Sterling Coffee Roasters

Incredible light roast coffee, it actually has lots of flavor, was served in a delightful mug, and at the perfect temperature! The music, seating, and atmosphere were fun and relaxing. The baked goods were delicious (i got some sort of chocolate banana muffin). And most impressive was how helpful and friendly the staff was. Best coffee shop I've been to in Portland so far!

Lovely coffee with brew, espresso and milk drinks. Lots of coffee equipment available for sale. Friendly team with lots of suggestions. We enjoyed their tonic drink that had orange in it, but also their espresso.

Partner and I were instantly in love with this place. From the atmosphere, to the drinks, and wonderful explanations of tasting notes from the baristas. If I could give more than 5 stars I would. Cheers!

Without a doubt in my mind, the best coffee and service in Portland is experienced at Sterling. ======= I typically arrive 'early' in the morning--8 o'clock at the latest. This is more than enough time to beat any sort of crowd, and includes one additional perk: a high probability of witnessing the local dogs and cats whom share the same comfortable and inviting little coffee shop nestled below the northwest hills. After my order is taken, I wait patiently. Leaning against the front door's aging frame, as I silently admire the dexterity of the espresso machine operator, I casually eavesdrop on conversations (if any) scattered throughout the room. Then, of course, while my mind iterates through dreams of myself, one-day, owning that high-end coffee contraption displayed on the top shelf (you know the one), I recognize the barista weaving their way toward me--a cup in their hand (occasionally accompanied by a fresh maple scone), and a genuine smile across their face. I unconditionally smile back, express my gratitude, gather my few belongings, and head out the door. ======= It may seem pretentious to some, but the simplicity of this service is where my love for Sterling originated; that natural, person-to-person interaction inherently brings me joy. Here, there is no need to attentively listen for your name to be yelled across a crowded cafe (like many other coffee shops around). Instead, Sterling's tranquility is maintained from entrance to exit, cultivating a truly perfect experience.

A lovely coffee shop with small tables to either work at or have a conversation with someone. The chai latte is excellent; not too sweet but very flavorful.

So I've never given a review for a simple latte but this is the best soy latte I've ever had. They also have great light roast coffee and beans of several different light roasts. Coffee and service was excellent. There is a reason the line was out the door on a Monday morning

My partner just brought me a soy latte from here that is just out of control delicious. Perfectly made. The coffee is flavorful and roasted beautifully. Treat yourself to a coffee here. Hands down one of the best coffee shops in Portland.

This was the first specialty coffee I had when I first moved to Portland years ago. Today I had a chance to stop by for a cappuccino -- and it was one of the finest I've had. In a Portland cafe scene that's harder and harder to distinguish great from excellent, Sterling sets the bar.

With all the coffee competition in Portland, Sterling definitely sticks out amongst the rest! From the outstanding & warm staff, to the dazzling atmosphere, this place is nothing short of an absolute gem in the Rose City. The espresso is second to none, and their "Blendo Stupendo" blend is a must try for locals and tourists alike. You can tell that the owner has a heart for the coffee scene, as he explained to me all the different types of blends and fun facts that each of them had to offer. My only issue is that I wish I would have tried this place much sooner, as I had been hearing about it for some time. With all that being said, I can assure that I will be a regular customer at Sterling for a long time!

Came here for a mid-day mid-week cup of coffee. It was a busy place. Nice interior, but no seating available. Ordered my coffee after a brief wait in life. Staff were friendly. Coffee was ready pretty quickly and tasty. Sat at a table outside - the ambiance wasn't that nice on the sidewalk. Overall, the experience was just ok.

It was my second time coming here, I did not remember much about my first visit. I was in the area and I recalled being here once, so I decided to try it again. The hot latte was one of the best ones that I had lately. Idk how to explain it other than smooth tasting even unsweetened. Service was great, they actually delivered my drink to the table. I am not sure how they know which order is for which person since the people who took my order and delivered it were different. Friendly service overall. They have several seats inside, but each table has 2 chairs. I recommend this place, I had really good experience.

Great coffee, roasted well and served strong. Not cheap but gives value for your dollars. Pleasant place to hang for a bit too.

I love this place! It was a great spot to post up with my laptop when I first landed in PDX and was waiting to meet a friend. I actually took the light rail straight (45 min or so) from the airport to Providence Park ($2.50) , and walked about 0.5 mi to get here. Super easy distance and just a lovely journey. The baristas were super nice. There is ample seating, fun merch, WiFi, and a bathroom. I thoroughly enjoyed my spiced chai, or holiday chai. It was essentially a dirty chai with cozy fall flavors and beautiful latte art!

My favorite travel coffee location. I've visited countless coffee shops throughout my travels, to include: local area, the US, Mexico, Canada, Italy and Germany. Sterling Coffee is my absolute favorite when traveling. Only place I've ever gone back to while in the area. Usually, I'll try a spot only once so I get a variety of what the area has to offer. I saw no need after our first experience and the second experience was just as great. I'd even have stopped by before flying out, but we were leaving before they opened. You can tell coffee is serious here and the focus, because the counter is the focal positioned to be the focal point of the entire room. However, the staff and owner are anything but intimidating and willing to answer questions, make suggestions based off preference and explain their daily selections. Also, I've never seen multiple options for house blends and they each be unique. Simple, but it's that type of detail that resonates. For me, the biggest wow moment was how the espresso flight was presented and served (didn't get a photo, that's mybad). They split the presentation in half, served in a custom board and suggest how to experience each espresso and also cleanse your palate. This also ensures your shots are fresh and hot. Inside and outside is cafe-vibe through and through. Refurbished food furniture, small tables, live plants and big entry windows. It's great for sitting and enjoying or grabbing and going. Can't wait to go back.

Sterling Coffee is a beautiful cafe on 21st that offers some great seating, kind staff, and wonderful drinks. I tried their maple cider which they just released yesterday! It's amazing and I would recommend it to any fellow cider lovers. We didn't have any food so I can't speak to that. But they do have some great merch available to the side of the order line. As for ambiance you can see in the pictures that they have created an inviting and fun space to grab I stopped by for my 24th birthday and had a wonderful time. It was well worth a birthday stop and would be a great spot for any day. Make sure to get here before the maple cider goes away because you won't want to miss it!

We were in the mood for some good coffee while visiting Portland so we decided to checkout Sterling Roasters. Quality of coffee: Good. We tried their holiday special latte and it was super good and full of flavors of cinnamon and cardamon. Décor: trendy and relaxed. There was comfortable seating next to the windows and the whole place had a very cozy feeling to it. Cleanliness: good. The tables were being kept clean regularly. Service: good. The whole place was being run by just 3 girls who were very busy but they made sure to answer our questions and serve coffeee with a smile. Price: Typical $5-$6 for a fancy coffee drink. If you're in the mood for some excellent coffee in a relaxed atmosphere then Sterling is a good choice.

Great coffee and great service. This coming from a certified coffee snob! Everything I love about smaller coffee shops.

Wow, Sterling Coffee. Just wow. Great coffee, great staff - they knoooow their coffee. Located in Nob Hill, Sterling is a quaint cafe serving bold coffee and tea lattes. They roast their own beans and offer coffee flights! All the baristas are extremely knowledgeable about coffee and provide recommendations based on your flavor preference. A sleek interior with black and wood contrasts, Sterling is dapper and dresses to impress. There is often a line out the door, but service is efficient and friendly. They have small tables inside and a larger table in the back, and it fills up quickly during the day. Wifi is fast and I always enjoy getting work done here. With the other coffee options in the area, Sterling holds their competition. Sterling is great, and definitely worth adding to the best coffee shops in Portland!

I love supporting local businesses. Finally stopped by after multiple trips to PDX and I must say, this is one of my top 3 favorite roasters. Upon walking in, we were greeted by the friendly staff. The ambience is dark, yet welcoming with the right amount of light and plants. We ordered a medium mocha and 12 oz coffee. I was so pleased to see 2 options available, the Rwanda and Blendo Supremo. It's rare to see free refills, so I was able to have both and was impressed! Overall, I must say that Sterling Coffee Roasters exceeded my expectations. We will definitely be back again. Kudos again to the friendly staff for exceptional customer service!

Good local café vibes for any NW local. Sterling is lucky to have an almost complete monopoly of the NW 21st area, and their stunning interior makes you want to spend more time here. I enjoyed the Frencg-style bistro tables and chairs indoors, but I could also envision a few Americans complaining about small sizes. If you need a big table, go to Starbucks. There is normally a line and several orders ahead of you, so definitely be patient as you wait for any order that is not drip coffee. I was surprised to see how high the prices for espresso or macchiatos were, with my order coming to $5.75 for a single macchiato. There are more affordable options nearby, but, the staff and ambience is nice if you have time to sit.

Service was excellent and the coffee was good too. The pastries could be improved and also warmed when served, especially the chocolate croissant. This place is very casual and there's a nice vibe overall.

I am absolutely blown away by my experience here! I ordered a flight of coffee (for myself), which comes with 2 drip and 2 shots espresso. If you aren't a heavy coffee drinker this may be a lot of coffee for you so be aware! The baristas were very knowledgeable in their coffee and explained what they were thoroughly. Some were bitter, some were fruity, but all of them were soooo delicious. I'm definitely coffee-d out. I had a round pastry with it, also delicious. The cafe is VERY pet friendly. There were about 5 dogs here while I was here, and they even had some dog treats available. Very cozy and cute environment to relax. Now the best for the last: the service. There were 4 employees today which was very nice to see they don't understaff people. They seem to work very well with each other and seemed like they were having fun while working. I love supporting businesses that treats their employees well so this was nice to see.

What a fantastic Slabtown neighborhood coffee shop! It has quite a personality that comes down to the personable staff and smooth, rich, and consistent coffee. I've come here mostly to grab a cup on my way to grocery shopping, but occasionally come to sit and read. It can get full quickly, I'd recommend coming before 9AM if you want to sit down. It is still so well worth grabbing a cup to go. The staff make this place, they remember everyone's order and exactly who ordered them to the point that they deliver the coffee to you no matter how busy it gets. The coffee here gives me the boost and serotonin I need every morning. The pastries are standard, nothing too notable but I have yet to try them all.

I was turned away because I don't own a credit card. I feel discriminated against because I of my form of payment ( cash ) and frustrated. Please take my money and do not make me feel like a lesser than human of society. Not cool

It's my 100th review so this has to be good! I don't even know where to start with this wonderful, amazing, fantastic, freaking special coffee spot. The coffee is ALWAYS on point. Bold, flavorful, perfectly brewed. Pastries always fluffy and delicious. And the service you guys, everyone is so friendly and efficient. I love this place. If you're looking for your next spot, check this place out. Oh and they're dog friendly!

Great service and great coffee. Super friendly and helpful staff. Crazy busy in the morning. Dog friendly inside!

Great coffee. Great ambiance. Great staff (they bring your drink to you)! Dog-friendly. My favorite coffee shop when visiting Portland!

Stopped by Sterling while on my roadtrip across the pacific NW. The lady up front was super sweet with her coffee bean recommendations. Let me tell you this place has some of the best coffee that I've had in my life.

If you want specialty coffee in Portland you go to sterling. Hands down one of my favorite spots in North West, this is a place I would take my mother. Service is in a class of its own and the ambiance matches.

Not sure how it took me this long to try this place - coffee nerds should be pleased here! I thought the baristas were unusually sweet and attentive considering how packed the place was on a Saturday morning. One of them saw me staring at their valentines blend bag on the counter while my partner ordered my latte and offered to use the blend as the espresso in my drink! Most places give me shit when I request anything other than their house blend in a latte because some people think the amount of milk in a latte will drown out the complex notes of a higher end blend or single origin. Well those baristas were wrong and the Sterling barista who let me try their fancy seasonal blend was right to offer it - an Ethiopian/el sal blend that hit all the fruity/chocolatey notes I love. Very nice. :)

Great coffee and ambiance! Big lover of coffee myself and their vanilla latte was delicious, a nice espresso flavor but not bitter/overwhelming or too sweet. Visiting Portland for the first time and ended up here. Felt like a community, local spot with friendliness from the staff and customers and dogs. :) I ended up at Bernstein's Bagels after and we ended up meeting one of the owner's of Sterling! He was super kind and fun to meet. We'll definitely be coming back when we're in town.

What a fun discovery today! I walked in and was immediately greeted by a smiling and sweet barista. I ordered a simple decaf Americano with a splash of cream and was grateful that no one said anything negative about it being decaf! The seating areas both inside and outside looked great, and I'd be happy to sit for a while with a coffee and read a book. Good coffee, good service and good location!

One of the Best coffee places in the NW on 21st. Great vibes inside, checkout that rubarb pastry and almond croissant! They are a sexy match on my plate! It's bomb small b-fast eats and we didn't even want to go to Ken's Artisan after to wait in the line. Ok, wife enjoys their ice vanilla latte or hot latte given the weather and I go for cold brews. they just have a "cold coffee" and it's different, plus no coconut milk (classic too pricy for them to stock) so I try the alt mylks but it's never the same. Their Cafe au lait (half coffee half streamed milk) is great. We go here or Coffee Time on the regular. My star scale: Amazing-5 Great-4 Good-3

Best matcha latte. Anyone craving for finest matcha, this is the place to go. Service, ambiance was great as well. It might be a little crowded and it's hard to find a place to sit indoors on weekends, but all in all worth the visit. 10/10.

Portland is a coffee mecca. This version was expensive, but our cappuccino was done well and it was quite tasty...

Friendly. Great vibe. I wish I could always be in the funky wood seating area in the front. Of course I wouldn't be here if the coffee wasn't good. Barista is closer to me but . . . You might be surprised if/when order is brought to you. Those surprises are always welcome.

great coffee, great staff, and an amazing space for the community! the pastries and seasonal flavors are such a treat

I love the price and flavor of the matcha latte. The service was super friendly. I initially was just going to get my drink and go back to the hostel but the ambience of the place was so inviting and inspiring that I decided to stay to read/write. Definitely enjoy the feel and the intentions behind their designs. Would definitely come back again when in the area

One of the best coffee shops in Portland. Staff is always friendly. The shop is a great place to get stuff done, meet up with a friend, or just hangout. Have to have the chai.

This is a very cute coffee shop! In terms of coffee, their black coffee is just okay. I wasn't wowed by it but would like to try their other beverages at some point. The staff are friendly and they sell their coffee and mugs inside too. I love the atmosphere of the cafe

Incredible macchiato and the vanilla latte was delicious. The staff are awesome and this place is tiny but very cozy. We will absolutely return.

I first discovered Sterling when I lived nearby and they shared a space with M Bar, and it quickly became my favorite coffee shop in Portland. I since moved out of Portland, but Sterling still holds a special place in my heart. On my latest trip to Portland, I had the chance to see their new, bigger location. I was so happy to see that they've expanded, and even happier to see that the coffee tasted as good as I remembered it! (And yes, I stocked up on bags of coffee to take home with me.)

I enjoyed my visit to Sterling Coffee Roasters. The shop is spacious and very modern. The barista was very nice as well! Just to be clear, this review isn't on the coffee. It's on the matcha latte. I enjoyed my matcha latte. It was lightly sweetened, pretty, and the matcha that was used was good quality. It really hit the spot. I had a good time hanging out at this coffee shop and I will be sure to revisit.

I've been to this coffee shop a few times, as it's right in my neighborhood, and every time I go, I love it more and more. The people who work there are always so professional, and so friendly, and also very helpful and patient with me as I'm trying to pick out my drinks! The atmosphere is really cool too, it's got a laid-back vibe and there's always plenty of seating. And every drink I have gotten from there has been made to perfection. This place is definitely a must!

I was excited to learn that they carry sandwiches and some food from Giraffe, the Japanese deli store. Needless to say, coffee is good and also I can grab some lunch to go! Katsu sandwich and egg salad sandwich are always good.

What a unique little coffee shop! Walked in amd ordered a very unique holiday coffee as well as a marionberry muffin. Both were fantastic. I must add they take Covid precautions very seriously, which is never a bad thing.

I took my wife and daughter to Sterling and we all enjoyed our drinks. The shop itself has a cool vibe and was full or people chatting, working remotely or just reading. The barista was helpful and friendly. A great place for iced coffee!

Best coffee shop I've ever been to!!! Just great a great welcoming crew of people! The coffee is delicious thank you for making this sista feel welcome in your coffee shop!

This is a great place to get a latte and hang out for a bit. Indoor and outdoor tables. Lattes are yummy and the staff is ALWAYS friendly and deliver drinks to your table. 5

I don't drink coffee that often. But we pack our vacations with activities and I needed an assist. I was exhausted from chauffeuring, entertaining, cleaning, etc. and my spouse was also in the mood for coffee. Sterlings was down the street from us and I walked down to pick up two mochas. They have all kinds of milk (oat, goat, almond, 2%, etc.) and they make all the usual drinks. My drink tasted well. The bean was smooth and strong but not overwhelming. Not watered down like some places. The price was also ok. Will need to get one for the road when we leave. The barista was also quick and meticulous. Really took pride in what he was doing. Definite 5.

Cool cozy casual-classy feel good coffee shop. Small round tables room for a laptop, smart phone, notebook, book, purse --- a whatever --- and a hot cup of Sterling roasted "Joe." Why go? Dah, for the "Joe." 1st time in and cupped up a medium roast. At first slurp you'll notice the deep robust balance of sweetness and acidity. Strong enough! Barista's take the class up a notch in white shirts and ties. Good look! Lacking electrical outlets if you need to power up but next stop in I will no doubt like to power up anyway with a cappuccino! Beans are roasted in NW PDX. Barista thought Red Fox was the source of the coffee cherries. So, I goggled Red Fox Coffee Merchants to find "a highly focused sourcing business, dedicated to uncovering rare and unique green coffees in the harder-to-reach, under-sourced origins of East Africa and South America." All right all right then! Always I am curious about where my cup of coffee originates and gets to my cup. Bagged coffee beans on the shelves origins are, for example, are from Ethiopia and Guatemala. Ethiopia --- what I like --- beans in dry climate dry well there with no mold concerns. Slurp! Slurp! Fine cup of "Joe!"

Might be alone on this one but I didn't love the coffee here. The coffee shop itself is very warm and inviting. Service is friendly. Prices are comparable to other Portland coffee shops. However, as a working place, there weren't a lot of outlets. Didn't test the WiFi, so no comment there. As for the coffee itself, they were serving their house blend and I just got a small mug with some almond milk. I didn't care for the roast-wasn't very smooth and not sure what it was that left a bad taste in my mouth-don't know it it was too acidic or what but I didn't really care for it. Oh well, moving on.

With all the amazing coffee shops in the area, I don't feel the need to come back here. Ordered a 12oz plain latte then watched a bunch of people who were behind me in line get served earlier. I feel like a chump because I tipped. As for the drink itself, it was pretty unremarkable... maybe I should say "is" since I'm dragging my feet on drinking it. I don't know if they are a single shot per drink place or just pull an incredibly weak shot, but let's just go with it doesn't taste much like coffee. Not sure why I'm giving two stars, I guess the ambiance is nice?

After hearing countless raves about this place I finally stopped by and everyone was so welcoming and gave us some recommendations! I ended up getting some bougie hot chocolate ($7) and I DIED it was so freaking delicious!!!!! The almond croissant was flaky yummy and apparently all pastries are baked daily so no need to get warmed up WOWZ my partner loved his black coffee and the ambiance definitely coming again!

Came here and ordered the hazelnut latte. Similar experience to an earlier review by username, Morgan T. I watched as three plus people who were behind me in line get serviced before me. This was around 2pm-2-15pm or some minutes before or after. One of the servers did come and ask if I was still waiting for my latte and then I recieved my order. I enjoyed the apple muffin they had but due to my experience, I do not think I will return. The hazelnut latte was not bad though.

Great coffee shop with unique drink and food options. I got the Maple Rosemary Latte and it was incredible! The perfect hint of rosemary balanced out the sweetness. The decor is beautiful, full of plants! They are cashless, so be prepared to use your credit or debit card.

Super cute shop in the NW 23rd area. They had great covid precautions in place. Only 3 people are allowed in the store at once. I got an Americano which was made perfectly and tasted so clean and crisp! Can't wait to try the other items on the menu.