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Bard Coffee in Portland is known for its latte art
Bard Coffee in Portland is known for its latte art
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20 Essential Coffee Shops in Maine

Follow this map to delicious rocket fuel.

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Bard Coffee in Portland is known for its latte art
| Bard Coffee/FB

The coffee shop serves a crucial purpose in the community. Beyond keeping the populace caffeinated, it can be a rendezvous spot, office space for the nomadic, or place to relax and unwind. From the forerunners of coffee roasters in the state like Coffee By Design and Arabica to relative newcomers like Tandem Coffee and 44 North Coffee, Maine has many fine places to go for a cup of joe.

Some are coffee geek wonderlands where it's all about the bean, others are more traditional cafes that happen to pour an excellent latte. Many sell some of the best baked goods in the state, from the eggy crullers at Lil's Cafe to Tandem Coffee's biscuits and pies. From Kittery to Deer Isle, this map of 20 of the best independent coffee shops and roasters in Maine will make sure you're never too far from a quality cup of coffee.

Note: Map points are listed south to north.

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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.

Rooster Brother

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This culinary goods store and coffee roaster is well-known in the area. The owner sources and roasts the beans and serves up espresso drinks in the cafe.

Rock City Coffee

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This popular Midcoast gathering spot garners praise for both the coffee (they roast it themselves) and baked goods.

Zoot Coffee

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This little vegetarian cafe and coffee house is a favorite for locals looking for a quick bite and/or caffeinated pick-me-up.

Elements

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A vital piece of Biddeford's food and drink resurgence, this coffee shop/cafe/beer bar/used bookstore gets its beans from Bard and is a perfect spot to meet with others or unwind solo with a drink and book.

Lil's Cafe

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This cafe brings a community gathering spot to the Kittery Foreside, complete with Tandem Coffee Roasters coffee and a fine array of soups, sandwiches, and baked goods. Don't miss their famous glazed crullers.

3 Dogs Cafe

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This inviting space offers Coffee By Design coffee and espresso drinks at the coffee bar to complement fine baked goods made at the attached Sweet Sensations. Soups, sandwiches, beer, wine, and ice cream are also available.

44 North Coffee

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Small batch, fair trade, organic coffee roasted in small batches in an old school house on an island in Penobscot Bay, served pour-over style in Mason jars. What more needs to be said?

Arabica Coffee

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This longtime Free Street coffee institution roasts its own beans at its newer sister location on Commercial Street, which was previously known as Crema.

Bard Coffee

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These baristas know what they are doing. Go here for great pourover coffee or a finely crafted latte. Leave the Starbucks across the street to the tourists who don't know any better.

Black Cat Coffee

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This comfortable and welcoming spot in the Deering Center neighborhood serves Matt's Wood Roasted Coffee, along with snacks from locals places like Holy Donut, Union Bagel and Standard Baking Co.

Coffee By Design

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This sleek, modern coffee bar on the site of the roasting operation is the newest location in the CBD empire, which now includes five shops.

Hilltop Coffee Shop

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Munjoy Hill's neighborhood coffee shop, owned by Lolita's Guy and Stella Hernandez, serves CBD coffee and is a great spot for a coffee, latte, or snack.

Java Joe's Cafe

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For hot coffee, free Wi-Fi, and a quick bite, locals say this is the place to go in downtown Bangor.

Little Dog Coffee Shop

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Sandwiches, baked goods, salads, local art, and a sunny, spacious atmosphere complement the Coffee By Design coffee and espresso drinks served here.

Maine Roasters Coffee

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This "neighborhood" coffee shop for Yarmouth and surrounding areas has provided a much-needed coffee stop on Route One for 20 years.

Speckled Ax

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Serving Matt's Wood Roasted Organic Coffee, this cool, modern space has offerings to please even the biggest coffee geek, but the menu descriptions and informative staff will help out those with less bean knowledge.

St. Joe's Coffee

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Original breakfast sandwiches and "Bennies" (fried dough balls doused in powdered sugar) are a great accompaniment to the coffee.

Tandem Coffee Roasters

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This clean, well-lighted coffee shop roasts its beans on site in small batches and fosters a communal atmosphere with its cozy set up and lack of Wi-Fi. It recently spawned a second location on Congress Street, which features a damn fine bakery.

Yordprom Coffee Shop

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Simple, comfortable, unpretentious, free Wi-Fi—it's easy to see why this is a favorite for folks to set up their "home office." And the Vietnamese coffee is not to be missed.

Coffee Me Up

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Newcomer Coffee ME Up serves Coffee By Design beans along with housemade baked goods like apple turnovers and spinach byrek (an Armenian version of spanakopita).

Rooster Brother

This culinary goods store and coffee roaster is well-known in the area. The owner sources and roasts the beans and serves up espresso drinks in the cafe.

Rock City Coffee

This popular Midcoast gathering spot garners praise for both the coffee (they roast it themselves) and baked goods.

Zoot Coffee

This little vegetarian cafe and coffee house is a favorite for locals looking for a quick bite and/or caffeinated pick-me-up.

Elements

A vital piece of Biddeford's food and drink resurgence, this coffee shop/cafe/beer bar/used bookstore gets its beans from Bard and is a perfect spot to meet with others or unwind solo with a drink and book.

Lil's Cafe

This cafe brings a community gathering spot to the Kittery Foreside, complete with Tandem Coffee Roasters coffee and a fine array of soups, sandwiches, and baked goods. Don't miss their famous glazed crullers.

3 Dogs Cafe

This inviting space offers Coffee By Design coffee and espresso drinks at the coffee bar to complement fine baked goods made at the attached Sweet Sensations. Soups, sandwiches, beer, wine, and ice cream are also available.

44 North Coffee

Small batch, fair trade, organic coffee roasted in small batches in an old school house on an island in Penobscot Bay, served pour-over style in Mason jars. What more needs to be said?

Arabica Coffee

This longtime Free Street coffee institution roasts its own beans at its newer sister location on Commercial Street, which was previously known as Crema.

Bard Coffee

These baristas know what they are doing. Go here for great pourover coffee or a finely crafted latte. Leave the Starbucks across the street to the tourists who don't know any better.

Black Cat Coffee

This comfortable and welcoming spot in the Deering Center neighborhood serves Matt's Wood Roasted Coffee, along with snacks from locals places like Holy Donut, Union Bagel and Standard Baking Co.

Coffee By Design

This sleek, modern coffee bar on the site of the roasting operation is the newest location in the CBD empire, which now includes five shops.

Hilltop Coffee Shop

Munjoy Hill's neighborhood coffee shop, owned by Lolita's Guy and Stella Hernandez, serves CBD coffee and is a great spot for a coffee, latte, or snack.

Java Joe's Cafe

For hot coffee, free Wi-Fi, and a quick bite, locals say this is the place to go in downtown Bangor.

Little Dog Coffee Shop

Sandwiches, baked goods, salads, local art, and a sunny, spacious atmosphere complement the Coffee By Design coffee and espresso drinks served here.

Maine Roasters Coffee

This "neighborhood" coffee shop for Yarmouth and surrounding areas has provided a much-needed coffee stop on Route One for 20 years.

Speckled Ax

Serving Matt's Wood Roasted Organic Coffee, this cool, modern space has offerings to please even the biggest coffee geek, but the menu descriptions and informative staff will help out those with less bean knowledge.

St. Joe's Coffee

Original breakfast sandwiches and "Bennies" (fried dough balls doused in powdered sugar) are a great accompaniment to the coffee.

Tandem Coffee Roasters

This clean, well-lighted coffee shop roasts its beans on site in small batches and fosters a communal atmosphere with its cozy set up and lack of Wi-Fi. It recently spawned a second location on Congress Street, which features a damn fine bakery.

Yordprom Coffee Shop

Simple, comfortable, unpretentious, free Wi-Fi—it's easy to see why this is a favorite for folks to set up their "home office." And the Vietnamese coffee is not to be missed.

Coffee Me Up

Newcomer Coffee ME Up serves Coffee By Design beans along with housemade baked goods like apple turnovers and spinach byrek (an Armenian version of spanakopita).