Maine may run on Dunkin, but Portland is home to many other coffeehouses.  I am a strong believer in supporting local businesses, so although you can’t beat the efficiency of a drive-thru window, drive-thru coffee doesn’t offer the ambiance and quality downtown coffeehouses do.

Check out my top 3 favorite places to grab a cup of joe (or a nice latte) in the Port City!

Coffee By Design (CBD)

CBD has four locations in Portland, but you’ll find their roasts served in restaurants across Maine.  Roasted in Portland on Diamond Street (by Marginal Way), CBD creates some awesome blends.  My personal favorite is the Organic Girl Blend developed by the female members of the roastery crew.

Arabica Coffee

Arabica is my favorite place in the city to grab a cup of joe.  I prefer the Commercial Street location because you can’t beat overlooking Casco Bay while you sip on a maple latte – a specialty at Arabica.  The Commercial Street location also has tons of seating.  I hate walking or driving to a coffeehouse with the intention of studying for a while and not being able to find a seat, but I’ve never run into that problem at Arabica.

Bard Coffee

Bard Coffee’s slogan speaks to my inner English major – “a story in every cup.”  I just love that!  Their lattes are truly a work of art.  You know a place is good when it’s always busy, as is Bard.  Grab a spot at the bar-like seating in the front of the shop overlooking Middle Street; the people watching is superb.