I was on the hunt for a tasty hot chocolate and hopefully an exquisite pastry when a sign caught my eye. I decided I had to check it out when I saw an arrow on a chalkboard pointing me toward coffee and pastries. Finally, a small biz coffee shop in my favorite section of Portland! I met the manager, Tessa, who was really friendly. I had a chocolate croissant which saved me later in the day when lunch wasn't on the horizon anytime soon and that hot choc really hit the spot!! The inside decor is lively! I couldn't get enough of the rustic wood slabs for tables and the beautiful contrast of green succulents! I love the gorgeous Kohler sinks just outside the restrooms! We'll know if you do not wash your hands!! You should really swing by and soak in this coffee house. I could sit here all day catching up with friends. read more

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Great location on wharf Street a little hidden gem at the moment. Exquisite decor, great customer service, and friendly knowledgeable owner. Excellent espresso as well as drip from speckled axe. Located across from Mark's Sports Bar and adjacent to Bonfire Country Bar. Definitely a go to coffee house in the old port. read more

Higher Grounds - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Portland, Maine

This was the first coffee spot I tried during my trip to Portland. It is on a lovely street but may seem a little hidden if you're not specifically looking for it. We however had no issue at all finding it with a little GPS help. The atmosphere was great, the staff was friendly, and most importantly the coffee was excellent! read more

Higher Grounds - Cappuccino - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Portland, Maine

Not an honest place . Fake ads to lure in honest people then they refuse to honor their posted ad . the excuse of a mistake is BS they crossed out the 10$ amount and posted 10 cents as pic below shows. when i complained they said to call and they'd make it right , ANOTHER LIE . they refused to honor or even call me back. If you run a business it is YOUR responsibility to proof read your ads before they are posted , and if one does slip by you eat it and give the customer the item(s ) at the posted price, not sleeze out because your an incompetent business owner.Honesty is paramount along with reliability , two things this company lacks terribly . If their that dishonest there is no way id eat or drink anything they make or serve. read more

Higher Grounds - obviously not a mistake . just pure dishonesty and incompetence.Most states have laws on this . its the principle not the cash. i hate liars - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Portland, Maine

Get coffee and very friendly helpful staff. Great little place on a cute cobblestone street. And.....pastry. Yum read more

Higher Grounds - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Portland, Maine

Apparently, I had a very different experience than most people who have written reviews for this place. My girlfriend and I were scoping Portland out for the first time after a wonderful weekend vacay in Kennebuckport. Our flight back to Maryland flew out of PWM that night, so we spent the day wandering through the downtown streets. After a few hours, my girlfriend had a hankering for a good cup of coffee (the hotel coffee where we stayed wasn't that great). That's when we stumbled upon a bi-fold street sign for Higher Grounds. My first impression as we walked in was a good one. My girlfriend is interested in CBD and had an opportunity to talk to someone knowledgeable about it while I waited for our drinks. I don't drink coffee but I love hot chocolate and drink it often at home. I like mine really hot. Nothing worse for me than a luke warm cup of hot chocolate, so I told the barista that I wanted it extra hot. What I got was far from hot. It was a very pretty looking hot chocolate with it's fancy swirl design, but it was barely past warm. I don't like making waves, but I really didn't want to settle for what I got, so I went back to the barista and informed her that my hot chocolate was barely hot. A quick apology and a "Let me fix that" would have been great. What I got instead was a face full of attitude. She took my cup without saying a word, walked to the sink behind her and dumped the cup. What made matters worse was that the next cup I got was also warm. Yes, it was hotter than the first one, but it still wasn't hot. While I enjoyed the pretty design on my first cup of hot chocolate, that sort of thing rates low in my decision as to whether I like my hot chocolate experience. However, I was surprised my second cup didn't come with it. It was a strong statement that felt like a passive aggressive gesture. What really irked me was some young smart ass of a guy, not long after I sat down with my second cup of hot chocolate, loudly exclaimed in a dramatic fashion how hot his coffee was and that the coffee shop should be more careful about how hot they made their coffee. I looked over in his direction to see what was going on. He had just gotten coffee to go. When he realized I was looking at him, he smirked as if he was mocking me. Did the barista really diss me to her friend? Unbelievable. I didn't do anything to warrant that kind of treatment. My girlfriend thought her coffee tasted good but it wasn't hot either. read more

Loved this place! The street they are on (wharf st) is super cool. The layout of the coffee shop is awesome and it is kept clean. I liked their little apothecary section! The baristas both times I went were very approachable and knowledgeable about coffee...each time they pulled the best shot of espresso aaaaand didn't even bat an eyelash that I had gotten a redeye with another extra shot on the side (Thanks). Definitely the spot to go to for coffee when you're visiting Portland. read more

Higher Grounds - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Portland, Maine

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Adorable little coffee shop with great milk alternatives and a cozy little space. Love spending an afternoon reading there. read more

Higher Grounds - Hot tea and latte with oat milk! Yum! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Portland, Maine

Not sure what the fuss is about, not very good capacino. No idea what kind of milk was in this.

Purely due to the location I was a little worried that prices might be out of my budget but I was greatly mistaken! The owner of the business was incredibly kind and made wonderful recommendations. I'll be purchasing all of my rosin here moving forward! read more

I walked in here solely because they advertise adding CBD into the drinks. After I got to the counter, they told me they don't do that at the moment, so I was very disappointed. I got a chai tea and it was just alright, not worth it for the price in my opinion. The location is great and the inside is super cute, seems like it could be a nice place to hang out. read more

Became our go to coffee shop for morning Lattes while we were in Old Port! Excellent!!!

Came here visiting Maine for vacation. The coffee was amazing and the atmosphere was incredible! Being from jersey, I'm not used to everyone being so nice. But they're incredibly kind here and they made my latte with such care. Get the French toast latte with oat milk, it's worth it! read more

They have a delicious light brew and they will put maple syrup in it. Need I say more?

Love this coffee shop, tucked away (almost hidden) on cobblestone-lined Wharf Street. Classic hippie coffee shop, with great service and amazing coffee. They also sell CBD products, including some great tasting chocolate bars. You can even get a shot of hemp oil in your coffee or tea. Give this place a shot! read more

While visiting Maine, my first stop was to pick up a cup of coffee. I would describe this place as a Zen pick me up. My first time ever experiencing a place where you can zen out and/or get an energy boost. You'll have to visit to know what I mean. Lovely place that offers Hemp CBD oils to buy. You can also get the 5 or 10 mg in your coffee. I'm a true coffee over so I usually get just a black cup of medium roasted coffee. Love the flavor of a good coffee bean, no sugar/cream, etc. Well, the coffee here is amazing read more

Excellent French toast latte with 10 mg of full spectrum CBD! Love the vibe and all the support it causes.

Delicious cafe in the old historic part of Portland. The can add HEMO CBD oil to any beverage for a soothing smoothing caffeinated buzz. They carry "Mindful Earth " handmade & grown in Maine Apothecary products. "DogBird is their preferred coffee supplier. The baristas are skilled and have made me some of the best cortados on the entire East coast! I drive the 1/2 hour into Portland everyday to get their coffee. read more

My wife son and I stumbled on higher grounds while hanging out in Portland on a nice spring day. The service was friendly, and fast. The coffee was excellent, and they have great prices on cannabis. We'll definitely be back. read more

Went back 2nd morning as well and there are plenty of coffee choices in Portland Had coffee and pastry first two mornings in town and it was delightful, Friendly staff very good espresso drinks. Just down the "alley" from Portland Harborside hotel a two minute walk max. Liked it better than the famous "bard" we walked to third day. Have to say though place does have an "alternative vibe" so a small segment could feel uncomfortable, but then again so does most of Portland just not as visible. For us both retirees good coffee and good service is good coffee and good service. read more

Delicious drinks and great service! The barista brought our drinks right to our car! I definitely recommend this place!

Glad to have stopped at this place while visiting Portland! COVID friendly: only a window to order from, no customers inside. Menus outside, chip pay, masks etc. I'm not a coffee drinker so can't comment on the main attraction but pleased they had a large variety of unique teas! I had CBD and lavender honey syrup added, had the tea iced, delicious and a nice cool treat. Hope to come back to go inside one day because it looks adorable! read more

Worth the effort to find this gem. Great coffee and friendly, helpful staff. I love the furnishings and the place is super clean and we'll kept. Will certainly return. read more

The best coffee house in Portland by far. We got iced lattes and hot coffee. High quality beans, not bitter just a good strong coffee taste A nice atmosphere and pleasant staff. read more

The best coffee shop in Portland. Probably the best coffee shop in New England. Delicious coffee, amazing staff, and thoughtfully curated delicious pastries. Such a great vibe to hang out and chat with a friend or read a book on a Saturday afternoon. read more

These guys totally know what they're doing. Quality coffee and treats expertly made. Totally chill vibe. A total must-do every time we are in town. read more

Great service, great coffee!! The environment is very cool and the staff makes it worth the visit. Highly recommend!

i love the vibe here. the people are always great. it's calm and cozy with plenty of functional space for working, reading, and chatting. it's hip and well styled without being over the top. and the apothecarian selection of locally made tinctures, lotions, and soaps is a nice touch. i've gotten some good work done here, and i'll definitely be back! read more

Exceptional coffee in a funky and welcoming atmosphere. Vegan friendly baked goods, and an eclectic mix of local apothecary products. Really a unique place to relax amidst the other typical Old Port joints. It's owned and managed by wonderful and experienced folks. Definitely the bar-setter for the Old Port Coffee Shops! read more

highest quality coffee available in portland without a doubt, friendly and welcoming staff, beautiful interior design, and they have oat milk (my favorite part) :) read more

Stumbled upon this place this week while passing through Portland. LOVE IT. It has a great amount of space, convenient location, but best of all are their products. Mark and Liz were working, they were both friendly and helpful. I recommend this place for those in search of a new study spot, a place to meet a friend, or just to grab a cup of coffee on the go. read more