Tandem Coffee Roasters
742 Congress St, Portland, ME, 04102
Tandem Coffee Roasters Menu
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Address :
742 Congress St
Portland, ME, 04102 - Phone (207) 899-0235
- Website https://tandemcoffee.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :7:00 am - 6:00pm
Specialities
- Delivery : No
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Good for Working : Yes
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Saya H.
The fact that I gave this 5 stars when the things that matter most to me in coffeehouses are usually free wifi and outlets, neither of which Tandem has, means it's pretty great on other fronts. Best cinnamon rolls I've ever had. Adorable ex-gas station, ex-laundromat design. They're bike fans and have a great bike'y bumper sticker at the register. Seem very involved with the community. Variety of inside and outside seating. Their coffee was ok. Too... acidic? Strong? Bitter? for my taste. But when paired with one of their buns, everything is edible/drinkable. Friends raved about their cheddar scone and their other pastries looked delectable. I've heard the waits can be long, but the few times I've been, haven't had that experience. I did have the sad situation of stopping in for a bun later in the day and them being sold out. A must visit!
(5)Vivian C.
We paid a visit to the newer, larger location of Tandem Coffee Roasters on our way out of town. It is quite cool looking, offers a cover over their outdoor seating, and has a rather long delicious looking line up of bakery options in addition to their caffeinated menu. Far from undiscovered, the seats were filled and the line was out the door when we arrived. Sadly, however, due to their popularity, they seem to churn out their product here, as the dripped coffee we ordered was pre-made and was missing the roasted quality that had so impressed my friend at our inaugural visit to Tandem, at their original location. You know how they say, don't go shopping on an empty stomach? Well, that worked against me on this visit, since I had just come from a satisfying and filling breakfast. Baked goods - you and me, next time...
(3)Michelle T.
If you come by around brunch time (aka 11-1) on a weekend, prepare to stand in line and wait...BUT if you come during off hours, like say a 4pm on a Sunday afternoon, there's no wait! The winner was the the ginger cookie with white chocolate chunks. If you love ginger snaps, love chewy cookies with crunchy edges, you'll love theirs. Totally worth every calorie and the $2+ dollars boyfriend paid. muhahaha For a hot day, the lemonade beverage they have is an excellent choice! The juice was fresh, pucker-face sour (!), but had a really tasty minty/rosemary type flavor infused. Tandem makes it real concentrated, which is fine by me cuz one of my pet peeves is paying for watered down beverages that taste like water (*cough* LFK brunch iced tea). Boyfriend got a regular hot coffee. No happy dance or anything observed, so I assume it's prob pretty standard.
(4)Amanda B.
Best coffee and sandwiches I've ever had, I mean ever. The iced coffee is so strong and tasty that it still gives me the shakes and I've been drinking coffee for many years now... Try the egg sandwich at lunch. I know it may sound like the least exciting listed on the board, but it is the MOST exciting once you taste the flavor complexities happening within the biscuit-bun. What this place is doing is everything right. It has outdoor seating and you can even bring your pooch for a lunch session. Make sure on weekends and summertime you get there early before they run out of sandwiches (breakfast and lunch).
(5)Rachel D.
I wrestled between a 2 star and 3 star review for Tandem. I'm settling on a 3 star review because of their food. Nowhere else in Portland has such imaginative (and still edible) scones. The food incorporates creative flavors. I wouldn't go out of my way for some of their food items, BUT I'd recommend them. They only have a lot of carb heavy items so if you're looking for a carb-less breakfast or snack, try elsewhere. Their coffee is why I was considering a 2. This is probably just due to personal preference. I'm not really big on acidic coffee because of my acid reflux. I have yet to have a cup of Tandem coffee and be satisfied. I've gotten a cup 3 - 4 times in the last year, spread out over time (aka forgetting, revisiting, and remembering). I've actually had good interaction with the staff (typically barista). The ambiance is cool and the patio really makes the spot. I was a big fan of the new location, and what they've done to really make it shine. So moral of the story is, if you want to be seen with an inventive scone and some acidic (hey some people are into that thing) coffee then go to Tandem. However, if you find you don't like Tandem then there is a bevy of other coffee fish in the sea. In the meantime I'll probably keep trying to give Tandem a try every 3 - 4 months.
(3)Bruce D.
They brew a solid cup of coffee and they should. The beans are roasted locally by them. It would be even better if there was additional variety of beans and flavors offered. I love a great cup of coffee and I love a choice of great coffees even more. If the primary coffee style isn't your thing then you may not be excited. Hand crafted drinks are also available. Baristas are capable and professional. The baked goods and kitchen are clearly the primary focus of this location. The offerings look fantastic, tasty biscuits piled high on elevated platters, delicious looking pastries and appetizing quiches. This is not a place, as a respected reviewer noted, to count carbs. These "sometime treats" are worth the extra gym time! The seating is sunny, with many indoor window options and picnic tables just outside the door. There is ample off street parking, a plus in this neighborhood. The staff is friendly and not fake. Credit cards are welcome. Pro tip: Order holiday pies in advance. Your friends and family will thank you.
(4)Christine P.
The baked goods are incredible! We had trouble choosing what to get - there are so many unique options and they all are apparently amazing. After much deliberation, we decided on the jalapeño cheddar biscuit and sesame banana bread. Absolutely delicious! We washed them down with coffee, which was fine, but definitely go for a pastry.
(5)Frances N.
I only wish I could become a regular at this place (I'm from out of town). Tandem is a place for all your needs, whether you want to sit and read by yourself outside/inside or you want to impress a date/cool friends outside/inside. Love it! PARKING -- free street parking before 9am ======= - free street parking in front - small private lot adjacent - Bring quarters for the meter if you're headed there after 9am FOOD - fluffiest scones I've ever had! ===== - try their EVERYTHING SCONE. You can't go wrong with any of their baked goods but the everything scone is signature (it contains seeds, some cheese) - LIMEADE and WATERMELON RICKY are very refreshing; even though they're sweet they didn't feel unhealthy ATMOSPHERE/SERVICE - friendly, stylish, hipsters =================== - VARIED SEATING: indoor or outdoor, for individuals or groups - very clean GENDER NEUTRAL BATHROOM - Located in what used to be an auto shop, so the building looks like something out of the Jetson's - Cashiers are sweet - Fellow consumers are super well-dressed and of all ages. I would come here again just for fashion inspiration!!
(5)Chris D.
This place is really great. The old gas station awning turned into outdoor patio is brilliant. Always wanted to see something cool take over this old building.
(4)Tony W.
I decided to give this place the ol' college try based on the number of positive reviews. I can't say that I'll be coming back - but you should certainly check it out if you fit the target (or Tandem, rather) demographic. I dropped in for a coffee after a workout at the gym. The place is a converted gas station, which in and of itself is pretty amazing - definitely one of the most unique repurposed businesses I've visited. Walking in however, I immediately felt out of place; I'm surprised they let me in without skinny jeans, a button up sweater vest or an ironic mustache. My gym clothes were, in fact, the opposite of that. The interior is a very Nordic minimalist design; a simple 'less is more' approach. The counter staff is friendly, and the food behind the counter looked great. I ordered a 'large dark roast' and I got what is typically a small or tall in any other coffee shop...for $2.50! It was a very good brew, but not $2.50 good. Juan Valdez or 'Peter' (the guy from that Folger's Christmas commercial) could both have served me a coffee that size and It still wouldn't have been worth $2.50. I had a little bit of time to kill, and my plan was to drink the coffee there. After I paid and fixed my coffee I just awkwardly shuffled around the establishment, like a dog who keeps circling, trying to get comfortable. As another reviewer pointed out, it's not a cozy place. Whatever few seats there are, none of them make you want to sit. There are picnic tables set up outside, so the next time I try this place will probably be May. I'm sure this kind of place caters to a certain type of person, but that type of person is not me. I'm the blue collar, bring your lunchbox to coffee kinda guy who appreciates a laid back, unpretentious, comfy coffee shop environment where you're not overcharged with an 'atmosphere tax' on a simple cup of coffee. But don't take my word for it! I spend my mornings making sure kids stay of my lawn, so I could just be a grumpy old coot.
(2)Rachel E.
Coffee was bitter, tangy, and actually undrinkable. I can't believe they call themselves coffee roasters! This was worse than bad diner coffee. Beautiful space but they need to learn how to actually roast coffee. Food: Meh. Had the egg sandwich -- I found it odd that they were kept hot in a drawer and not made to order. Biscuit was a nice texture but too sweet for me, especially with egg. Egg square was a little slimy and overall the sandwich needed something else to brighten it -- fresh herbs, something spicy or salty -- but it was basically egg, cheese, sugary biscuit.
(2)Laura L.
Full disclosure on this review. This coffee shop belongs to extended family. Also, I don't drink coffee. The atmosphere is great at this location. The staff is knowledge and helpful. Now on to the real business. I dropped by this location right before 2pm, and ordered a breakfast biscuit. Yummy! The biscuit made my southern stomach happy; the egg and cheese inside kept me quite filled for a late lunch. My buddy's broccoli sandwich was inspired. Great flavor profile guys, and never lose that biscuit recipe. I did also try the sticky bun, rye shortbread, and blueberry scone. All very good. I may have eaten too much. The sticky bun was huge!
(5)John H.
Here is a conversation that I imagine has happened at least once in the Tandem kitchens: Head Baker: How are those sticky buns coming? New Assistant Baker: I'm having some trouble with this recipe. This must be a typo right? That's way too much butter! Head Baker: Get out. You're fired. Seriously though. It's a lot of butter. But there is also a lot of sugar and flour and cinnamon and some orange zest in there as well. The primary impression I get from them is a total refusal to compromise. Who ever created that recipe never once held back in the name of health or thrift or reasonableness. This is the sticky bun you are hoping for every time you order one. The biscuits with strawberry jam and clotted cream were definitely created with the same philosophy in mind. I guess they have coffee and stuff as well. I don't really go in for that kind of thing.
(5)Dev W.
I was seriously unimpressed by Tandem. I had really high expectations and had heard really wonderful things. However, it was kind of a strange experience. They do not have one outlet so don't come prepared to study or work with a laptop. They also do not have wifi, which I understand the whole, no technology, connect with people thing, but I feel like coffee shops should generally have wifi? Call me crazy. Also the coffee was less than impressive. I'm pretty coffee informed if you will, and my almond milk latte tasted incredibly burned and frankly I could have got a better tasting latte at Starbucks, was that harsh? My bad... I'm not one to complain about coffee prices because I have a legitimate addiction to caffeine and will get it at any price, however, for the quality of their espresso, it is incredibly over priced. The people were nice, the location is sick. But I feel like it's trying too hard to give off that "hipster" vibe, and there are coffee shops in Portland with WAY better coffee! Oops, sorry to be harsh.
(2)Kate S.
Come here to chat. Don't come here to work. No wifi, odd seating, loud. I'll stick with Yordprom.
(3)Len A.
I have to go with 4 stars because I don't drink coffee and the other items I tried were just okay. But the sticky bun I had was the second best sticky bun around and we'll worth the trip, now the breakfast sandwich, that was out of this world. Nothing like it around and worth going just for the sandwich, but go early, they will sell out fast. I wanted to get a breakfast sandwich with meat, but they were out so I got the egg and cheese and when i was done I wanted to go back and get another one it was so good. The atmosphere was young and vibrant and actually had more parking than I thought. Couldn't tell you how good the coffee is but if you are driving by before 10AM it is a must you try the breakfast sandwich and grab a sticky bun to go.
(4)Matthew B.
Not going there is difficult for me. I use to visit their original location on Anderson back when I worked in that area. Now I live just a few block from their Bakery location and it's downright dangerous! The coffees have always been pretty spectacular. Occasionally, a specialty coffee might take a bit of time. Some would say a good coffee is worth waiting for and others might say yes but for how long. I'm in the former camp. No major complaints from me. They take their coffee seriously and you can taste it in every cup even down to a simple drip (which if you're eating there comes in a nice clear glass mug.) So let's have a quick chat about the food. The breakfast sandwiches at first glance reminds me of what a McDonald's egg and biscuit sandwich might look like if made by hand from scratch. Take a bite and you'll forget I even brought up McD's. It's soo delicious. I've tried a few variations including with bacon, without, with ham and they did a jalapeño pulled pork one (I believe?) but I remember it being off the hook. I'm also a huge fan of their chocolate chip cookies. Be warned, they're decadent and delicious with a nice sprinkle of sea salt on top. There is always loads of great bakery choices. If you find yourself holding up the line, just close your eyes and point. Most likely you'll be happy. It gets busy and there's not LOADS of indoor seating. However, I am a fan of the interior design. Sometimes customers bottleneck the pick up area which can make for difficult navigation. There is a nice outdoor picnic table area if the weather permits.
(5)Sarah M.
I think the best things that I have tried here are on the sweet rather than savory side. I have enjoyed their blueberry/almond crumble pie, buttermilk custard blackberry pie and their coconut pound cake. Each of those items was exceptionally delicious. I would try any of the pies that they offer. One of their savory items that I did enjoy is the everything scone. I really like everything bagels so the flavors worked perfectly for me. I, like other reviewers, did not like the coffee. I couldn't even drink it (which is rare for me) and ended up throwing it away after three sips. I would recommend asking for a taste of the coffee first to see if it appeals to you before ordering a cup. I also did not enjoy the breakfast sandwich. For me the egg was too dense (they must scramble and cook the eggs in a pan in the oven and then slice them in squares) and the biscuit was heavy, but maybe that is just my taste. The service was also prompt and friendly.
(4)Steff D.
The folks behind Tandem are very, very clever and have done an impeccable job at building a brand that stays consistent while shapes to the community they serve. By that I mean that the Tandem in Bayside feels like it belongs in Bayside. The Tandem on Congress St feels like it belongs on Congress St. Neither would "fit" in the other location. Maybe this won't make sense to anybody but locals, but it was one of the things that I appreciated. I DON'T feel like I belong at the Tandem in Bayside - I walk in, and I'm openly stared/sneered at in a judgey way. I DO feel like I belong at the Tandem on Congress St - I walked in, and the fellas behind the counter nodded at me like they had seen me a million times. And that was after just ONE time of going. I'm a little in love with this new spot. It suits me and what I want from a coffee shop just fine. Again - modern, clean lines... but with a gas station open concept to it. I like that there are higher-set community tables, lower-set personal tables for one to work from them laptop (the original Tandem in Bayside always made me feel tremendously guilty every time I used technology, so it's nice to see this Tandem encourages it) or three for friendly or professional gatherings, and picnic tables outside (I do wonder/worry about how much crowded it will be inside when it's too cold to sit outside). I sat comfortably with a friend gabbing for close to two hours and no one seemed bothered by it! For me, that's a sign of an excellent coffee place. I had a latte with almond milk for there and got a piece of quiche to go. Nervous that the cashier would be annoyed by this, I asked if it was alright. He looked at me as if I was silly, "Of course it is!" Lovely - thank you for being accommodating! A few minutes later, when my latte was ready, I asked the person making it if he had in fact used almond milk (I admit, I stood there and watched him use the full fat cow's milk). His face dropped. "It's not. Not at all. Don't touch that! Making you a new one right now," he said. And he literally stopped working on everyone else's order to fix the mistake he had made. Again - thank you for not making me feel like a jerk for calling you out on a your mistake! The quiche (leek and cheddar) was life-changing. As in: I thought about it for the rest of the day and the following day, too. I regret that there was only one slice - I could have eaten the entire thing (I'm not joking, Tandem folks... keep making it vegetarian, and I'll buy a couple slices a week at this rate). I also wanted the feta and apple scones that had just come out while I was there and the glistening sticky buns, too. As a former baker, this place seemed like a dream come true. Staple items, unique flavor profiles, and a variety of savory and sweet treats to tempt anyone away from any diet they may be on. Also, this is the first place in Maine to really remind me of Stumptown Coffee Roasters in NYC. The look, the feel, the process... It's eerily similar (in the most fabulous way possible), and I'm sure entirely accidental. All in all? While I may not love the Tandem in Bayside, I'm an instant fan (and hopeful soon-to-be regular) of this new spot on Congress St!
(5)Tony F.
Visiting from California, I drove past two coffee shops, parked in between and went here. Place was empty. Woman was pleasant. I Ordered a coffee. It came from a thermos and tasted weird and weak. Left it on the table and walked a block to Yordprom and found lots of people. Ordered coffee again and the guy made it fresh. It was fantastic. Wife ordered tea and they only had tiny cups and tea categorized broadly by color not origin. Being in the year 2015, I guess I don't understand what they're trying to do at Tandem.
(1)Frankie D.
Lovely environment; bright and eclectic, and it smells amazing inside. Unfortunately they ran out of many cold refreshments for the day because Mainers have poor heat tolerance, cold brew is good though and pastries look lovely. Outdoor and indoor community tables, no wifi though.
(5)Nathan T.
I shan't review the coffee - because I like Dunkin Donuts I really don't think I'm qualified to judge a roast. That said, I DO know quite a bit about tasty baked goods and this place here? Oh my god they know what they're doing. Best bakery this side of Scratch, no kidding. While now I need to go back and try EVERYTHING, here is what I do know and what you *should* order. Chocolate chip cookie - TO DIE FOR. Almost as good as the Molasses cookie, which is possibly the best I have EVER had outside of my dearly departed grandmothers' spice cookie. So good. Sticky bun. Again perhaps the best I've ever had. And that, friends, is saying something. I have had QUITE A FEW of those in my time. This one? The center might very well have been edible heaven. I'll never know because I ate it in one huge bite. No regrets! The Everything Scone? Brilliant! Entire leaves of tarragon inside this delight sent my tastebuds over the moon. God I wish I was eating two right now. Why am I not at Tandem buying more of these?? Oh yeah, because I don't want to weigh 400 lbs. But seriously. Good stuff here. Great hipster watching too if that's your thing. Enjoy!
(5)Mary G.
NB: If Tandem were not presenting itself as a high-end bakery and coffee place, I'd give it three or maybe even four stars. It's a place I'd be more than happy to stop by if it were on my way to work. But I went out of my way to find it while on vacation, and in this context it was a disappointment. Coffee: as someone else said, "meh." Serving Colombian drip the day I went. Not very full-flavored, and I could hardly taste it after a bite of the cinnamon bun. Baked goods: The ones I had were also "meh," though I'm guessing others were better (apple-feta scone looked very promising, for example). Spinach quiche was seasoned well but had a hard crust. Cinnamon bun was perhaps a bit too heavy on the citrus accent and was too dried out on top. Service: Just fine. The guy who took my order helpfully offered a to-go tray. Ambiance: Ultra hipster. Energetic. Bright and pleasant. I think the highest ratings are due to this.
(2)Ashley T.
We wanted to try something new this morning and decided to go to the new tandem location down by hot suppa area of Congress. When I walked in I instantly loved the clean modern design. Felt like I was going back in time. All the pastries were beautifully displayed. I regret not having time to sit down and eat and drink but we had to run. The place was packed anyway. I definitely got the feeling it was more trendy and they did a great job getting that point across. I bought a muffin with egg and sausage..... It was delicious. It had a full hard boiled egg inside! I also bought a blueberry scone with seeds. It was definitely better than other blueberry Scones I have had in portland. The coffee was really really tastey. Overall I had a great experience. Would go again. My only complaint would be the lids seemed to leak but like I said that's about it :)
(4)Steve D.
We were on our way to Orr"s island and stopped in for an afternoon coffee. The cappuccino was made to perfection. The shot was extracted with the right balance and the milk temperature was spot on. We are in the coffee business in Northern Ca. and always find the time to visit independently owned local coffee shops when traveling. Tandem exceeded our very high expectations. We would like to add that the baked goods were also very very good. The cookie made with rye flour was delicious. The banana bread with toasted sesame seeds was not overly sweet and had a nice texture. On our way back to the airport we plan on visiting their roastery. Very inspiring operation!
(5)Nathan K.
The short and sweet version of this review: the two stars are for the baked goods which are pretty great. They're unique and - even if I don't like every one - delicious. The missing stars are for every other part of the experience: coffee, service, atmosphere all are a complete miss for me. I was glad a solid, independent business opened up in this spot. It'd be kind of sitting there languishing for too long. Unlike others, I'd had good experiences at the tiny Tandem in East Bayside. Yes, it feels like the hipsteriest hipster hole in all of Hipstonia, but I'd never gotten looks, or bad service or even a bad drink. Simple menu, one cool, unique standard - the malted iced coffee - and some minimal, but warm decor. A-Okay with me. The first time I went to the bakery they only had two baked goods, neither of which I was in the mood for, but it was very soon after they opened so I did not fret. Instead, I tried to speak to someone about the possibilities of my business partnering up with them and this is where stuff started to get dicey. The person I spoke to, while very nice and enthusiastic, looked at me like I was speaking a foreign language. I was asking a pretty standard question about wholesaling and it sort of felt like this was the first time he'd ever considered that someone might ask this (and who knows, maybe it was, but I kind of think that's not great for a bakery). I wasn't bothered that a new business wasn't ready to talk wholesale, but I gave the dude to whom I spoke all of my contact info and asked him to contact me to discuss further. Nearly a year and two follow-ups later, I've never heard anything back. While I was talking to this supremely nice gentleman, he did his best to introduce me to the head baker who was straight up rude and has been every time I have attempted to approach her since. There's no other way to put it. She's rude. She can't be bothered to give a smile or a nod when I say hi to her, let alone to actually speak to me (to be fair she's often busy outside, screaming into her cell phone while blocking the exit as I'm trying to leave). Listen, I'm a shy, surly guy in my private life. I get it. But when I'm working, I figure out how to at least go through the basics, like smiling, being polite and making small talk, because it's important. Particularly in a town this small where everyone knows each other. It would be so fun to live in a world where we could all be as rude as we liked and just do our jobs, but that's not how it works. Suck it up and figure out how to respond to the question "how are you?" with something other than a grunt. The rest of the staff... the best I've had is kind, but vacant, with a tendency to mess up the order. The worst is similar rudeness. I've had the many drinks at the East Bayside location with no problem, and in fact quite a lot of enjoyment. I've never had a good drink at the Congress location. The last time I went, I ordered a cup of drip coffee that was undrinkable (I know, pour-overs are better, but the person who served me was going so slowly with so many orders ahead and I didn't want to wait). A cup of tea I received at a previous visit was not properly brewed, tasted terrible and when I went to speak to someone about it, she attempted to argue with me using incorrect information about how to brew tea. It's water and leaves. It would have made so much more sense to just brew me a new cup, even if I was wrong. The atmosphere... it's bad. It's uncomfortable there. They seem to have chosen to ignore the way winter works. Once it gets cold and snowy, most places will put up some kind of vestibule inside their entrance, even just thick curtains to block the cold. Tandem has two entrances, which - for some reason - are often not fully closed and have nothing around them to block cold air. As a result, there is always thick condensation all over the windows and the air inside is a weird mix of moist and hot from the bakery with blasts of freezing cold from the entrances. Most of the seating is uncomfortable stools and the tables are not conducive to bringing your laptop and getting anything done. In the summer this is all moot because they can throw the doors open and the picnic benches outside are lovely. That's all well and good, but the good weather lasts - at absolute best - for half the year. They need to figure out how to make it an enjoyable place for the other half. All that said, that baked goods are awesome and that's nothing to sneeze at. I run in to grab them a lot and put up with the the bad service just to get them home and enjoy in my own space. It'd be cool if they'd commit a little more to sourcing locally, as this is the town to do it in, but that's not the end of the world. My hope is that as time goes on, they'll pull it together, but it's been almost a year and it kind of feels like - with the exception of the baked goods - everything's getting steadily worse. I suppose only time will tell.
(2)Justine J.
A truly cool spot. It sits in what used to be a gas station and as a result has this very unique, open feel to it. It almost blends in with the surroundings (in the best way possible) and makes you feel like it's some kind of best kept secret of the area. The staff is incredibly friendly and sweet -- even the employees that are in the back preparing food or prepping will still make a point to smile at you as you wait at the register. It's always busy in there (and for good reason) but their service is QUICK. There's a variety of seating options, tons of natural light, and a very modern and hip atmosphere all around. They had several herbal tea options (great for a non caffeine drinker on a cold, snowy day) and absolutely DELICIOUS food items (get the cheddar jalapeno scone, NOW). Love!
(5)Anna Z.
This place was amazing! Friendly staff, mouthwatering pastries to view right when you walk in. Freshly made everything! Cute designs on cappuccino to show they care! Food tasted impeccable and natural. Great spot for breakfast/brunch/date!
(5)Ben H.
Chocolate. Chip. Cookie. Crunchy, salty, soft, sweet. Oh, and the cold brewed coffee is excellent.
(5)S S.
I LOVE TANDEM. Love. Love. Love. One sip of that coffee is my life is right. And don't even get me started on the pastries. Everything is so dang good! If you ever see the bahn mi on the list for the day you MUST get it; and then call me.
(5)Bill M.
Fantastic coffee,beautiful space, and very good food! Tandem's new location really has it all. On this my first visit I had a malted iced coffee. The malty sweetness helped to highlight how good the coffee was and sent me right to my happy place! I also tried very good cornbread muffin, that was filled with bites of sausage,cheese and a whole boiled egg inside. Wow! So why "only" 4 stars? While I love,love the Scandinavian style design, and I find the exterior beautifully ironic. In my world, the perfect coffee spot has at least one comfy and cozy spot preferably with pillows. Tandem is stunningly elegant, but not cozy. That's O.K., because the coffee gets 100 stars. It is amongst the best to be found anywhere!
(4)Michaela M.
Thank you for opening so close to my house. I know you did it on purpose. Thank you. I love it here. I usually get "to-go" on my way into work, but whenever I have a chance I love to eat there. Everything is so, so good. I am super picky and usually need to know the details of everything I'm putting in my mouth, but here, I literally just point and choose based on what looks good. Number of times I have been disappointed: 0. Also, one day I had a sad face because they were out of my fav (jalepeno cheddar biscuit) so the friendly guy behind the counter promised me I would love a buttermilk biscuit sandwich. I did, and he remembered me a couple days later to ask how it was. A++ service. I will be a regular here for sure.
(5)Kimberly H.
Went to Tandem yesterday because originally i was on my way to Yordprom, which has left a "bad taste in my mouth" (figuratively, not literally) due to lack of customer service and their morphing into the "too cool for the room" phase. on my way to yordprom, I saw Tandem....still drove to yordprom...which had absolutely no parking because the snow is taking over and apparently no one knows how to park efficiently when that is the case....but I digress.... Went to tandem, a repurposed gas station, love the minimalist approach, which lets me know they are focused on coffee and customer service....I had one of the best mochas in a long time, watched the fellow prepare it with care and precision. there are places to sit if you feel inclined, so i'm not sure what all the fuss is about in terms of seating....however, i was on my merry way to shop before another snow storm, and tandem will definitely be a place i will visit more often!-
(4)L C.
Super tasty coffee, biscuits, pie, and beer; basically all you need. The malted iced coffee was awesome. Recommend getting anything with a biscuit (breakfast sandwich, loaded biscuit, etc.)
(5)B C.
While visiting Portland, we tried all of the recommended coffee spots, but this was the best. Our second favorite was Bard, which was also good. The food was also excellent.
(5)Adam B.
Tandem is my favorite coffee shop. First of all the people. The people. They are each so lovely, friendly, and incredibly smart. And the coffee. We all have our own palette and Tandem satisfies mine perfectly. I appreciate their carefully chosen beans, which are lovingly roasted and presented simply in order for what's important - the coffee - to be enjoyed. The space here is lovely too. Lots of options for bar seating, to a high top table, to little nooks. My favorite is the picnic benches however. What about the bakery you ask? I have limited experience to offer here. I eat a vegan diet, but I did have a plum and almond scone when they first opened just to experience Bri's brilliance in baking. The scone was superb. Just the right moisture and the plum/almond combo was so good. I hope vegan options come in the future. Regardless, I will continue to happily go for the people and the coffee.
(5)Andrew R.
Coffee was excellent; freshly roasted beans with a complex aroma and very high quality milk. I didn't have any food. Courteous, easy staff and a comfortable, inspiring repurposed space. Worth the wait.
(5)Anna W.
First of all, what kind of a bakery doesn't sell bread? The giant neon sign in the window that reads "bakery" gave me the impression they sell all sorts of baked goods. Before they opened I was very excited to see a bakery moving into our neighborhood. When I made it into their shop last week, I was in need of a loaf of bread, but found out they don't bake bread. How about an iced coffee instead? ...nope. They didn't have any iced coffee. It was a beautiful Indian Summer afternoon and they were out of iced coffee. I think the place is a good use of the previously unoccupied garage, but it is much more of a café then it is a bakery.
(2)Jason P.
Coffee here is "meh" (and Yordprom is right next door) BUT their Jalapeño Cheddar biscuit is one of the top five greatest foods I have ever enjoyed - it is perfect on all fronts. Crispy outside, soft and moist inside, with occasional bursts of salty goodness - it is to die for!!
(4)Angela S.
The shop looks great and it's cool that it's in a converted gas station! There isn't a lot of seating so don't plan on getting a spot. It's definitely not a cozy, warm spot you'd want to pass time in. More like sparse modern hipsterish (it's bike themed...). The baked goods were really good. We got a savory scone, a pound cake and a sticky bun and all of them were tasty. The coffee, in my opinion, was awful. I'm more of a dark roast fan and really hated their coffee. In fact as soon as I saw the beans in the hopper above the espresso bar I was worried. We got brewed coffee and espresso and poured both out into the snow. Even if you prefer a lighter roast coffee, espresso needs to be roasted darker to stand up to milky lattes and for people who prefer a more intense taste. This espresso was just intensely nasty.
(2)Donna T.
The best baked goods. Not your ordinary blueberry scones. Try Apple and feta scone or jalepino and cheddar biscuit. I had The quiche which was The lightest ive ever had. The crust was perfectly cooked not the typical soggy undercooked variety that gets microwaved to warm up. Coffee was great too.
(5)Lindsay L.
Pros: neck and neck w speckled ax for best coffee in town, fabulous baked goods, great space and design. This bakery is a great addition to Portland--adventurous flavor pairings and textures perfectly executed. Cons: vibe is definitely brooklyn-y, which could be a pos or neg to you. Bring a little extra cash--prices aren't cheap but they are very fair for the super high quality.
(5)Miranda D.
Tandem has all the necessary things to make good coffee but unfortunately they do not. I tried their espresso and their batch brew coffee. Their espresso was over extracted, and the flavor notes were not properly present. Their blend could be good, but the lack of skill and knowledge of the barista greatly hampered the ability to get full tasting notes (when I asked the barista the origin of the espresso blend, she did not know). The coffee was okay but too heavily roasted to get a multidimensional coffee and did not finish with a sweetness that I look for in a drip coffee.
(2)Jacob F.
This is the best coffee when you're feeling up for a treat, and it's almost exactly what I asked for in my neighborhood. The place is clean, modern and expensive, and the espresso is unbelievable.
(4)