Coffee By Design

Good vibes, great inventory for coffee lovers to pick up any supplies to make it at home or order and enjoy in house. Somewhat limited indoor seating but nice long bar to sit at. My husband and I enjoyed the drip coffee and lattes, and ordered some coffee to ship to our house (as we were traveling). Highly recommend!

Established lively and social coffee house in Portland. Spacious industrial spaces with a focus on art, roasting, local events and causes. Easy to access and park tucked away from busier streets. I didn’t eat but they do have bakery items and packaged food. Big focus on fair trade natural beans from Africa and South America products. My coffee and cappuccino were both rich and delicious. It was very active place with both take-out, retail and sit-in customers. Very positive vibe.

We ordered an iced Chai latte and a hot Chaider (seasonal apple cider chai). Both drinks were great! I loved the spiciness of the chai latte.

This is a nice coffee shop in Portland. I had iced chai latte and a scone. They are delicious. They have gluten free snacks too. The staff are nice and friendly. I saw many people came here with laptops and working. It has free wifi too. It's a good place to meet up.

I recently purchased a Coffee By Design single origin Costa Rican light roast from another local retailer, and it is THE best coffee I have ever had stateside. It actually tastes like I am back in Costa Rica having a fresh cup at some of the Airbnbs we stayed at that roasted beans small scale fresh from their backyard. SO good!

Exceptional coffee and an inviting atmosphere! Discovering a place that truly appreciates the art of coffee and can brew a cup that feels like home was a delight. The staff went above and beyond, offering assistance in choosing beans. I highly recommend giving this place a visit, especially if you're a coffee lover.

They live up to the hype! One of the best cups of coffee I've had in the northeast. The cashier was so nice. She gave us samples of their different roasts and truly helped us choose something we would enjoy. The atmosphere is so nice and welcoming!

😋Very tasty cappuccino in this coffee shop. ✅Friendly service, variety of drinks and pastries. ✅ Comfortable places and fresh press. Free WiFi. ✅Cozy and comfortable 🥰 I recommend 😊

We just dropped in here to check out their coffee. We ended up with two cold brews which were awesome. They had a lot of great looking pastries, and the atmosphere was comfortable. The service was fast. Really no complaints. We brought home two bags of their coffee and my partner has purchased more online since we've been home! Loved being able to see the roasting area.

Coffee By Design may be one of the most recognizable coffee names in the Portland scene. Over the past few years they have closed other locations with this being the last remaining. My wife and I have had their beans and made coffee at home before but today we finally visited this spot. Seeing a post on their social media for a summer special peach cobbler latte was the motivation for us to visit. There is a decent amount of parking nearby and thankfully in this area most of it should be free. It's quite a large space and two spots you can order at. Staff was friendly enough with no complaints but some other local spots are more friendly and welcoming. They also have a lot of beans and different brew methods and supplies you could buy for all your at home coffee making. They are trying for summer vibes with pool inflatables throughout the ceiling as well as an inflatable goat so as someone who works with goats that was a plus. Like mentioned above I was here to give their peach cobbler latte a try. They did do well at capturing the flavor of peaches and I enjoyed my drink but wish the flavor had a stronger punch to it. You could taste the peach but it was a little more subtle than I hoped. My wife especially loved her white tuxedo mocha iced latte. Likely a new favorite coffee beverage of hers. This will be a spot I want to return to mostly to try their seasonal specials and so my wife can get another white tuxedo mocha, but I don't think it quite will become our must go to normal spot.

Overall: and by design the coffee tastes great! The single origin brewed coffee had very flavorful notes of chocolate? Not quite an espresso but it was brewed tastefully that makes me wanna ho back for more! Seating was a little less than ideal but scattered around was enough bar and regular table seating for you.

What an experience to have in a short amount of time! We stopped along the way shortly after dinner for coffee and pastries. Staff member was so charming and welcoming!! The staff connected with each and every one of us in our group. There are seating options in and outside. My most memorable part of this visit will be the burlap coffee bean bags that I was able to take home back to TX. They only ask for a small donation but allowed myself and my bff to take as many we wanted or would fit in my suitcase lol This place is special for sure and I hope you are able to enjoy it as much as I did!! Happy Yelping!

Ten years later, I thought I'd update my review! This CBD location is such a reliable, safe, and good option to meet for coffee. One of my go-to's for work meetings, because a) parking is so easy in this area and b) there's soooooooo many good seating options both inside and outside. It's one of the best locations for a - and biggest, brightest spaces at a - coffee shop in the city! You'll see CBD coffee available all across Greater Portland, and you always know what you're getting when you order it. You can't go wrong with a cup of their Rebel Blend (and if you haven't tried it before, the Midnight Jazz is an amazing blend too)! I do miss some of the old flavored options that don't seem available anymore, but maybe that's just aging me! A basic hot or iced coffee is also reliable, safe, and good. For me, though, if I want any kind of latte or matcha, there are other places in Portland that I think outshine them in this extremely particular area. CBD is an absolute staple, but now - a decade plus later after my initial review - there are just so many other options on and off peninsula that are doing really special things too. And I think the city is big enough now to celebrate all of that!

Let me first start by saying that I'm one of the very proud owners of Three Of Strong Spirits, also located on Diamond St in Portland, Maine. I meandered down to this company and, upon introducing myself, the owner gifted me with a bag of Margaret P. Driver, a coffee which she has created in our rum barrels! So, what happens when you take the best rum made in Maine, or the world for that matter, and infuse it into quality coffee beans?????????????? You get an explosion of taste that will literally leave you speechless!! Here I thought our rum was incredible and mind-blowing all by itself, but this lovely lady who owns this company has taken it to the next level! The coffee is smooth and boozy. I am addicted!!!!!!!! I find myself at my home coffee bar simply inhaling the aromas from the bag! There are only two of us in this big house who drink coffee. Well, when I brew Margaret P. Driver the 12-cup pot vanishes within seconds with my housemate and I fighting for the very last drop! If the combination of our rum and their coffee isn't deadly enough for you, then try their frosted brownies!! OMG!! I nearly passed out eating them!! They are incredible!! The brownies also pair beautifully with the coffee!! Wow, wow, and wow!! I will be stopping in for more of the coffee infused with our rum on a regular basis!! Furthermore, I recommend that tourists stay on Diamond St for an entire day, not just for a few moments!! We have our bar, Three Of Strong Spirits, then there's Bite Into Maine, and the icing on the cake, Coffee By Design! Diamond St is the happening place to be!!

Fact: I have never had coffee by accident. Fact: I'm horrible at adding dairy to coffee. Opinion: Even with my overpouring blunder, my iced coffee at Coffee By Design was fantastic--in an astonishingly bold coffee way, not a coffee milkshake way. Dark roast plus a shot of espresso withstood the dairy onslaught admirably and wonderfully. And so began my first visit to a place I should have hit years ago. It's an industrial park kind of setting, but parking is easy, whether in CBD's lot or the lot across the street, or around the corner on Fox Street. Inside, the place is cozy and funky, with comfortable seating, interesting artwork, and a display case of pastries with the day's four available roasts also on display. I was so impressed I came back early the next day for a hot coffee, going with Ubuntu, an unusual dark roast with deep coffee flavor, a bit of sour, and a roasty quality that hit hard without tasting burnt. Delicious. Had that one black (it's always hot coffee black, cold coffee with dairy for me). Cookie with my coffee was soft, bendable, and had flavors of caramel and espresso. Enjoyable. Delightful staff. I often like new-to-me coffee places, but never like this. Coffee By Design really grabbed me. Two coffees, one hot, one cold, both impressive, and I can't wait to go back.

This is my favorite place for coffee in Portland! Not only do they do it right here every time, but the servers are so knowledgeable and sweet. This is a place where they know your name and your coffee order if you're nice. We love getting Jillian and Amelia, but all of them are great! Plus, they are always supporting a good cause, so it's the best vibe. One of my all time favorite places!

Good spot. Plenty of outdoor and indoor seating. Beans roasted right there. Coffee was very good. Service was fast. We enjoyed it.

I've lived in the area for 15+ years and I still appreciate CBD. Other shops are niche and may sell beans but tend to be more expensive per pound. I have a super automatic espresso machine so I can only use non oily beans. All 3 espresso roasts CBD sells are not oily which is amazing. Another shops oily espresso beans were used in our machine ONCE and it gummed the machine up and my husband had to take it apart and clean it. No thank you, lesson learned. I now live about 40 mins outside of Portland and I order espresso beans from CBDs website and get free shipping. It's nice to not physically go to the shop since I go through 3-5lbs a month. When I do go into CBD, I buy a bag of beans just to get the free coffee and read my horoscope. I also love looking at their coffee merch as they sell grinders and brew accessories. It seems to always be busy and sometimes loud despite some working quietly on laptops. Oh and they have a jar of dog bones by the door.

Great coffee shop find in Portland! Really nice, open space, with plenty of seating (along with some seating outside). Counter staff were really friendly and prompt. The lattes were good, the espresso was strong and not bitter like many of the other shops in the area. We tried a rosemary parmesan scone also. Delicious! Prices were in line with similar places.

The is the second Coffee By Design location in Portland that I visited during my vacation (The first location - I gave 5 stars). I ordered a cold brew. While I was waiting, I noted there is a lot of space and seating inside to sit and hang out, and enjoy one's beverage, break out the MacBook Pro or iPad - and work. It was rather warm inside that morning - uncomfortably so for my taste - so instead of hanging out - as I had initially planned to do and work for a bit - I headed on out. Cold brew was decent - but I prefer a Dunkin' or a Starbucks cold brew - compared to this one. There is very little parking outside - I had to navigate a rather large puddle getting in and out of my car - as it was the only parking space available. #CoffeeByDesign

I usually don't go to small businesses because large corporations have many more locations. However, I gave it a shot and don't regret it. I'm pleasantly surprised. Employees at large companies tend to act like they hate their jobs. Mia served me today and I liked how she smiled and talked to me (I'm a talkative person ). She also brought me napkins because I have back and knee issues. I just wish you had an app. The food was great!

Very cute place! Loved the garage door concept. Coffee was yummy and also had a sweet treat (honey glazed donut). I'm not a big coffee drinker but will be back.

So glad we stumbled upon this place! My daughter and I loved the vibes here, so welcoming! Plenty of room inside if you want to stay and chat or work on your laptop. Baristas were very friendly.

I like the location. It reminds me a lot of some of the industrial areas of Seattle with little startup breweries or coffee houses, etc. The shop is a little small and due to its cool hipsterness, a lot of people come in with laptops and basically take up the space. I don't find the design of the "barista island" efficient and it kind of breaks up the space that would be better otherwise. I find myself floating from seat to seat until I get the desired location and that is what it is. I won't go out of my way to come here and there are plenty of other places to sit if you don't want to be in a place where everyone expects your cool factor to be increased, Apple products in tow. I won't say the coffee is particularly different from any other places, but what do I know? I don't have much of a palate for coffee and am content with diner or Dunkin. Having said that, I've definitely been to places where the coffee definitely hits different. Sadly, not here. And so goes the old saying: "we have coffee at home"

I wrote another review with five stars nine years ago about coffee by design. I love their coffee and they take time in their choice of beans and in their roasting. It's definitely a quality product. I've gone there literally hundreds of times. This is really an open note to the staff of the diamond Street location who worked Saturday, April 6, 2024 around noon. It was fairly busy when I arrived. At the time there were only two people taking orders, making coffee and grinding beans, a couple more arrived later. I was behind a middle-aged couple who were ordering coffee. They began a conversation with the young cashier who was wearing a ball cap. For a solid five minutes, literally five minutes, myself and the two couples behind me stood there waiting while the middle-aged couple chatted up the cashier, who happily and blithely obliged. They talked about all sorts of things. But not once was there any discussion of what the customers actually wanted and no sensitivity to the fact that people were waiting in line. The couple behind me and I started laughing because the time line and situation became so ridiculous. We felt like we were in a Larry David episode about ordering coffee from millennials. The guy behind me even asked, what would Larry David do in this situation? Lol. Eventually, another person entered the mix and opened up the second line and took my order, which was just grinding a couple of pounds of beans. Maybe I'm old-school, but where was the hustle?! Keep your eyes up and your awareness focused on the customers so you don't miss basic traffic cues etc. I'm sure it was just an off day, but maybe the guy behind the register will see this post and get it right going forward.

Grabbed a quick coffee and baked good here recently while I was in the city. The gal behind the register was very helpful in explaining my choices. Coffee, pastry and advice were all great.

The best cappuccino ...the foam was sublime. I didn't know cappuccinos could be this good. Bye bye lattes. Scones were nice too.

Ample parking on the side. We ended up here by accident but loved it! Tried their caramel latte with almond and its to die for! Also great honey glazed donuts! Excellent service as well :)

Small open-air coffee shop with a wide variety of drinks + a few baked goods I got a vanilla coffee and it was not the best, but I also got a donut and it was very tasty One of a few different locations 6.5

I got my daily caffeine fix here and ordered a very tasty dark roast coffee with almond milk! Would definitely recommend!

Waited for service for at least ten minutes while all three employees engaged a customer on recommendations for shopping. Ordered 2 lattes. One came out and then I waited another ten minutes for the second while people who had ordered after me got their orders. Both lattes had barely any ice. The chai had good flavor. The vanilla latte tasted liken vanilla milk. Almost no coffee flavor. The poor guy in front of me got cold decaf and the barista told him he was gonna have to wait his turn to have it fixed.

Excellent pour-overs in addition to traditional espresso drinks. Ample seating, Wi-Fi and free smells of delicious coffee roasting. They also have an impressive selection of in-house roasted coffees sourced from various locations.

Great cup of coffee and a great vibe! All the signage in the store points to them being very accepting of everyone. Welcoming to all and seems like a very community coffee place! Will likely come back here soon!

If you could rank all if the coffee shops in Portland on a scale of indie/hipster to Starbucks, in my mind CBD falls right in the center. I see a lot of different types of people come to sit and share a drink at the Diamond street location. I'm not a regular coffee drinker but I enjoy the atmosphere and the chance to sit with a friend. They have a couple of options for sweets but otherwise stick true to the coffee. Their bean operation is right there beyond the windows which is neat to observe and their selection of coffee ware feels like a walk into a micro specialty store. Theres no pretension and the folks are super nice. In pandemic times, a mask and six feet are the rules. There's sanitizer to be used and very sparse seating options. Its definitely missing the ambiance of regular times but it'll be back.

What a fantastic place to come and enjoy a pastry or a specialty drink. It was early afternoon on a Sunday and it was hopping with energy. There were several locals with their bikes. I decided to sitar a picnic table outside and I purchased an cold green tea. It was perfect just after my walk around the boulevard. I also picked up a chocolate nut biscotti which was a perfect combination with the tea. I will definitely stop by again when I'm in that area again. Enjoy!

I went to CBD to snag a coffee and some treats. I got the Tuxedo Mocha latte. Which was pretty delicious. I also got a raspberry oat bar which was to die for. I found the prices to be super reasonable especially for a coffee shop in Portland. The staff was also super friendly .

Terrific coffee, a selection of sweet and savory treats to enjoy with your coffee, friendly and knowledgeable staff. This is my go-to coffee source in Portland. Plenty of seating, indoors and outdoors, without the sort of pretentious atmosphere found in some local shops. Just good coffee in a relaxed atmosphere.

It's no secret that the Portland coffee shop scene has been taken over by a cabal of ghostly middle-aged wives who enjoy scaring younger women out of town. I've witnessed my friends leaving one by one and did too. Nevertheless, CBD is a cozy anterior with great coffee and a charming staff. Can't wait to try it again :)

Excellent service. Especially during these unprecedented times with COVID-19. I'm appreciative of businesses who take the time to plan and communicate appropriate precautions to protect both their employees and customers. For now, this location is curbside pickup only where you will need to order online and then call upon arrival. I made the mistake of not doing so as I thought there would be an order window, and there isn't. However, it was quick and easy to order online; ready within 10-15 min! I have been craving for an iced coffee from CBD, and it was delicious! Glad to give this local establishment my money. They don't disappoint.

I'd been by and it looked cool. Needed coffee so stopped in. Nice, clean place. Everyone working there is vaccinated The coffee was great and they offered many, local, gluten-free treats! Has places to sit. Will be back!

Honestly, what more could you want in a coffee shop? + The coffee is great, with many roast/flavor options. They offer alternative milks and have a full espresso menu. + There is a small parking lot in front, with lots more parking nearby. + The space is large with multiple seating options, comfy chairs and tables for working. They have a small patio for warmer months, and small meeting areas great for casual work meetings. + Bathrooms are clean + Lots of yummy baked goods and breakfast choices! + They have a loyalty system for points/rewards + Staff are friendly, patient, and ensure your order is right (if it's not they will fix it!). + Convenient location, off-highway and near downtown (but NOT downtown) This CBD location is perfect for reading, working, meet-ups and lounging. It's my go-to spot for meeting friends because I know we will be able to find a spot to sit and it's convenient from all directions. Plus, add in the fact that Coffee By Design gives back to their community and they host fun events and tastings at this location... as I said, what more could you want in a coffee shop?

I visited Coffee By Design on India Street and as always found a nice, quiet location to enjoy a delicious coffee. Wiley at India Street was incredibly helpful, and fun.

Made us wait for a coffee and told us they do latte art. Had to wait and coffees got cold then they had no one remaking them when we were told they were. No communication between employees and girl at cash register is very rude.

Quick stop through Portland. It was easy to get to. The atmosphere was quaint and the drinks were delicious. If we find ourselves in the city again, we'll be sure to stop in!

Fab Cold Brew! Love this location! I am constantly bringing my pup to east beach in the morning and stopping here for an iced coffee with soy milk on the way home. The baristas are always friendly and give the perfect proportion of coffee to soy milk. There are also food items available if you are hungry! Their scones look amazing but i've never tried them. The atmosphere is great for studying, reading, or just catching up with a friend. There are glass widows in the back of the shop where you can see the coffee brewing process in action! Bathrooms are always clean. I usually am there between 8-9am and there are usually at least a couple tables open. There is outdoor seating as well and a bowl/treats for anyone who has their dog! There is a parking lot which is GREAT because other coffee shops in Portland it can be hard to get street parking. One downside: $$$$ I am willing to treat myself every once in a while but I could not afford to get this everyday. I'm so happy they moved to biodegradable straws! Way to go CBD

What an AMAZING coffee spot! They are probably the most multicultural place in portland/maine. We didnt see much diversity on our trip here but this place made up for everything. The coffee is absolutely delicious, while i had a nitro cold brew with oat milk & my s/o had their special "the spike" which has a hint of lavender. The taste is spectacular! The service was even better! If we ever come back to maine, this is our first and last stop! Whats even better is that they make the coffee right behind the shop. You can taste the TLC with every sip. I also had one of their chocolate donuts, it was absolutely delicious, you can taste the home baking, super authentic. I cannot express how much we love this place!

This is my first time sitting in at a coffee spot, and I know that I will be returning to Coffee by Design for sure. I had a couple of meetings with clients and business partners here, the upbeat atmoshphere helped drive positive emotions in conversations. It gets pretty busy between 8 am-10 am, I stayed until 1 pm and the cafe slowly sets back into a relaxed quiet cafe. Luckily there are plenty of seats to go around. Easily accessible, by foot and bike, they also have their own parking lot.

I think I had the best mocha in my life today! The coffee was hot and so smooth! I ordered a mocha with a shot of almond breve, great flavor! Perfect for a rainy day!

Great Coffee, my church buys all their coffee for the lovely people at Life Church, Gorham, Maine Hooray for Life Church

I love coffee by design. The coffee is wonderful. And I also love supporting local. The service is OK. I think it's gotten a little better over time. I think the people that congregate their think they're better than everyone else. I never stay grab my coffee and go I want to be a round, happy people! I also heard this from several other people that have gone there. Nobody seems to smile anymore,

Worst customer service! I was 1 of three people having the same issue. Then a fourth just walked up and placed his order at the window.. no one else standing there was given this option by the very rude man. He did not care if you wanted service. The directions from the signs did not work if u do not use 4square app. I went to the coffeebydesign website. It made getting to place your order simple. What it does not point out is they have several locations and it automatically puts you at a closed store. I called the number for this location as it is on the window and they stated sorry, you have to go that location. I stated, I was new to town.. had no idea if the location. Then I checked by order would be ready for pickup at 8:15am tomorrow. The very rude man stated' "well 200 people found us but not you three!" I wonder how much business they real lost. Plus my card was charged for the take out order.

I LOVE COFFEE BY DESIGN, especially this location! This location has plenty of seats and has its own parking. It's also got plenty of outlets, which is why I deem it one of the best study spots in Portland! I haven't tried any of their coffees yet (yes, I know its called COFFEE by design), because I am consistently ordering their Chai Tea Lattes! I wish they served larger sizes, but it's just an excuse to try something new... or order more of what's already good.

The Americano was pretty good. They have nice pastries and other high quality items as well. Younger staff, nice and helpful. Plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. Recommended.

My favorite coffee roasters; just relaxing with a late afternoon coffee, getting out of the cool wind and weather

I attended a great event at coffee by design today called Crave, it was a part of Portland restaurant week. It was an incredible way to try a little bit of heaven from several different restaurants, and most importantly coffee by design coffee, YUM. A few years ago, I stopped by one morning when Coffee by Design was magically turned into Luke's Diner from Gilmore girls and made every Lorelei and Rory Gilmore fan feel a little piece of Stars Hollow magic. However... when they are not hosting fantastic, fun, overwhelmingly happy events they are a delightful coffee shop to visit. It's fun to check out the roastery! They serve high quality coffee ranging from a light roast to a dark roast. It's truly a fantastic place to pop in for a coffee, a pastry and a visit. Thank you Coffee by Design, I will return!

Great coffee and atmosphere. Just nice to sit and chill. Read a book or watch people.

Did I pay $15.00 for two coffee drinks? Yes. Would I pay $15.00 again for two coffee drinks from this place? HELL yes! I have driven by this place many times, parking can be annoying in this area, but we were able to find some around the corner and out back. The employees are extremely friendly and down to earth. My fiancée order a peppermint mocha which she enjoyed, and I ordered a vanilla latte with almond milk. I am not even joking, this was the best vanilla latte I have ever had. I think I said that about a dozen times as I was drinking it. HIGHLY recommend this spot.