6 Best Coffee Shops in Porto

While other European cities like Rome and Vienna are renowned for their coffee scene, Porto is a little more synonymous with decadent dishes than fresh brews. That said, there are still some stellar Porto coffee shops; you just need to know where to look.

Coffee is a round-the-clock affair in Porto. As I learned over the years from running my Porto food tours, late afternoon pick-me-ups are as popular as getting a caffeine fix in the mid-morning. 

To savor a hearty cup of joe as the locals do, pay a visit to some of these delightful Porto coffee shops.

Combi Coffee Roasters

Photo credit: Combi Coffee Roasters

Whenever I’m craving high-quality brews, Combi Coffee Roasters in Baixa never lets me down. The guys here serve up some of the best coffee in Porto, and they even roast their beans in-house.

Combi’s interior has the quintessential touches of a specialty coffee shop. There are slick wooden furnishings, refined black finishes, and an atmosphere that’s homely yet effortlessly cool. It doubles as a coworking spot midweek, but laptops aren’t welcome at weekends.

After asking the baristas for some recommendations, I decided to go for the pour-over coffee made from Guatemalan beans. I hadn’t long finished my lunch when I got here, so I just picked up a pastel de nata to pair with my coffee, though the brunch menu looked divine.

While it sometimes feels time-consuming, pour-over coffee is always worth the wait, especially when it’s as smooth and earthy as this cup was. 

This coffee had subtle hints of tamarind and citrus, but each bite of pastel de nata balanced out these sharp flavors. Its thick custard filling and delicate, slightly salty pastry were the perfect accompaniment, and it’s a pairing I’m eager to try again.

Combi Coffee Roasters (€€) – R. do Morgado de Mateus nº29, 4000-334 Porto, Portugal – Open every day from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.

My Coffee Porto

Photo credit: My Coffee Porto

Is there any better way to spend an afternoon in the city than in one of the finest Porto coffee shops overlooking the Douro River? In my experience, the best place to do just that is My Coffee Porto in Riberia.

While I know many people find specialty coffee spots to be a little pretentious, this place couldn’t be more relaxed and inviting. If you get lucky, you can secure a seat on the balcony, but I’ve only managed to snag one once.

Cold brews are something I rarely order, but I wanted something lower in caffeine to team with my breakfast. I’d heard all about how great the coffee was here, yet they definitely don’t get enough credit for their food.

I kept it simple and went for one of their breakfast bowls made up of creamy yogurt, crunchy granola, and tart berries. It was light and delicious, and the mix of contrasting tastes mirrored the flavors of the coffee.

The low acidity and bitterness ensured each sip was refreshing and smooth, with touches of chocolate and fruit shining through. Colombian beans are my favorite for cold brews, but I had my pick of options when ordering.

My Coffee Porto (€€) – Escadas do Codeçal 22, 4000-173 Porto, Portugal – Open every Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm, Saturday from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm, closed every Sunday.

C’alma Coffee Room

Photo credit: C’alma Coffee Room

C’alma Coffee Room lies around the corner from the Church of Saint Ildefonso in Bolhão. I came here looking for some reprieve from a sudden downpour and ended up finding a coffee shop that I can’t wait to return to.

It’s nestled in a traditional Portuguese building with a high wood-beamed ceiling, vintage chandeliers, and classic, yellow-toned tiling. While the setting feels antique-like, their approach to coffee is forward-thinking.

Their iced lattes, americanos, and Chemex brews looked super tasty, but after being stuck in the rain, I was yearning for a cappuccino. Maybe I’m slightly biased towards Italian-style coffees, but there’s something so comforting about these frothy creations.

This particular cup was just what I needed: fulfilling and balanced with just the right amount of sweetness. There were some bold, toasty flavors bursting through from the coffee, and the silky milk softened each mouthful. 

Next time I visit, I’m making it my business to try their coffee-tasting flight of single-origin and blended brews!

C’alma Coffee Room (€) – R. de Passos Manuel 44, 4000-381 Porto, Portugal – Open every Monday to Saturday from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, closed every Sunday

Negra Café 

Photo credit: Negra Café

Baixa is home to an array of excellent Porto coffee shops, yet Negra Café is somewhere that always stands out to me. They have a few other locations, but I love how centrally located this branch is.

In terms of decor, I think Negra Café might be my favorite coffee spot in the city. Every part of the interior feels timeless, from the assortment of old-world ornaments to the plush, colorful seating and glowy lighting.

On the surface, food is the focus here, but it was the coffee that impressed me the most. I came here to check out their banana and peanut butter-topped pancakes (which were beautifully fluffy with a fusion of sweet and savory flavors!), yet I left with a longing for the espressos here.

Espressos are something I typically only go for when I need a midday energy boost, but if they all tasted this good, I’d probably get them more often! With its lingering aftertaste, pungent aroma, and velvety mouthfeel, this was one espresso that’s proved remarkably memorable.

Negra Café Baixa (€€) – R. Guedes de Azevedo 117, 4000-272 Porto, Portugal – Open every day from 9:00 am to 7:30 pm.

SO Coffee Roasters

Photo credit: SO Coffee Roasters

SO Coffee Roasters have locations popping up all over Porto these days, but their coffee shop near Igreja do Carmo is, so far, the only one I’ve made it to. If the quality of the coffee here is anything to go by, I’m willing to bet that the other locations are also well worth visiting.

Downstairs, it’s a busy and stylish cafe with cool-toned walls, expansive windows, and a small collection of tables. However, I much preferred the cozy upstairs area, which I was lucky enough to have all to myself when I visited.

I was set on ordering an Aeropress drip coffee, but I wanted something a little heartier. In the end, I switched to a flat white made with Tanzanian beans, which I couldn’t wait to try. As I was ordering, I spotted some mouthwatering cinnamon rolls on display, so naturally, I had to have one.

First and foremost, though, was the coffee. The flavors seemed to build with every sip, and the rustic, lemon-like tastes were exceptional with the warm, nutty notes from the milk.

There’s no better way to sweeten up a coffee than with a sugary snack, and these cinnamon rolls provided the perfect saccharine kick. Everything was right, between the buttery pastry, its sticky glaze, and the punchy cinnamon.

SO Coffee Roasters (€€) – R. de Sá de Noronha 119, 4050-528 Porto, Portugal – Open every Monday to Saturday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, every Sunday from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm.

Von & Vonnie Microroasters

Photo credit: Von & Vonnie Microroasters

Bonfim has no shortage of fabulous cafes, but I think Von & Vonnie Microroasters is easily the shining star. Not only does this terrific Porto coffee shop roast beans on-site, but the staff also offers so much detail about each type of bean and brewing technique.

Their simplistic and chic interior places all the attention on the overall coffee experience. Hardly any seats were available when I got here, and there were countless customers picking up to-go drinks, so I had a good feeling about the brews here. 

I was surprised to see such a great list of specialty teas and matcha-based drinks on the menu. However, that wasn’t enough to distract me from the smell of the freshly roasted coffee I was about to sample!

My buddy and I decided to go for a sharing pot of pour-over coffee, and we selected the Kenyan beans. The berry flavors, robust undertones, and acidity are what I’ve also enjoyed about Kenyan coffee, and this pot had all of those elements in droves.

We polished off the entire pot in no time and decided to order some banana bread to mellow out the intense aftertaste from the coffee. It was filled with chunky, half-melted chocolate chips, which added a lovely contrast to the moist, caramel-like loaf.

Von & Vonnie Microroasters (€€) – Rua do Heroísmo 10, 4300-252 Porto, Portugal – Open every Monday and from Thursday to Sunday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, closed every Tuesday and Wednesday.

Conclusion

Coffee lovers will fall head over heels with the cafe culture in Porto. Each time I come back to the city, I make it my mission to check out at least one new coffee shop. So far, these are the spots that continue to come out on top for me!