Water Avenue Coffee

Coffee shop · Buckman

Water Avenue Coffee

Coffee shop · Buckman

1

1028 SE Water Ave #145, Portland, OR 97214

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Water Avenue Coffee by null
Water Avenue Coffee by Courtesy Water Ave
Water Avenue Coffee by Mykel Ann Vernon Sembach/Courtesy Water Ave
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Water Avenue Coffee by null
Water Avenue Coffee by null
Water Avenue Coffee by null
Water Avenue Coffee by null
Water Avenue Coffee by null
Water Avenue Coffee by null
Water Avenue Coffee by null
Water Avenue Coffee by null
Water Avenue Coffee by null
Water Avenue Coffee by null
Water Avenue Coffee by null
Water Avenue Coffee by null
Water Avenue Coffee by null
Water Avenue Coffee by null
Water Avenue Coffee by null
Water Avenue Coffee by null
Water Avenue Coffee by null
Water Avenue Coffee by null
Water Avenue Coffee by null
Water Avenue Coffee by null
Water Avenue Coffee by null
Water Avenue Coffee by null
Water Avenue Coffee by null
Water Avenue Coffee by null
Water Avenue Coffee by null
Water Avenue Coffee by null
Water Avenue Coffee by null
Water Avenue Coffee by null
Water Avenue Coffee by null
Water Avenue Coffee by null
Water Avenue Coffee by null
Water Avenue Coffee by null
Water Avenue Coffee by null
Water Avenue Coffee by null
Water Avenue Coffee by null
Water Avenue Coffee by null
Water Avenue Coffee by null
Water Avenue Coffee by null
Water Avenue Coffee by null
Water Avenue Coffee by null
Water Avenue Coffee by null
Water Avenue Coffee by null

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Sourced coffee from around the world in a modern, laid-back space.  

Featured in Conde Nast Traveler
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1028 SE Water Ave #145, Portland, OR 97214 Get directions

wateravenuecoffee.com

$1–10

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1028 SE Water Ave #145, Portland, OR 97214 Get directions

+1 503 808 7084
wateravenuecoffee.com

$1–10

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Last updated

Aug 7, 2025

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14 Best Coffee Shops in Portland, OR | Condé Nast Traveler

"Water Avenue is a lively café with people coming and going, mellow rock playing, and coffee that's taken seriously. (To wit: There are Chemex coffeemakers and Hario kettles behind the counter, and roaster Matt Milletto helped found the barista school next door.) A daily Chemex menu suggests the three best roasts to try out via Chemex, though you might also try the perfectly made latte, topped with skillfully executed rosettas. You can also get a reliably delicious breakfast and lunch here. The options—avo toast, yogurt with cacao nib granola, and a few different kinds of bowls—skew simple and vegetable-heavy." - Hannah Wallace

https://www.cntraveler.com/gallery/best-coffee-shops-in-portland-oregon
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Nicholas Pun

Google
Decent coffee, not a whole lot of pastry selection, and small location. Got their batch brew and it seemed a bit dilute for my taste. Perhaps the ratio was a bit off. Nevertheless, 'twas a decent coffee, but I've had better. Not a whole lot of pastry selection, really wanted something to enjoy my cup of joe with, but alas. The location doesn't have a whole of seating inside to chill. There's seats outside though! Ok spot to come in and grab a coffee quick, but otherwise, I'd recommend a different coffee spot around town!

Joyce K. Chow

Google
Love the theme of their coffee/roasts. I really enjoy the pork verde burrito.

Kisung You

Google
Tourists, avoid. I am from NYC and I can assure that it is worse than typical places in The City. Their hazelnut signature latte? So below expectation. I ordered a breakfast sandwich and it seems like just a little tweak from a ready-made frozen one. I saw the staffs bring prepared foods to customers, so I expected similar and put 15% tip in advance. Guess what? Well, they did not even bother to call again while just chatting at the back. Maybe local runners and bikers love this place, their ratings show. Yet, it is one of the most awful cafes ever. I hope this place does not necessarily represent the cafe scene in town.

lovely Lavender

Google
Came here to meet with a friend. Ive been on a weight loss journey for my health and struggle with PCOS so its really hard to loss weight.. I asked if they had non fat milk and they didnt, no biggie! They weren't busy at all so I asked if they knew the carbs in milk since low carb has been the only thing to help me with my health and inflammation. The barista said she didn't know. I asked if they wouldn't mind looking at the bottle for me and that it would be really helpful to know. Who ever was at the front was really annoyed, rolling her eyes and snapped back at me saying she didnt even know what milk I was talking about. So I said the 2% please. I was very appreciative and going out of my way to be kind since they were assisting me, even left a tip. When I sat down my friend and I talked about it. She was shocked that they were so rude to me for asking for a small thing and said that when I walked away the two baristas looked at each other, shook their head and rolled their eyes an annoyance. The whole interaction spiked my anxiety so much that my heart rate went to 120 when its normally 70ish. I couldn't process how somebody could be so cruel to somebody for no reason... i kept trying to think about what I could have done to offend them and thought maybe counting carbs was a trigger for them? So after we had our coffee and we were leaving, I walked up to her and said " i'm sorry about earlier if I offended you, i have PCOS so I count carbs for my health. You seemed really annoyed so I just wanted to make sure I wasn't coming off the wrong way when I asked" She looked at me with the most a dead eyes I have ever seen in a person for an extremely awkward ten seconds before saying "its fine..." in a really annoyed tone. I was a bit thrown off because I was expecting more of a returned apology for their awful behavior... i don't know how bad somebody's life has to be for them to justify treating somebody else so poorly. The lack of compassion or any type of empathy was honestly revolting. I wasn't going to write a review at first, but when I thought about other people who might come to this coffee shop and ask for something as simple as reaching for a container to check the nutritional facts only to be greeted with cruel hostility and making the person feel like they our garbage for asking i had to warn others. Customer service isn't a good job for everybody, especially for people. I wish them peace and happiness for the future, and I hope that maybe they can learn from this interaction. My motto is that you will never regret kindness, ever.

Miles Gifford

Google
Love this place! Get a quad latte every time I'm in town and the service is always so expedient and the coffee is great. The food additions are wonderful and I always take a bag of coffee or tchotchke back to Denver with me!

Therdsak Suthanaviroj

Google
11-11: 4.0 out of 5 - Came in after a group run. The staff are nice, the place is clean, and the prices seem to be fair. The coffee was good and the food was tasty. Can be a little noisy when the train comes by, but it's a train... what do you expect, right? If you haven't done so, give Water Avenue Coffee a try and decide for yourself. Enjoy!

Aaron Johnson

Google
Apparently they were just recently bought out by a corporation. They promptly removed all vegan dishes (such as the breakfast sandwich.) They didn’t bother to update the menu on their website, so they wasted a half-hour of my time today, not to mention gas money. This place is now part of the emerging corporate oligarchy. I will never go there again and neither should you.

Leslie Alfred Sanya

Google
I've had this venue in my to go list for a while and I'm glad that I finally got to visit, give it a feel. Fantastic atmosphere, welcoming staff and great coffee options. It is attached to an adjacent bar which I didn't know prior, so this is a place with a unique offering, including being a good venue to have some work done.
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Kelvin Y.

Yelp
Water Avenue Coffee prepares the best Latte bar none. Today, I asked for the barista to prepare the Latter with Oat Milk. The Latte prepared with Oat Milk was just as excellent as their dairy milk version. Wow! Service was fast, friendly and efficient.
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Winlee W.

Yelp
Ordered a cortado and almond croissant. The croissant was stale tasting. Not sure if it needed to be re-toasted or what, but it had that day old flavor. It was extremely dense and not flakey at all. I ate about half of it and didn't want to finish. If you've ever had an almond croissant don't you always finish it? Needless to say, wouldn't order a pastry here again. Now the cortado was delicious. Bold and bright, perfect crema. I could've drank another, but refrained so I didn't have heart palpitations. The staff was friendly enough. The inside felt very industrial (which suits the area), yet showcased some vibrant neon art on the walls. All in all would come here for coffee only if in this area. There isn't much else in this part of town.
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Michael P.

Yelp
10/10 This is a great coffee spot for studying and working. Incredible service from Aaron behind the counter. Also great music taste for study and work. The staff were attentive and jovial with each other. The atmosphere is aesthetic and clean and cozy, but not overly cozy--a very modern industrial style that I find conducive to work or deep thinking. Plenty of south-facing windows means a flood of light which I actually had to retreat from, but this is overall a great thing!! I can imagine during the 4 months of deep winter this is a huge boon, and lovely at all other times of year. The location is hugely helpful as it's on the waterfront with easy access to any part of the city within a short drive. This is a great option I'll be revisiting.
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Heather R.

Yelp
I visited Water Avenue Coffee recently and my experience was great! They have some good areas to work inside and some outdoor seating as well. The employees were friendly. I had one of their summer special drinks. It was the Rose City Palmer which consisted of lemonade, black tea and rose syrup. It was refreshing and not too sweet. I think there was more tea then lemonade in it. I also got my work done too. Overall, I liked my experience here and will be coming back soon!
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Rossa P.

Yelp
If you're looking for a great work cafe in Portland, look no further than Water Avenue Coffee! I stopped by recently and was impressed by the number of people working away on laptops, as well as the quality of the coffee. Plus, I loved the big windows that let in lots of natural light and provided a great view of the bustling Industrial District outside. 1028 SE Water Ave #145, Portland, OR 97214
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Christine L.

Yelp
Street parking was quick and easy to find on a Saturday morning. Extremely friendly and kind staff. Aaron made my latte with a smile and created beautiful latte artwork! Zucchini bread - was super delicious and didn't taste overly sugary like other places I've had it. Honey lavender latte - easy to drink and a nice subtle flavor. Glad this was not too sweet. Lots of standing area with tables and tall seats. Water refill station is self serve. Will definitely be returning!
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Michelle W.

Yelp
Stopped by for an afternoon coffee and wasn't disappointed! We got the latte and a seasonal drink which was the s'mores mocha. The mocha had a huge toasted marshmallow and graham cracker accompanying it, it made for a fun drink. My only gripe is that I wish the coffee/espresso flavor was a bit stronger. But other than that, the staff were friendly, the ambience was inviting, and parking was easy!
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Greg S.

Yelp
First time. Random Monday afternoon. Parking can be a challenge. The place was clean and well decorated. All seating was barstool style, so couldn't really get comfortable. This location is missing some cute round tables and leather chairs to sit on. Much of the floor space is unused which gives the place an unwelcoming vibe. I enjoyed the coffee. It was served in a lovely ceramic mug. The staff didn't give off much of a welcoming vibe either. They seemed to be in a hurry to take my order and make it, despite the fact that no other customers were waiting behind me. I told them it was my first visit, but instead of a friendly suggestion or explanation of what I should get they just stood there impatiently waiting for my order. Quite odd. So, the 3 stars are for the hospitality. I'd give the coffee and decor 4 stars. Second Visit: Same situation with these 2 employees. As before, they are more about their private conversation than making you feel welcome. Gloomy and unhappy vibes from both. Are they being trained to be like European customer service? Service with attitude? If so, then success. Take away: you don't feel like they care or are at all excited about the company or its product. Two strikes and you're out in this coffee game. I won't be back. Let them depress other customers.
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Ahmad R.

Yelp
I get to come here only when I'm in town every five years or so.l, and I always look forward to visiting. I'm here today and it's just so damn sublime. Favorite coffee spot in Portland.
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Art C.

Yelp
Once again, excellent coffee in an excellent coffee city. Our cappuccino from here was top notch.
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Michelle Pearl G.

Yelp
I've been coming to Water Avenue Coffee for years now and it has always been so good. Their coffee roast is always spot on and their drinks, including their seasonals, are always well thought out. Their traits here are always amazing! We have a sweet tooth, so as much as we tour the coffee in this town, we are also always getting sweets or sammies to go along with it. I just tried their latest seasonal creation, a s'mores mocha: I'm pretty sure that was a 1927 marshmallow that they flambéed and dropped into the cup of delicious chocolate toned coffee. Then they gave me a buttery delicious handmade Graham cracker. Which doesn't seem like something to write home about but it is absolutely the best Graham cracker you'll ever have (again, I'm pretty sure it's from 1927 as well): I was worried this drink would be too sweet but it wasn't. Just a perfectly made mocha with an artisan gooey marshmallow dropped in; it blended into the drink really well, adding extra warmth of flavor without overwhelming. I'll order this again if it's still available when I pop in next! The actual shop is super cute, lots of wood tones and plants and offers a really cozy vibe for catching a quick break or getting remote work done. Sometimes parking can be a nightmare but if you take a few then abouts, you'll find a close enough spot. The bathroom is shared with other local building businesses like Boke Bowl and Bunk Bar. It's secured with a code and has always been in clean condition. Definitely a must stop for coffee lovers and treats!
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Grace D.

Yelp
Water Ave coffee is one of my favorite coffee spots in Portland. I love their coffee and cute branding/ambiance of their space. The basics are always solid here but they also have great seasonal and fun drinks. In the past I've enjoyed a s'mores latte and more recently, their malted mocha. Both were to die for and unique to Water Ave. I highly recommend!
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Rashi T.

Yelp
I mean the coffee is OK , the space is big ,clean and bright and the service is average but there was nothing that would bring me back here. I ordered a regular coffee and the hubby had a chai along with a breakfast sandwich and one raspberry coffee cake . Nothing stood out , the coffee was slightly acidic and the cake was just a dough filled with sugar . The sandwich had more bread then filling and tasted pretty average . They have Covered as well as Open seating outdoors and parking can be found out-front .If you are interested they also sell coffee ,tea and other merch on the premises.
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Cassandra C.

Yelp
I had Door Dash from Water Avenue today that I thought might make the food worse but this is a 5 star experience so I wanted to share. On this blustery, wet November day, I ordered their oatmeal with seasonal fruit, avocado toast and (something I've never tried) a chai. The chai arrived cold (but honestly I don't have a depth of experience to compare to like I do with cold brew or an espresso shot) so I just microwaved it for a minute. I enjoyed the blend they use! It's not too spicy, not too sweet either. I would go for their chai again! My oatmeal was perfection. It was served with a medium type apple, not tart as granny smith, not sweet as honey crisp, maybe like a gala or golden delicious? I sprinkled some brown sugar over the top and it was just heavenly. I did not have much hope for the toast since it's bread, I figured it would be wet and soggy. So the way they work around this is making it a really crisp bread with texture and (what felt like) whole grain. Avocado mash was excellent with grape tomatoes and peppers on top, maybe some citrus(?) and maybe a little hint of salt. I ordered Aardvark and got Cholula which is like, not even close (for a 50c upcharge) but I didn't even end up using it because the flavor experience was so faceted and pleasant. To recap: cold chai easily fixed by reheating, perfect oatmeal that survived a 20min ride, and toast that went beyond expectations for a sit-down restaurant, let alone a Door Dash delivery. Five enthusiastic stars. Get the oatmeal!
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Steve B.

Yelp
Good coffee, friendly baristas, fine food items. I like Water Avenue because it's chill, no frills, but offers extremely well crafted coffee and breakfast sandwiches.
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Eve S.

Yelp
I normally like dark mochas, but with the winter chill, the s'mores mocha sounded fun. I'm SO glad I went for it because it was delicious! Not overwhelmingly sweet, freshly roasted marshmallow on top, and handmade OH-so-GOOD graham cracker on the side! If you love mochas definitely try the s'mores one here!!
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Randy F.

Yelp
Incredibly good coffee at a good price, served with a smile in a really fun space. I especially love their cold brew and that's usually what I get when I'm there. I've also enjoyed several of their roasts. I can't speak to espresso quality or food.
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Beatriz Y.

Yelp
Love this place, very clean, kind workers, and great presentation. The s'more coffee is the best!!!!
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Rose M.

Yelp
A super cozy, Instagram worthy coffee and tea shop right across from the East Commerce building. They also sell pastries and lightweight foods (wraps, salad), mugs, boxes of teas, and bags of coffee. I especially loved that they were selling Rainbow decorated cookies in support of Pride. There is free WiFi and a bathroom that you need a code for, which is on their menu. *Order:* Peppermint Iced Tea ($3.00)- Freshly brewed on the spot! I was seriously skeptical about this tea, but I loved it. Tasted amazing and helped quell my nausea. *Wait time:* 3-4 minutes for the tea. *Seating:* They have several barstool type seating areas, as well as some regular table seating. *Service:* Michael (cashier with long brown hair with tips) was incredibly helpful. I unfortunately have become prone to headaches and nausea, so I asked her to recommend something. She didn't hesitate in doing so and what she recommended actually helped me! *Cost(s):* $
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Mary C.

Yelp
Came into Water Ave Coffee for a quick breakfast and maybe a beverage. I heard about them from a local bakeries instagram. I parked on the street pretty easily and went inside. The place was very cute and nicely cleaned. The two girls working the counter were nice as well. I scanned the grab and go case, which had a vegetarian 5 buck burrito already heated! I got one of those and a kombucha in a can, since I am not a coffee drinker. The burrito was bland but they give ya salsa and have hot sauce for your spicy needs. The salsa was a nice surprise and very helpful. Also for 5 bucks I am not sad about it. Sadly I didn't see the baking companies stuff I wanted. But they might have been out and I didn't need a burrito and a baked good! Either way I will be back!

Dianne D.

Yelp
Came here with high hopes despite the negative yelp reviews. To my disappointment, they are pretty accurate. Oatmilk latte was watered down and barely had any espresso. Employees are not friendly and don't even acknowledge customers saying 'thank you' to them. Just straight up ignored all the thanks yous they received from everyone. Ambiance is cold and uninviting. Also, they no longer have a kitchen so all the food pictures you see on yelp are no longer available. Any food they have available comes pre-made and heated in a microwave.

G T.

Yelp
customer service is always on point & the coffee is great. their seasonal drinks are also amazing!
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Jarrod G.

Yelp
Had a few hours to spare before a flight back to Phoenix and found Water Avenue Coffee close by. Their lattes were amazing! Will definitely be back when we are in town again.
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Trinh D.

Yelp
The atmosphere is cute. The menu was limited unfortunately. The burrito was already pre made. The burrito was not good, it was mushy and watery. I ordered a chocolate croissant. It was huge but hard as it was not warmed up. The s'mores mocha coffee while cute is lacking
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Ploy N.

Yelp
Truly enjoyed the Parmesan Leek Pastry here! It was well-balanced. The leek complements the creamy taste of the parmesan and buttery pastry. The pastry itself was also flaky and light! Also got their Pinot Noir Aged El Salvador that smells of grapes from the bag itself. Can't wait to try it. They also was really nice about my request to have the beans grinded. Delivery was on time and smooth.

Dave L.

Yelp
You pay a little more for the best coffee beans in town, and THIS is the place to get them! Their Blue Creek Coffee is the best I've ever tasted.
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Megs S.

Yelp
Not impressed. Perhaps I went on a bad/off day but the curry wrap was hard and dry, latte was sloppy and service was grouchy. Idk maybe by 9am the smiles wear off with the coffee. Could have heard a pin drop in the room! Good thing it was a sunshiny day :)
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Jody J.

Yelp
Located in the trendy warehouse Industrial district there are a lot of super cool little places to get a cup of Joe. Water Avenue coffee is solid as far as the coffee goes. Love the El Toro! For snacks they have a few pastries, pre made sandwiches, a whole bunch of different toasts and breakfast sandwiches but none with meat :-( I think the food prices are a little steep in price. As an example the Avocado toast is $9. What?? :/ They are super good at the latte art which always makes you feel special.
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Christine K.

Yelp
Delicious coffee Cold brew was on point Americano Homemade yogurt was excellent! Spicy avocado was delicious (not that spicy)
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Tom T.

Yelp
What a nice view of the city when sitting outside. And a cozy feeling when sitting inside. Wife and I did a bump and run here, and didn't familiarize ourselves too much. A complex line up of roasts sit atop shelves for your specific tastes. Ethiopian, or Sumatran, to mention a few. We choose a bag for home, and ordered two houses.Great friendly service. Neat hangout. I'll tell you, I am no coffee connoisseur, but I did like the flavor of the house coffee. Not too bitter. Menu overhead and printed for breakfasts and lunches.
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Lauren F.

Yelp
Cute trendy coffee place with good food $ We came here for brunch and enjoyed the food and coffee. We ordered a honey almond milk latte, vegan burger and granola cocoa nibs bowl. The latte was so good! Lightly sweet and the right temperature to drink immediately. I ordered the vegan tempeh patty burger without the jalapeño sauce in case it was too hot for my liking and it was really tasty. I liked the bread it came with. My husband enjoyed the granola bowl, which also was good. Another good local spot discovered and will be back again. Chill atmosphere and interior. The area has street parking and a paid lot nearby. Washrooms are shared with other businesses in the building. Free WiFi.
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Lissa G.

Yelp
Lovely little afternoon pick me up, especially after eating and drinking as much as we had been doing! I was very tempted to get the s'mores mocha, as it looked and sounded delicious. But, as I was already stuffed to the gills (and still wanted to fit into my clothes for the rest of our trip), I decided to get the cortado. Also, Jim G. and I tried the cortado at a few other spots, so it was nice to be able to compare the beverages. Service was friendly, the inside of the place is cute and relaxing, and the beverage was tasty.
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Tran T.

Yelp
one of the first coffee shops we got to visit while in Portland. I wish I can remember her name but we came about 7am letting her know we were from out of town and asked if she can recommend us anything and she was the sweetest about it!! the coffee was YUMM!

Alexa B.

Yelp
I paid $8+tip for the worst coffee of my life. This place is single handedly gentrifying portland and literally so gnarly. The barista was rude to me when ringing me up and there were no comfy places to sit. terrible experience and rude staff I do not recommend.
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Chris J.

Yelp
I was excited to try this place when I visited Portland. We went to the one on 6th Ave and parking was super hard, but we finally found a spot. The hubs and I ordered iced americanos and they were FABULOUS. I am rating a 4 star only because it was so small and not a sit down spot. I hope they expand to a venue large and cool enough to hang out at and work. I wish the coffee culture here would always be something where you cannot wait to sit down and enjoy good conversations with good friends over.
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Audrey L.

Yelp
It's all about the s'mores mocha! However, we we received the latte, there was no more latte art :( The toasted marshmallow was floating right in the center where the latte would be. The presentation just wasn't the same when you get it to go. Although this is a very different drink, I'm not sure that it justified the $8 price point. I also ordered an Americano with a single origin bean from Kenya, and it tasted a bit burnt. Not sure if the barista that day was new or inexperienced, since we did go during the holidays in the middle of a pandemic. I might give them another shot once they're serving more types of brews such as chemex, pour over, etc.
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Andrea G.

Yelp
Love the coffee and the breakfast options! This is a favorite place to go when daughter is in town and everyone who works there are super friendly. Love the seasonal latte options.
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Rajesh K.

Yelp
Water avenue is an excellent coffee shop. I have stopped by many time over the last two yrs before Covid hit. Haven't been there in a while and decided to my favorite Cortada. Their cortada is one of the best I have had in Portland. Do try this coffee shop and they also do delivery which is awesome.
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Anthony C.

Yelp
I remember first coming to this coffee shop in the morning somewhere in 2015 and thought it was a quaint and nice place to go to for a warm cup of coffee to start your morning off. Service is great and really add that extra spark to your day or I should say morning as I'm a coffee person. The s'mores coffee is my go to and I just love the pastries there because you know pastries always complement coffee or tea. I really love scones and they have a nice selection of muffins too. There are a lot of nice local coffee shops in Portland that I enjoy frequenting and this is definitely one of them. The great thing about this location to it's right down a hop skip away from OMSI, so if you have no plans during the weekday or you have a day off or it's the weekend definitely head down to the museum and get your knowledge on after filling it with your daily dose of caffeine. There is parking in front of the location but it's just a strip so it's usually for a half hour or an hour maybe even 15 minutes so you definitely got a check on that and be careful where you park but I was in that you can park down one of the side streets to the left across the street.

Simran K.

Yelp
LOOOOVE THIS! The s'mores latte is to such a treat after a long day or if you need some happiness in the morning! I also love their cold brews along with the daily pour overs they offer
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Christina K.

Yelp
Pro tip: get the s'more mocha because it's unique compared to the items on the menu Keep in mind: the drinks are a bit expensive Instagrammable: yes Atmosphere: average and have outdoor seating Tasty: average
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Willie H.

Yelp
I feel like they're slipping. This was my favorite place to go in The Before Times. My last 5 visits I've had wrong orders, drinks way too hot with no foam, today was way too much foam made of huge bubbles. You can't order just a mocha anymore. It's only a S'mores Mocha and it's just not great. It's a syrupy super sweet thing that's closer to Dutch Bro's. Glad they opened the outdoor tables but it's just not great- and this part is not their fault: they're next to that huge tent city area so the kids and I ended up dodging 3 piles of human s$&t and one pile was right near the tables. We got asked twice for change on our way back to the car. Again, this isn't their fault the city put this here, but when you combine it all together, I just don't see a reason why I'd go back.
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Amanda F.

Yelp
Wow, this place is lovely! This is my favorite coffee in Portland. Since I was only visiting, I went ahead and bought several bags of beans to bring home and grind up myself for fresh cups at home! The staff was so knowledgeable about the different nuances in the different styles of coffees, and they can recommend one that will please your palette!

Jeff A.

Yelp
place has gone downhill. unfriendly for over priced mocha. if i wanted warm milk i would have ordered it. they have always been a little unfriendly but today are really bad. ill go somewhere else
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Sidney M.

Yelp
Water Avenue is my very favorite coffee spot in Portland. Coffee: Water avenue is exceptional with their quality of coffee. I have been there many times and have not once received a coffee drink that was burnt or bitter. They have a strict coffee machine cleaning procedure that they complete multiple times a day and boy does that make a difference!! The coffee just tastes really clean! They also have house made syrups and coffee specials that make Water Ave unique to many coffee shop in Portland. Food: The menu is small, but well crafted. It has healthy and vegan & vegetarian options. They source local and organic ingredients and Water Ave has found a great way to put them all together. My personal favorites are their breakfast sandwiches. I got the Spicy Avocado sandwich today with lil mamas peppers and pepper jack cheese over a nice and fluffy egg, topped with mixed greens from Gathering Together Farms all inside of a buttered up and unique english muffin. It was very delicious and hit the spot. It wasn't to spicy, and FULL of flavor. Service: QUALITY. I swear this place chooses quality in every area. I believe that the baristas get extensive training, because they are really knowledgeable and go an amazing job! These people are friendly, professional, and really relaxed. A lot of places in Portland have the drinking water area, where you are provided with plastic cups. I typically like to use glass because of the environment and because of the difference it provides in taste to the water. A lot of places get annoyed if I ask for a glass for water( I get it, it's kind of annoying) but the employees at Water Ave always are more than happy to provide and service any request we have! They are so chill!! Atmosphere: Cozy, casual, clean, and functional! I'm serious, I just love Water Ave! The keep it clean! It's also never super busy, so you can always get a nice seat in the windows or along the high seats around the bar. Give it a shot, especially if you like quality!
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Adeeba K.

Yelp
Good coffee! You will be happy with whatever you get. Even the bakery. I got a vanilla latte and wished I got a bigger size because it was a perfect pick me up. I appreciate small cup sizes because as a small person, I never feel like I finish my coffee and I feel like I wasted my money because 2/3 of it gets cold. But this? Perfect. The latte at the top was frothy and beautiful and smooth all the way down. Strong in a good way. Boyfriend got a chai latte and he was so happy with it (doesn't usually get them). Other friends loved their drinks and the presentation​ of it. For the s'mores mocha, they put a crispy around the edges marshmallow in it.The barista really took her time making the drinks. Big nice space. Love the decor :) want to come back.

Dania H.

Yelp
Great service and food! Their green sauce is AMAZING!! Definitely recommend ! I had the nitro cold brew and the veggie burrito. I'm not a vegetarian but still found it delicious!
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Daniel E.

Yelp
Good coffee, good people, good times. I have stopped in a couple of times for a pour over. They obviously know how to do coffee considering the American Barista School is located within Water Ave. Each of their staff members are passionate and precise. A pour over is a little expensive here so an espresso might be more worth it. One thing I enjoy about Water Ave is their Instagram shares stories about their staff. Water Ave is community focussed and it shows through every facet of their company. I will warn you though that finding a parking spot is very hard. Be prepared to walk.
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Austin K.

Yelp
Tough deal with COVID. The shop is shutdown. You walk immediately to a counter. What I liked was the undecided attention. What I didn't like is that other people don't care about space and the is awkwardness around space. Coffee wise, always great. Really enjoy River Trip. Thanks for being open!
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Theresa D.

Yelp
Went here last weekend and the coffee was amazing. The barista really knew what he was doing. The microfoam on my coffee was on point and the coffee has deep rich flavor.