Everyone should be so lucky to have a neighbor like Wes. 2021 - Review # 49

When the regular coffee selection is actually pour over, and has a free refill, you know you've struck gold. At 2.50, instead of drip coffee, you get pour over, which is mind boggling!! We ordered a Thunder Egg and pour over, both of which were delicious. For pour over, they had two choices for beans, an Ethiopian and a Guatemalan. We opted for the latter and it tasted delicious. A lighter brew that had fruitier flavors, I am still shocked that it only cost $2.50! The Thunder Egg was a cortado with oat milk that also tasted very delicious. 10/10 recommend this cute little coffee shop, it is worth the trip!

This used to be a fav or mine. The coffee itself still is. However, I rarely go now because the staff just kill the vibe! They are consistently unfriendly and irritable. The classic case of I'm so special because I work at a coffee shop meets wait you want me to warm that pastry??! It's just uncomfortable. A great example was when I wanted a regular size hot chocolate and they assumed I wanted a kids size because my kid was with me. When it came out I kindly let them know I wanted a regular size one and asked if they could make it into a larger one. I let them know I bought beans (which means this was a complimentary drink so the price of the larger size wouldn't matter). They were so unfriendly and upset about it. When I came back to get the larger one they had literally just added two inches of foam to the existing hot chocolate in a bigger cup. They made the mistake why not just be friendly, say sorry and make it into a larger one? Such a bummer cause this place could be great.

10/10 recommend the thunderegg. Cute n cozy cafe. A little small but they also have outdoor seating.

Shockingly unfriendly. Disappointing because I'd heard good things. Said hello multiple times with no response and after making my coffee the barista slammed my coffee down. Perhaps a bad day for them? Who knows.

It is giving cozy cave vibes here. It's a small-ish shop so be prepared to have crowding as this place is amazing and attracts all the cool people. It is filled with rocks to make every geo lover swoon. Lattes are also 10/10, they also have a lot of non-caffeinated items for my anxious hotties.

I've walked these streets An excavation, it seemed to me Facets on their faces Minerals took their places next to me I've walked these streets A Carnelian of delights to eat All the coffee seekers The vegan savory dealers They crowded around me Have I been wise, have I been strong Natalie Merchant in my own mind Crystalized, mesmerized By what my eyes have seen In that Carnelian

Best vanilla oat latte I've ever had. It is a small coffee shop with a few work spaces. The vibe is cozy and inviting. Next time I will try their speciality drinks!

Amazing coffee, and a really warm atmosphere. Service and quick and the staff seem quite nice

Pretentiousness typical of many Portland coffee spots, but delicious and unique enough to keep me coming back anyway. Atmosphere reminds me of going on cave field trips as a kid, and they're always stocked with amazing pastries from FoPo with several dietary options. Coffee is some of the best brewed in Portland imo.

the espresso drinks are a littttle hit or miss, but mostly hit! really the coziest, most comfortable place to work or hang out. staff are really friendly and pastries are good!

Great coffee. Friendly and interesting staff. The rocks on the shelves give you something to look at while you wait. Outdoor seating is the icing on the cake. Thanks for helping keep us sane through the recent "great unpleasantness."

I am loathe to give this place anything less than 5 stars. I've been coming here since they opened several years ago and their coffee is honestly the best. The two owners are really sweet and the decor is super unique, with a carnelian mineral vibe throughout the whole place. The only thing stopping me from a perfect 5 star is there's a couple gals who've started working there more recently who are kind of unpleasant. Every time I come in they walk up to the register and just look at me without saying anything. No "how's it going" or "what would you like," just stare at me and wait for me to order. It's honestly had me resourcing some other coffee shops in the area lately, because it doesn't feel great. Other than that, I truly love this place. They've also added some really sleek, albeit a bit pricy Carnelian Coffee merch (sweatshirts & Ts) that I'm excited to get my hands on soon!

Cute lil coffee shop with tasty espresso drinks. Good vibes. Love the décor and atmosphere.

These guys are pretty rude about the masks and the employees seem to be on high alert at all times. It's not the most comfortable place to get coffee in the coffee. Isn't that great, but it's probably one of the better spots in that area. They also have good pastries, which was one of the main reasons I stopped in there.

Luke was very nice , we enjoyed his plants the fab orange lighting and his rock collections - my roommate said the coffee was 10/10

Absolutely love this shop - the vibe is great, customer service is friendly, and their drinks are AMAZING. I am obsessed with the Thunder Egg - honestly the best espresso drink I've ever had. Super rich, creamy, perfect balance of sweet and coffee flavor. It keeps me coming back! Plus, they are doing amazing on COVID precautions and have gorgeous decor and the atmosphere of the place is just super chill.

This has now become my favorite coffee shop in all of Portland! Their drink specials are delicious and I love the space! I have been searching for a coffee shop that I enjoy in Portland. This city is saturated with spots but only a few hit that mark on delicious coffee and cozy vibe. I'll be back, again, and again.

Excellent customer service!! Love the atmosphere. The coffee is strong without being bitter. Excellent place to sit and catch up with a friend or study for an important test!

We've been here about 5 times now and I just love this place. It's a gallery of different rocks and a slice of MCM decor. I've had an Americano, a honey latte, drip coffee, and a few other drinks that are all consistently good. They serve Henry Higgins bagels and also An Xuyen bakery items in their case, keeping it "hyperlocal". There are plans to incorporate vegan items, but the task is finding somewhere hyperlocal. I love this place, and I think if you love coffee, you will too. It's pretty small, so it's not great for groups, and I've never seen an empty table, except within 30 minutes of opening. But it's a great cup of coffee in one of my favorite areas of Portland.

Iced lavender latte with oatmilk is SO GOOD. I order it whenever I am in this side of town. Everyone working here is really friendly and sweet.

While the coffee is decent the service is very snobby. I live within a block of this establishment and have been going there out of conveniyears

Delicious vanilla latte and I got two bags of coffee for home. I will check those out and report back on how they were. The staff are really sweet and you get a free drink of your choice with each bag of coffee that you purchase.