CGS students share the best Portland coffee shops for studying
Stella Dombrow ‘25
Photo by Stella Dombrow ‘25
With its dreary weather and broad range of coffee shops, it is not surprising that Portland, Oregon (Ore.) was ranked the best coffee city in America for 2024. So it comes as no surprise that students at Catlin Gabel (CGS) are taking advantage of Portland’s coffee shops as a fun place to study.
Due to the large number of local coffee shops in the Portland area, it can be difficult to decide which one to go to. Here are some student favorites, categorized by location, that you should try the next time you want to spice up your study time.
Beaverton
Courtesy of Insomnia Coffee Co
Located less than 10 minutes from CGS, Insomnia Coffee Co in Cedar Mill is a popular and convenient option for students. The coffee shop features two levels of indoor seating, a loft space, and outdoor seating.
Insomnia is a great place to do group work due to the collaborative environment. Tenth graders Sinead Hough and Atharva Deepak regularly visit Insomnia to work on Computer Science together. Deepak enjoys how the seating is set up, “encouraging you to talk to each other.” The tenth graders also notice how the shop is always full of people working, creating a motivating atmosphere.
While Deepak thinks Insomnia is on the more expensive side, the shop offers a wide range of unique drinks and breakfast items. Hough enjoys the rose croissant, whereas Deepak enjoys a more traditional bagel and cream cheese.
Westside
Image Courtesy of Guilder Cafe
Perfect for the book lovers, Guilder Cafe is located inside the famous Powell’s Books on West Burnside.
Ninth grader Carlyn Herman said Guilder Cafe is her favorite coffee shop to study in. She described the environment as “really chill, with a lot of plants, natural light, and paintings.” Herman also said that it's usually quiet, creating a productive study environment.
The cafe’s menu includes a variety of drinks and food, including popular breakfast items like
avocado toast and bagel & lox. When asked about her drink order, Herman said she enjoys an iced chai with almond milk “which has a nice ginger and spice flavor but is not too strong.”
Image Courtesy of Portal Tea Company
While Portal Tea Company mostly serves tea, it deserves a shoutout due to its immense popularity among CGS students.
With a unique location on NW 23rd inside a Victorian home, Portal Tea Company lives up to its goal of creating "cozy spaces". For those who enjoy working outside, the tea shop features a balcony overlooking the bustling Portland street.
Twelfth grader Annika Sirtori described the tea shop as “vibrant and a little hectic but in a good way.” She recommends bringing headphones to get work done as it can get loud inside the shop.
With an extensive menu, there is always something new to try at Portal Tea Company. Sirtori said this shop is great for boba lovers, however there is coffee as well. Her favorite drink is the Jasmine Boba.
Eastside
Image Courtesy of Molly J. Smith/Eater Portland
Flour Bloom, an Italian American bakery with a '70s disco theme and plant shop, is one of those places that makes Portland unique.
The vibrant bakery is one of twelfth grader Mia Archilla’s favorite study spots. She enjoys the range of seating options and relaxing ambiance, created by the distinctive theme. Archilla also appreciates how the bakery sells art from local artists.
While Archilla likes the entire menu, she recommends the “butter cookie with marionberry jam filling and the flower child latte.” Archilla also loves the pistachio cannoli which she describes as the “best cannoli I’ve ever had.”
Image Courtesy of Great North Coffee
With two locations on the Eastside, NE Alberta and St. Johns, Great North Coffee is a popular study spot among CGS students. While the shop is on the smaller side, it has everything you need in a study spot.
Eleventh grader Campbell Young frequents Great North Coffee on Alberta. She said the employees are kind and “they play a variety of music…that can range from jazz to light pop.” They also offer both indoor and outdoor seating.
While Young enjoys the environment of Great North Coffee, she especially likes the drinks and food. She recommends the iced matcha, which she said has a nice level of sweetness, and the lemon poppyseed muffin.
From a ‘70s disco theme and a cafe inside one of the world's largest bookstores, there are endless unique local coffee shops to check out in the Portland area. Next time you find yourself looking for a new place to study, check out one of these highly rated student recommendations.