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A faceted rocks glass rests on a wooden barrel. The glass holds a red drink and a large ice cube, and there is a small maple in the background.
The Coffee Main at Aimsir Distilling
Alex Frane

12 Fantastic Coffee Cocktails to Knock Back in Portland

Drink your coffee with a little something extra

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The Coffee Main at Aimsir Distilling
| Alex Frane

In the food and drink world, there are some natural pairings: peanut butter and jelly, pineapple and pizza (sue us), and coffee and alcohol. Mixing coffee or espresso with liquor is a time-honored tradition, from spiked coffees topped with cream to cold-brew-infused coffee drinks.

Since coffee is the only thing Portland beverage culture prides itself on as much as its breweries, many bars in Portland take Oregon-roasted coffees as a component in their cocktails, turning beans into tinctures, syrups, and concentrates. Others rely on coffee spirits and liqueurs made by Portland distilleries. But in all of the drinks on this map, coffee plays some role, whether it’s in the chorus or top billing. On this map, you will find 12 places to get buzzed while getting your buzz on. Just remember that caffeine does affect your perception of intoxication, so maybe stick to just one or two at the most of these boozy, caffeinated drinks. Per usual, this map is not ranked; rather, it’s organized geographically.

The latest CDC guidance for vaccinated diners during the COVID-19 outbreak is here; dining out still carries risks for unvaccinated diners and workers. Please be aware of changing local rules, and check individual restaurant websites for any additional restrictions such as mask requirements. Find a local vaccination site here.

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process. If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

The Fireside

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At the breezy Fireside, with its wide windows and sprawling sidewalk patio seating, the Cold Gold Chain is like a caffeinated old fashioned. This bourbon drink doubles down on the caffeinated side of things with both coffee liqueur—from Portland’s own New Deal Distillery—as well as cold brew. Chipotle-cacao bitters emphasize the chocolate notes in the coffee and give the drink some nuance and complexity without any overt spice. It’s best enjoyed on the sidewalk seating with a view of the passersby and their dogs on the bustling NW 23rd Avenue.

A chunky rocks glass sits on a wooden fence. The drink within is a dark brown over a clear ice cube.
The Cold Gold Chain at Fireside
Alex Frane

Republica

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This Pearl District Mexican restaurant, owned by coffee roaster Angel Medina, serves a take on an Old Fashioned that nods to its neighboring cafe, La Perlita. When You Are Old pairs a Reforma Roasters coffee tincture with bourbon and a syrup used to make La Perlita’s cafe de olla, sweet and gently spiced. Smooth and silken, this is the ideal coffee cocktail for those who hate coffee cocktails.

A glass sits on a white table at Republica, filled with a brown liquid.
The When You Are Old at Republica, which combines Old Forester bourbon, cafe de olla syrup, and coffee tincture.
Brooke Jackson-Glidden

Huber's Cafe

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While the history is disputed, the team at Huber’s reportedly invented the Spanish coffee sometime in the 1970s; regardless, Huber’s version is a Portland icon, arguably the city’s most famous drink. At the dark and old-school restaurant, waiters and bartenders still make the drink table-side, igniting the overproof rum in the sugar-rimmed glass before dusting it with nutmeg, sending up sparks. After snuffing out the flames with coffee liqueur, they top it with coffee, whipped cream, and more nutmeg. Beyond the spectacle, it’s a potent, sweet, caffeinated part of Portland’s drink history.

Paddy's

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No Irish pub is complete without the requisite Irish coffee, and while Portland has more than a few places to find the drink, it’s hard to beat the one at Paddy’s. This historic pub with its vaulted, mirrored back bar serves its Irish coffee with Kilbeggan Irish whiskey, demerara syrup, coffee, and freshly whipped cream. Diners can take it either hot or cold, which mean it’s an all-season take on the classic.

Either/Or

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While Either/Or’s full slate of coffee cocktails hasn’t returned entirely, customers can still find a takeout version of the Salty Russian, a chocolate-salt-topped, oat-milk-layered coffee mocktail meant to mimic a White Russian. But in the evenings, when the cafe shifts into a bar, Either/Or serves a slushy version of the drink, available with or without booze. It’s best served swirled with a shot of vodka.

Produce Row Cafe

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One of the city’s older pubs, Produce Row is going strong with its elegant dining room and spacious and enclosed back patio. While many bars avoid drinks that are “too” sweet, the team at Produce Row is ready to satisfy those with a sweet tooth—enter the Canadian Iced Coffee, a brunch drink for those who prefer the sweeter things in life. Made with Skrewball peanut butter whiskey, Caffe Umbria cold brew, and topped with whip cream and peanut butter cups, it’s the perfect pairing for some french toast or breakfast sandwich.

Slow Bar

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Slow Bar is a consummate haunt for off-work bartenders and other service workers. Its cool, dark interior is the right balance of dive and classy, and the drinks follow suit, especially the questionably named Tijuana Speedball. A deceptively sweet mix of tequila, Kahlua, Bailey’s Irish Cream, and cold brew coffee, it’s dangerously crushable and a fun way to kick off a night of revelry.

Fair Weather

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Though we lost the chic seafood bistro Jacqueline due to the pandemic—at least for the time being—the space is currently home to its alternate concept, Fair Weather. If that sticks around permanently the trade-off will be worth it, as Fair Weather brings an excellent brunch program to Clinton Street. That means caffeinated cocktails, of course: the Crooked Rain is an intriguing highball that pairs dark rum with coffee and tonic. The bitterness of the tonic and richness of the rum balance those opposing aspects in the coffee, making for a refreshing and bubbly drink that pairs excellently with the playful and indulgent food. Plus, the coffee in question is made by Push X Pull, one of the city’s finest roasters.

A woman’s hand with pink fingernails holds a Collins glass on a dark wooden table. The drink is dark brown with a layer of white foam.
The Crooked Rain at Fair Weather
Alex Frane

The Aimsir Distilling Company

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One of the newest members of Portland’s micro-distillery scene, Aimsir specializes in gin and bourbon, including a coffee-cut bourbon. Instead of the usual water used to bring the barrel-proof spirit down to a bottle-proof, the distillers here use cold brew from Junior’s Coffee. That bourbon goes into a number of cocktails on the menu: The Coffee Maine is a caffeine-infused Remember the Maine—botanical, lush, and layered, it’s best enjoyed slowly as the ice gradually mellows the flavors. La Rouge is a rich, silky smooth drink that tastes like a coffee-infused Boulevardier. And any of the regular whiskey drinks, like the Old Fashioned and Manhattan, can be made with the coffee whiskey.

A faceted rocks glass sits atop a white cloth napkin on a wooden barrel. The drink within is dark red, the glass is garnished with an orange peel, and a maple tree is in the background.
La Rouge at Aimsir Distilling
Alex Frane

Nightingale

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Newly opened Mexican restaurant Nightingale sees its dark, narrow interior and enclosed front patio filled with diners nightly. Along with the stellar Mexican cuisine, Nightingale offers a killer cocktail menu that includes the My Cherry Amore. It’s reminiscent of a cherry coke and a sherry cobbler with rum, sherry, Good Coffee cold brew, soda, and spiced cherry bitters. It’s on the lighter side for the cocktail menu thanks to the soda, but still lush and vibrant. Plus the chocolate-covered cherry makes for a delicious edible garnish.

A Collins glass is shot from top-down, with a large, chocolate covered cherry skewered across the top of the glass with a long pin, and topped with a lemon peel. The drink itself is a dark brown sparkling drink.
My Cherry Amore at Nightingale
Alex Frane

Sapphire Hotel

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Another Portland institution, the Sapphire Hotel has long been a destination for late night dates and cozy happy hours. Though most of the action is now happening out on the streetside patio rather than tucked near fireplaces, the coffee drinks remain. The Not An Espresso Martini is a grown-up version of the espresso martini of the ‘90s, a silky-sweet concoction that’s balanced with the botanical presence of Fernet. There are also two hot cocktails: one is a standard, well-made Irish coffee, the other an Italian coffee, where the normal whiskey is replaced by a negroni. That’s right, it’s a Negroni topped with hot coffee and Campari whip cream for a beautifully bracing drink.

A coupe glass holds a dark, nearly black, cocktail with a head of pale foam. The glass sits on a shiny wooden table, with a street in the background.
The Not An Espresso Martini at the Sapphire Hotel
Alex Frane

Buddy's Lounge

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Tucked in an unassuming little strip mall on 82nd Avenue, the dive bar Buddy’s Lounge may not be the most obvious destination for cocktails, but the recent legislature to allow takeout drinks meant the bar could start serving boozy bubble tea to-go. Most of them are made with tea, but Buddy’s also serves a whiskey and boba take on ca phe sua da, the classic Vietnamese coffee drink. It’s rich, creamy, and sweet, and diners can also order a $3 plate of nachos to qualify for the required food purchase.

The Fireside

At the breezy Fireside, with its wide windows and sprawling sidewalk patio seating, the Cold Gold Chain is like a caffeinated old fashioned. This bourbon drink doubles down on the caffeinated side of things with both coffee liqueur—from Portland’s own New Deal Distillery—as well as cold brew. Chipotle-cacao bitters emphasize the chocolate notes in the coffee and give the drink some nuance and complexity without any overt spice. It’s best enjoyed on the sidewalk seating with a view of the passersby and their dogs on the bustling NW 23rd Avenue.

A chunky rocks glass sits on a wooden fence. The drink within is a dark brown over a clear ice cube.
The Cold Gold Chain at Fireside
Alex Frane

Republica

This Pearl District Mexican restaurant, owned by coffee roaster Angel Medina, serves a take on an Old Fashioned that nods to its neighboring cafe, La Perlita. When You Are Old pairs a Reforma Roasters coffee tincture with bourbon and a syrup used to make La Perlita’s cafe de olla, sweet and gently spiced. Smooth and silken, this is the ideal coffee cocktail for those who hate coffee cocktails.

A glass sits on a white table at Republica, filled with a brown liquid.
The When You Are Old at Republica, which combines Old Forester bourbon, cafe de olla syrup, and coffee tincture.
Brooke Jackson-Glidden

Huber's Cafe

While the history is disputed, the team at Huber’s reportedly invented the Spanish coffee sometime in the 1970s; regardless, Huber’s version is a Portland icon, arguably the city’s most famous drink. At the dark and old-school restaurant, waiters and bartenders still make the drink table-side, igniting the overproof rum in the sugar-rimmed glass before dusting it with nutmeg, sending up sparks. After snuffing out the flames with coffee liqueur, they top it with coffee, whipped cream, and more nutmeg. Beyond the spectacle, it’s a potent, sweet, caffeinated part of Portland’s drink history.

Paddy's

No Irish pub is complete without the requisite Irish coffee, and while Portland has more than a few places to find the drink, it’s hard to beat the one at Paddy’s. This historic pub with its vaulted, mirrored back bar serves its Irish coffee with Kilbeggan Irish whiskey, demerara syrup, coffee, and freshly whipped cream. Diners can take it either hot or cold, which mean it’s an all-season take on the classic.

Either/Or

While Either/Or’s full slate of coffee cocktails hasn’t returned entirely, customers can still find a takeout version of the Salty Russian, a chocolate-salt-topped, oat-milk-layered coffee mocktail meant to mimic a White Russian. But in the evenings, when the cafe shifts into a bar, Either/Or serves a slushy version of the drink, available with or without booze. It’s best served swirled with a shot of vodka.

Produce Row Cafe

One of the city’s older pubs, Produce Row is going strong with its elegant dining room and spacious and enclosed back patio. While many bars avoid drinks that are “too” sweet, the team at Produce Row is ready to satisfy those with a sweet tooth—enter the Canadian Iced Coffee, a brunch drink for those who prefer the sweeter things in life. Made with Skrewball peanut butter whiskey, Caffe Umbria cold brew, and topped with whip cream and peanut butter cups, it’s the perfect pairing for some french toast or breakfast sandwich.

Slow Bar

Slow Bar is a consummate haunt for off-work bartenders and other service workers. Its cool, dark interior is the right balance of dive and classy, and the drinks follow suit, especially the questionably named Tijuana Speedball. A deceptively sweet mix of tequila, Kahlua, Bailey’s Irish Cream, and cold brew coffee, it’s dangerously crushable and a fun way to kick off a night of revelry.

Fair Weather

Though we lost the chic seafood bistro Jacqueline due to the pandemic—at least for the time being—the space is currently home to its alternate concept, Fair Weather. If that sticks around permanently the trade-off will be worth it, as Fair Weather brings an excellent brunch program to Clinton Street. That means caffeinated cocktails, of course: the Crooked Rain is an intriguing highball that pairs dark rum with coffee and tonic. The bitterness of the tonic and richness of the rum balance those opposing aspects in the coffee, making for a refreshing and bubbly drink that pairs excellently with the playful and indulgent food. Plus, the coffee in question is made by Push X Pull, one of the city’s finest roasters.

A woman’s hand with pink fingernails holds a Collins glass on a dark wooden table. The drink is dark brown with a layer of white foam.
The Crooked Rain at Fair Weather
Alex Frane

The Aimsir Distilling Company

One of the newest members of Portland’s micro-distillery scene, Aimsir specializes in gin and bourbon, including a coffee-cut bourbon. Instead of the usual water used to bring the barrel-proof spirit down to a bottle-proof, the distillers here use cold brew from Junior’s Coffee. That bourbon goes into a number of cocktails on the menu: The Coffee Maine is a caffeine-infused Remember the Maine—botanical, lush, and layered, it’s best enjoyed slowly as the ice gradually mellows the flavors. La Rouge is a rich, silky smooth drink that tastes like a coffee-infused Boulevardier. And any of the regular whiskey drinks, like the Old Fashioned and Manhattan, can be made with the coffee whiskey.

A faceted rocks glass sits atop a white cloth napkin on a wooden barrel. The drink within is dark red, the glass is garnished with an orange peel, and a maple tree is in the background.
La Rouge at Aimsir Distilling
Alex Frane

Nightingale

Newly opened Mexican restaurant Nightingale sees its dark, narrow interior and enclosed front patio filled with diners nightly. Along with the stellar Mexican cuisine, Nightingale offers a killer cocktail menu that includes the My Cherry Amore. It’s reminiscent of a cherry coke and a sherry cobbler with rum, sherry, Good Coffee cold brew, soda, and spiced cherry bitters. It’s on the lighter side for the cocktail menu thanks to the soda, but still lush and vibrant. Plus the chocolate-covered cherry makes for a delicious edible garnish.

A Collins glass is shot from top-down, with a large, chocolate covered cherry skewered across the top of the glass with a long pin, and topped with a lemon peel. The drink itself is a dark brown sparkling drink.
My Cherry Amore at Nightingale
Alex Frane

Sapphire Hotel

Another Portland institution, the Sapphire Hotel has long been a destination for late night dates and cozy happy hours. Though most of the action is now happening out on the streetside patio rather than tucked near fireplaces, the coffee drinks remain. The Not An Espresso Martini is a grown-up version of the espresso martini of the ‘90s, a silky-sweet concoction that’s balanced with the botanical presence of Fernet. There are also two hot cocktails: one is a standard, well-made Irish coffee, the other an Italian coffee, where the normal whiskey is replaced by a negroni. That’s right, it’s a Negroni topped with hot coffee and Campari whip cream for a beautifully bracing drink.

A coupe glass holds a dark, nearly black, cocktail with a head of pale foam. The glass sits on a shiny wooden table, with a street in the background.
The Not An Espresso Martini at the Sapphire Hotel
Alex Frane

Buddy's Lounge

Tucked in an unassuming little strip mall on 82nd Avenue, the dive bar Buddy’s Lounge may not be the most obvious destination for cocktails, but the recent legislature to allow takeout drinks meant the bar could start serving boozy bubble tea to-go. Most of them are made with tea, but Buddy’s also serves a whiskey and boba take on ca phe sua da, the classic Vietnamese coffee drink. It’s rich, creamy, and sweet, and diners can also order a $3 plate of nachos to qualify for the required food purchase.

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