Spella Caffe

Small place, but well decorated and clean! The space has been well thought-​through, so it feels more cozy then cramped. I ordered a cappuccino and honestly, well done Spella! It was rich and flavorful, and I really liked the dense structure of the foam on top. I enjoyed every sip!

I had my first ever affogato here and it was delicious. As a self-​declared ice cream fanatic, this really hit the spot when I needed an afternoon pick me up plus something to satisfy the sweet tooth.
I was really happy to have stumbled upon this cute little coffee shop among the many coffee shops in the area. Definitely worth a quick stop it you’re nearby!

These baristas know how to make an amazing coffee! Also, they have the best beans in town, and everyone that works here is friendly. Tiny space, so don’t expect to have a huge meeting at this coffee shop, but great for grabbing coffee before walking around downtown.

I’m giving this 5 stars, but I have to say that I’m glad we didn’t get to try this place out until our second-​to-​last day in Portland… my wallet and my waistline couldn’t handle it.
That is to say, of course I had to try the affogato with stracciatella gelato. I’d read so much about it on Unilocal that it was a must-​have. Needless to say, it was incredible, and my fellow Unilocalers didn’t steer me wrong. I just might be back tomorrow before our flight home! DH had a regular latte and it was his second favorite in PDX thusfar, which is high honors for him (dang coffee snot, that man). Go here, you will love it.

Wonderful European atmosphere where you can grab a quick doppio at the standing bar. The espresso is fantastic, the beans they use are perfectly roasted and have the perfect bite of acidity. The body was clear, exactly what I’m looking for in an afternoon pick up. Finishing the experience with a small glass of sparkling hit the spot.

Awesome place. Almost unnoticed from the street. Glad i found it :-) My chai tea was divine, and custard pastry phenomenal. The staff was friendly. The little café has so much personality!

Stopped in to kill time downtown and wanted a really good cup of coffee. The place Is super clean and super small. I have an SRO place by the front window. within five minutes of my arrival, the place got packed.
The staff are fast and friendly.
I had a simple latte that was good. I’m more a fan of my hot coffee drinks to be a nice french press but this filled what I was looking for. I had one of their Palmiers out of the pastry case and, although a tad over sweet, was the most flaky and crispy one I’ve ever had. It made a perfect complement to my coffee.
The prices seemed above average but I don’t usually drink hot espresso drinks unless I am in a restaurant so I couldn’t say what normal is. Totally worth it for the excellent service and overall experience.

After three successive days of first rate cappuccino to start the day, I see what all the hype is about.

Greatest smallest coffee place in town. Best coffee with a variety of flavor (the owner travels often to South America to select coffee beans), they used an old fashion manual coffee press for espresso. They make Affogato (coffee on gelato), espresso and so on. Great ppl too ;)

After hitting up Small Pharaoh me and a friend were ready for a espresso shot. I Unilocaled a spot in town that serves something other than stumptown since neither one of us is a fan of their coffee beans (at least for espresso) and found this spot. It was a block or two up the raod and seemed like a great little spot.
The place is tiny! but than again some of the best places are. You could maybe fit 6 people inside ordering, but there wouldn’t be much room to move. We both opted for Affogato since we wanted espresso, but hey we just had a meal, why not make it a espresso dessert. I went with the Pistachio as recommended and my friend went with the stracciatella. The Affogato’s came fairly quickly so we decided to take them outside to one of the tables and enjoy the gorgeous weather. It had a nice amount of gelato and esspreso without melting it too quick or making the coffee too cold quickly. It was a great way to end lunch and I will definately be back.

Spella, as I think I’ve stated before, consistently serves the best coffee in Portland, and without that surly, over-​tattooed attitude you encounter in many other places… GREAT FOLKS!
Spella knows what he is doing at his roaster, and his baristas know how to pull great shots. Most third wave coffee is way under-​roasted resulting in a green, «raw» center to most of their coffee beans. The result is sour, grassy overtones to most of the coffee around Portland. Not Spella. He roasts with skill and knowledge and the results show up in every cup!
Don’t miss this gem! And, delightfully, no wi-​fi! Yippie!

A charming little coffee shop … seriously it is little! We are talking about some place hidden between big buildings LOL … I would guess the space isn’t bigger than 15×15. Looks like a definite local spot. They make a nice Cappuccino and the service is great!

I escaped the girls for some alone time while they slept. This cute coffee shop is basically an express shop. Get in, get your coffee and get out. Lots of regukars though I noticed. The girls were familiar with the patrons and their orders which I thought was cool. Got myself a cappuccino which was tasty but I enjoyed stumptown’s more.

I’ve come here twice already and the service is great. Their coffee is definitely worth having. I’ve gotten the caffe lattes (hot and cold) and it is my favorite drink here.
This place is ridiculously small which I don’t like. It has its charm because it’s the size of a hallway, but not when there are already eight people inside sipping shots of coffee. Fire hazard, anyone? Not only that, but when there are so many people, that means a longer wait time before I get my drink. That’s what happened the first time I was here and I didn’t get my iced caffe latte until about 15 minutes later.

Stayed at the Hotel Monaco just around the corner so decided to check this place out. Cute coffee shop. They are closed on the weekends so you’ll have to catch them open on the weekdays. They have no seating indoors, just order your coffee and grab a pastry (limited assortment) and you’re on your way. Average coffee prices.

On my last day of visiting Portland, I was wandering the streets by myself and was craving an affogato! Affogato for breakfast! The hazelnut gelato sounded delicious so I got the affogato with that. I thought a biscotti would go nice with my beverage, so I got one as well. Enjoyed my breakfast outside and just took in the Portland scenery. and people watched. T’was very chill and relaxing!

Was looking for a small, healthy breakfast and a chai tea… as a non-​coffee drinker this can be hard to find… especially in Portland and Seattle :)
Spella was near my hotel and their website said they had granola and chai — sold!
Upon entering its a small but cozy space — so don’t plan to hang out. There were a few seats outside however it was raining so it wasn’t ideal to chill (pun, pun) out there.
Unfortunately they don’t offer granola so the website must be a little out dated. They do have a selection of pastries however.
The chai tea was delicious and lovingly made! I skipped on the baked goods but they looked just as good as the chai tasted!
Enjoy!

well deserved 5 stars for this excellent place that churns out some great tasting, meticulously made italian coffee!
Its hours are odd, weekdays only, 730 – 330, which makes it nearly impossible for me to try this place. but the day I did get a chance, I leapt at it, and I’m glad I did.
I got the Cappucino, which was made perfectly, and very professionally. They use a sand timer to time how long they wait before they add the steamed milk! Never seen that before. If you’re in downtown when they’re open, give them a try, you won’t be disappointed.

I love Portland, but lately any place that reminds me of one of my New York spots makes me happy. In my opinion, Spella’s NYC equivalent is Oren’s, a minuscule coffee shop where I often waited in a line outside the door. Like Oren’s only a few people can fit inside Spella at a time. In fact, it might even be smaller! But I’ll move on for those of you who aren’t going through NYU nostalgia…
Most importantly, AWESOME ESPRESSO. I recommend an americano, and don’t add anything to it. The 8 oz has two shots, so keep that in mind too. Although my experience is limited to the americano, I’m sure your regular order will satisfy, whatever that may be. Amazing espresso makes amazing lattes, cappuccinos, etc. You really can’t go wrong.
Service is friendly, helpful, and unpretentious. This is a place where you’ll want to be a regular.

Despite all its quirks, Spella holds a special place in my heart.
Let’s get the quirks out of the way first. Spella is tiny. Seriously, it’s probably the smallest business of any type you’ll ever go to. They technically have seating… but it’s just a couple small tables out on the sidewalk. These guys also have SUPER limited hours. They shut down at 3:30 each day, and are closed all weekend.
But they honestly make the best espresso in Portland. You won’t find a better cappuccino or americano anywhere else in town. If you’re looking for a little extra treat, get an affogato — espresso poured over authentic Italian gelato.
You might have to plan your day around their limited hours, but you won’t regret it. This is one of Portland’s best.