Great espresso!! If you know the pain of finding good espresso on the east coast then you will understand how excited I am about this place! The staff were incredibly helpful and knew what they were doing. I didn't need it but the stewardess' swear by the "Red Eye." It's drip + shots. I had the americano with their medium roast and it was flavorful and not bitter at all. They are a small regional chain and I will be keeping my eye open for other locations when I visit the area again. read more

My affinity towards trying out local coffee shops when I travel led me to Port City Java, which was established in 1995 in Wilmington, NC, and has expanded to about 13 locations in the surrounding area. It's nothing revolutionary compared to other coffee shops, with a bit more of a limited menu than Starbucks and Dunkin. I went with an iced mochaccino, since I wasn't in the mood for a hot drink. It was decent, but it was nothing like the image on their menu or website. My biggest gripe was that the drink was more than 40% ice. I've had plenty of iced drinks before, but none have been overloaded with as much ice, so this won't be a place I'd recommend to others. While I thought this would be a place I would have liked more, it was a 3.5/5 experience at best, but happy to round up since customer service was friendly and to support a local business. read more

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This Port City Java has a drive-thru, but we decided to get out of the car and go inside. Perhaps that was a mistake, because it took a good 20 minutes to get a simple cup of drip black coffee. Boo. The coffee was fine. But it was such an ordeal to get a cup of coffee that it kind of made me reconsider whether it was worth it to stop here. I believe Port City Java is a local coffee place because there are many of these joints around Wilmington. read more

This might be my favorite of all the PCJ spots. It is easy to navigate in and out of, plenty of parking, and an easy drive thru line. Their menu is as extensive as the rest of the locations, and they tend to have a good stock of everything. The chai that PCJ uses is the best in town, and their coffee is solid too. I love that there are vegan options, even more than most places. Aside from the alternative milks: coconut, oat, almond, and soy, there is also impossible sausage. Their build you own breakfast sandwiches are my favorite. There are plenty of options to make it your own, with really great quality cheeses. Bonus: download their app and order ahead so its ready right inside the door when you get there! And you get points. read more

Cute coffee spot! The employee who served us was really nice and didn't mind our stupid questions! And the coffee is legit nummy.

Staff is always present and so happy to see me. I couldn't expect a better experience than that of victoria and grace. They always know exactly what I'm going to order and recommend more. Home is where the heart is aka port city Java on market. Love yall (make me customer of the month PLZZZZ) read more

Coffee was great. And then I needed to use the restroom. I thought they would be pristine since you have to get a code from the cashier to unlock the door. Nope. I think it's a way to detour patrons from using the restroom. This room has not been cleaned in a long time. It needs bleach or something that can kill Serratia marcescens and Aureobasidium pullulans (pink bacteria) and remove fecal matter. I wonder what the prep area behind the counter looks like where we cannot see. read more

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Port City Java has been waking up Wilmington, NC since 1995. Nestled in the heart of historic downtown, their first café quickly became a hub for coffee lovers in the community. Their admittedly simple goals were to bring great, fresh-roasted coffee to their neighbors with the help of a charming but ever mischievous 15-kilo Ambex roaster. Port City Java has evolved and grown to operate over 30 cafes as well as its own bakery, roastery and distribution center since then. Their menu offers a diverse selection to satisfy all of your sweet and savory urges. Beverages include a rotating selection of remarkable coffee, carefully crafted espresso drinks, smoothies made with real fruit, milkshakes made with rich ice cream and award winning teas among other items. According to Port City Java, they bake fresh daily and their breakfast sandwiches and wraps are made on site and are served hot all day. I'm a big fan of PCJ and have been since their first opening in downtown Wilmington. My favorites include their signature espresso creations both hot and cold, as well as, their coffee & espresso drinks including latte and the red eye. The Mocha Shade is popular and can be made skinny or low fat for the healthy, conscience few. I hope PCJ continues to grow and succeed. Check out one of their stores if you haven't already, you will be hooked. read more

Port City Java - Mocha Freeze - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

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Have been here many times and never been disappointed with the service or coffee or...wait for it...CHOCOLATE MILK SHAKES! The staff all recognizes me on Sunday and begin making MY drink; similar to the bar in Cheers I guess. The atmosphere is always welcoming and there are tables and chairs aplenty; really an amazing place to work, relax and just chat. read more

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"We stopped in to Port City Java to pass the time while waiting to have a quick meeting for the Recovery and Restorations teams on the ground. All we ordered was coffee, but it was delicious after a long day running operations in Wilmington! "KUDOS" to Jacob and his team as they were open with limited menu and operations hours due to the aftermath of Hurricane Florence. They were up and running although the surroundings circumstances were not helpful out there. We sat inside and then went on the outside patio which was conveniently located in the front of the building. Looked like it would be a great place to get some work done!, Next time I'm in Wilmington,NC, and the circumstances are different. I will sure stop by to try more of their menu items and enjoy a good coffee." read more

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We made a quick stop on our way to UNCW and saw this place. I got the southwestern wrap and latte and it was SO AMAZING. Some of the best coffee I've ever had. The staff was so nice and clean too. I would be a regular if I lived around here. :)) read more

I'm in town for a half marathon and stopped here for breakfast and coffee. Very clean and nicely decorated. I got the Mediterranean wrap and latte. It's all excellent. read more

Port City Java - a burrito and coffee on a table - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

Solid three star experience with decent drinks (my steamed vanilla milk was somewhat lukewarm but all other drinks were fine), friendly service, and extensive menu. The prices can be high for what you get. Lots of seating. read more

Really sad to see this location go downhill. We've been going there for years, but today was our last. The outside area is in bad shape...broken chairs, dirty and in need of pressure washing and painting. Coffee was luke warm and meh at best. I've found lukewarm coffee at other locations when I've driven through in the afternoon. I like to support local but I'm going to have to hard pass Port City Java. Lots of competition in town, not a good idea to slack off. read more

This coffee bar is right down the street from me, so it is a convenient hop in on the weekends. The cashiers are always so perky and personable. They must hire morning people! This place has the best breakfast sandwich ever. You can choose a bagel or a croissant with egg, meat, and cheese options, plus cream cheese in different varieties, and veggies such as tomatoes, jalapeños, and spinach. Delicious! Their coffee is good, too. If I had to change anything, I would add bottled hot sauce instead of the little plastic servings of Texas Pete. I understand that they may be great for people on the go, but to have a bottle of the lovely hot stuff at your beck and call would be great for an in house diner. Plus, it would cut down on plastic use. However, this is a great place to get the morning fix! read more

I love the Porters Neck location. Staff is always friendly and makes a great cup of coffee. The campfire latte is awesome. Special thanks to Lilly at the drive through, it make my day to see her smiling face in the morning read more

I swear, if Charlotte had a Port City Java, I'd give up my wicked Starbucks ways. Stopped in for breakfast sandwiches and coffee on our way out of town. Their pumpkin spice latte rivaled Statbucks'. Where they really excelled though was the food selection. I had bacon, egg and cheese on an Asiago bagel. It was SO good! I'm never going to be able to eat one of those hard, dry Starbucks English muffins again knowing Port City Java breakfast sandwiches exist in this world. Barristers and cashiers were all super friendly and helpful to this out of towner that asked stupid questions like, "Can I have your breakfast sandwich on a bagel?" Anywho, off to investigate franchising options... read more

Visiting from out of state & was told to give this local shop a try. It was clean, staff were welcoming, friendly & helpful with recommendations. Food & coffee were so good. Would definitely recommend & will be back. read more

Amazing coffee and nice people! We just moved here and have been to Port city Java almost every day!!!

Nice staff, clean space, good for lounging and people watching, great location! I've been here a few times and can't say I'm crazy about any of the drinks I've ordered. This round I had a white mocha and my order was the wrong size. Last time I visited I was given an iced mocha instead of hot. It's a chain so if you're looking for unique, there are plenty of local coffee shops on the same street and surrounding area! read more

Port City Java - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

Love that they use crushed ice for their cold coffees, really good spot! Quick drive thru, they even gave my dog a treat.

Just moved into Wilmington and this shop is in my building. LOVE it. I'm not a hug Starbucks fan so I was stoked when I saw an alternative. The atmosphere was laid back and relaxed. Plenty of seating and nice bathrooms (locked and you have to ask for the code). Coffee is strong and full bodied. My favorite! The menu also includes a lot of non-coffee drinks for a nice variety. I also tried to green wave smoothie. It was delicious! read more

the last thing you need first thing in the morning is a very unfriendly, unwelcoming barista at your coffee shop. thanks braelynn for your miserable attitude. we couldn't have found a new coffee house without you. read more

Very frustrated. The app sent my order to the wrong Port City Java the opposite direction as me and when I called they couldn't cancel my order because the manager was not in. I was told the girl would have to put my request on a note and I wouldn't have the order canceled until the next day. Very inconvenient and made me late because I had no choice but to go pick it up. I will not be ordering here again. read more

I've been a PCJ fan for years and now that I don't live in the area anymore I make it a point to stop in at least once a day when I visit. Their mocha shakes are superlative, and I've not found a place before or since that does them quite the same. Their regular coffee, pastries, and sandwiches (select locations) are also solid choices. It's a nice detail that all locations use their walls as gallery space for local artists. read more

Port City Java - Mocha shake - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

Really need to update my review! After the last bad experience I posted about the manger contacted me to give a refund and assure me it wouldn't happen again. I've been back about five times since and my order has been correct every time. Yes the drive through line is long but the service is pleasant and it's my first choice for a quick breakfast. read more

So what I heard is this place used to be pretty exclusive. Until it got bit by the Starbuck's bug and started popping up all over the damned place apparently. While I do partake in Starbucks drinking, I do have a profound love for my mom and pop coffee roaster. This place is like the middle child of both. Very bustling, proud establishment. The coffee is legit as it can get and outspoken to say the say the least. One sip and you don't know whether to yell or just enjoy and relax. I got a regular coffee-And yes, I purposely did not say drip- with a shot of caramel, finished off with with a drip of 1/2 & 1/2. So freaking good. Almost felt compelled to buy a t-shirt here. Cause that's what I do when i whole heartedly love a place. I buy a t-shirt and gloat to all the goodness that said/loved place oozes. read more

Port City Java, I learned, is quite the NC staple. It's a pleasant alternative to Starbucks, when I just don't feel like ordering yet ANOTHER coffee light frappuccino. In fact, visiting Port City has become a beach vacay tradition of mine because I come every time I'm in the Wilmington area. I will say one thing: I wouldn't recommend their breakfast sandwiches at this location. I did, however, try a sausage breakfast sandwich at a downtown Wilmington location that was quite delicious. Their coffees though, especially the vanilla latte, are yum-tastic! I also love the ambiance in here. They have art hanging on the walls that I'm pretty sure you can purchase. Maybe they're painted by local artists? Not sure. But I love seeing that in local businesses. If I was still a student, I would study here. I miss my endless studying-on-my-computer-in-a-coffee-house days... and those would have been extra awesome if I had a Port City Java back in my hometown to study in! read more

First time I stopped at Port City Java, I had no idea what to expect. I just wanted a cup of coffee. A Starbucks was not around. I knew of no local coffee shops. McDonald's coffee was not an option. I'm a pure coffee drinker. Forget the fancy frilly drinks that costs $5 and have 600 calories. If I want dessert, I'll have some chocolate. Give me a bold smooth coffee without a bitter aftertaste & I'm happy. So the first cup of coffee I ever had from Port City was heavenly. Strong. Bold. Smooth. Better than any coffee I ever had at Starbucks. I had found my new fav. Unfortunately the experience has never been repeated. I don't know what they were brewing that evening but it certainly was not their house blend. Every return trip to PCJ has been a huge disappointment. As a matter of fact the coffee has been bad & I yearned for cup of Starbucks. (For the folks that hate large chains & insist on a local coffee shop - that's fine too as long as they make a better product than the chain. Unfortunately most do not.) read more

Great coffee shop! I stopped here for morning coffee and eats for the family on vacation. I liked that they had smoothies for the kiddos. The staff was incredibly friendly, patient, and helpful as we were deciding what would be best for the kids. My iced soy vanilla latte was spot on and perfect for the summer morning. The inside decor was quaint. If I had a lazy morning this would be the perfect place to post up and relax for an hour or two. I loved the touch of the fireplace. Not sure if it works (or if you'd really want it to in a a beach town) but I love the look of it. The family reports that the baked goods were worth it too. I'll definitely come back when we come back to town. read more

Port City Java - Muffins in the case, lots of smoothies, coffees, and such. Super friendly baristas too. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

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I love PCJs for chain coffee shops. I especially love that it is comparable to Star Bucks without so much of the chemically taste. (Yeah, I know there's still a ton of sugar.) They have decent wraps that are super quick to pick up. Shakes are awesome and so are their standard cafe drinks. It's not a snob-shop. But its what StarBucks should be. The only thing that drives me nuts about these places is there's not enough of a push to reduce the disposables and rest assured, disposable beverage containers of all kinds are stopping up the storm drains and roadways...and local shops need to step up and do their part. KeepCups, PCJ! Keepcups! Or at least, provide incentive for people to bring their own cups. (And when you're done with that move out to Sneads Ferry. We really need a LOCAL coffee shop and yours is the happy middle ground where we can all caff' out. read more

This was my first Port City Java experience, we stopped in while staying the night in Wilmington this weekend. I got a Latte and an egg bacon and cheese sandwich. I have to say, as soon as I was handed my Latte I was disappointed, it looked muddy, rather than light and foamy. The foam on top which I expect to be white and light was thin and brown. Dang. My boyfriend's black coffee was strong and bitter. The place is cute though and the service friendly. I might as well say it, the breakfast sammy was alittle flat and greasy as well. SO, sorry PCJ, maybe I'll try it again next time I'm in the area and do better. read more

Port City Java - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

Great coffee and service is always pleasant and quick to get your order ready quickly. They also have really good coffee cake it's not dry and is just wonderful!! read more

This is my fav location. It's within walking distance to my house, it's open till 10p and there's a pretty sweet bar across the parking lot. Get juiced up before you get juiced up. The staff is very friendly and the fireplace is cozy. Enjoy the French press for 2 under $5. Yum! read more

Port City Java - French press for two. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

For a local coffee shop, Port City Java does a mean cappuccino that puts my beloved Starbucks to shame. Delicious muffins that are moist and flavorful. Comfy seating and vibe. A truly great coffee shop with equally great espresso! read more

I live here, the team of baristas/os, are a delightful team. They are beyond helpful and knowledgeable and the culture of those of us regulars and visitors is one that always brings you back... read more

Port City Java - Mango Mango - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

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OH, PCJ how I've missed you! Living in Wilmington, NC for 4 years, we became very spoiled with great coffee! Every day brings a new single origin, flavored, and decaf option at every location. Our favorite was the Monkey Junction location, however, we didn't get a chance to visit....so, hi Ken and ladies! I bought a bag of beans to bring home and have thoroughly enjoyed them this week. Please open more locations in the Midwest! read more

Delicious and excellent locally roasted coffee. Several options for a daily blend. The menu is inviting but not overwhelming. The steak and egg wrap was a little on the small side but certainly quite tasty. The local art is also a lovely aesthetic touch! read more

This was my first visit to here.Don't know why I waited so long! The food , service and ambiance lived up to its reputation.We ordered milk shakes and its so yummy I just loved it... read more

Port City is, to me, the Starbucks of the NC area...only better! I stop at this one often whenever I'm staying at a Market St. hotel. On my last visit the place was bustling, but there was some outdoor seating open. My espresso was tasty, the iced coffee was good, but my bf's bagel was undertoasted. Things could be worse, though. I'm not sure I can even pinpoint why I like Port City so much more than Starbucks. Maybe just because it's different. I do think the coffee tastes better, but not that much better. I guess I'll just have to keep trying it out until I figure out exactly what it is that makes it so enjoyable for me... read more