It would be extremely wise of you to stay at a hotel or Airbnb (or buy property) near one of Tandem’s two locations—we’re partial to the Congress Ave. one. That way, you don’t have to waste time before you stand in line for what will be a magical, caffeine- and pastry-filled morning. You can even skip the line by ordering online for pickup at a separate window and take a seat on their covered benches to enjoy Portland’s best coffee shop each morning.

Housed in a former gas station–turned-laundromat, the Congress Street Tandem is the second location of this third-wave coffee roaster. While roasting happens at the East Bayside location, this one offers the widest variety of baker Briana Holt's incredible array of pies, cookies, scones, and other sweet treats. Tandem's coffee is roasted on the lighter side, with both single origin and blends available.

For a road-trip treat: Each morning in Portland—as the lobstermen come back from fishing and sane people roll over in bed—lines run out the door from bakeries like The Holy Donut, Tandem Coffee + Bakery, and recent James Beard Award-winner ZU Bakery. Each is worth the wait (and the early wake-up call).

One of the most fashionable roasters in New England right now, the one pretty much everybody in the coffee industry under the age of 40 will immediately reference when you talk about Maine, this labor of love from Blue Bottle grads Will and Kathleen Pratt has been a star of the Portland scene since 2012. While the vintage service station on Congress Street is far and away the most popular place for Tandem’s loyal fans—both local and visiting from elsewhere—to pay tribute, I prefer the diminutive cafe space inside Tandem’s modest, East End roasting plant. Here, underneath the big Colonial-style windows, soaking up the morning light if you’re lucky, you feel as if you’re part of the family, rather than unwitting fodder for somebody’s Instagram feed, not that there’s anything wrong with that.

Locals love to fuel up with strong espresso and pour-overs at Tandem Coffee and Bakery, a hip coffee shop and bakery in a converted midcentury gas station in the West End, Tandem’s second outpost. (Beans are roasted at the original location in a 1930s brick building in the East Bayside neighborhood.) In the East End, the patio at the Shop by Island Creek Oysters is a great place to pass a sunny afternoon with an Aperol Spritz or glass of rosé before moving on to take in the farmhouse-style ales at Oxbow, where local frites phenom Duckfat hosts a late-night window as well as Sunday brunch.

As one of the most fashionable roasters in New England, Tandem Coffee is the one pretty much everybody in the coffee industry under the age of 40 will immediately reference when you talk about caffeine in Maine. This labor of love from Blue Bottle grads Will and Kathleen Pratt has been a star of the Portland scene since 2012. While the vintage service station on Congress Street is far and away the most popular place for Tandem's loyal fans — both local and visiting from elsewhere — to pay tribute, I prefer the diminutive cafe space inside Tandem's modest, East End roasting plant.

Tandem Coffee was the only Portland roaster I'd tried before visiting the city, most recently at Render in Boston's South End (it's also available at Sandpiper Bakery in Gloucester, MA, but I haven't been able to stop by yet). There is a café and the roastery on Anderson Street in the East Bayside neighbourhood, but it closes at 2 pm on weekdays (noon on Saturdays) and by the time I'd had lunch, it was already closed. However, I did get the chance to visit their beautifully designed café–bakery located in a converted gas station on Congress Street in the West End.

After your quick journey up the coast, fuel up on malt iced coffee and gooey, cinnamon-y sticky buns at Tandem Coffee + Bakery in the heart of the West End, one of the best-preserved Victorian neighborhoods in the country. When you’re ready to hit the pavement, head over to the East End’s Portland Observatory, where you can take in panoramic views of downtown and get your bearings. As the only remaining historical maritime signal station in the country, it’s an ideal place to soak up elevated views as well as a quick history lesson.

9:00* First stop: Tandem Coffee and Bakery.* This place has made headlines for pastry chef Briana Holt’s baked goods, but we just grabbed a malted ice coffee (which was like drinking a light coffee milkshake. A good thing) There’s no doubt this place takes its craft seriously, but they don’t take themselves seriously, which is a big difference. We sat in the sunny space for a few minutes and watched the regulars — moms, dads, commuters, cyclists, runners — get their morning fix.

When faced with a particularly delicious-looking scone, slice of pie, or the like, you may well feel the urge to scarf it all down immediately. A good cup of coffee, though, can put on the brakes and encourage a more lasting kind of enjoyment. That’s why our list of favorite Portland, Maine, bakeries had to include Tandem Coffee + Bakery, which pours coffees from its award-winning roasting operation alongside terrific house-made baked goods.

For a sweet treat and a stellar cup of coffee, don’t miss Tandem Bakery in East Bayside. Housed in an adorable 1930’s building and run by husband-and-wife duo Will and Kathleen Pratt, Tandem offers house-roasted, single-origin brews and seasonal blends alongside the most delectable biscuits and morning buns baked by James Beard nominee Briana Holt. Just one note: Wi-fi isn’t available—but there are plenty of places to read and chat.

(There’s got to be a tandem pun in there somewhere…) Tandem started as a roastery in Portland’s East Bayside neighborhood (and it’s still there, if you’re looking for beans to take home!), but this section is all about their West End spot, where the pastries are just as much of a draw as the coffee. Fair warning: there’s probably going to be a line. And chances are, it might not feel like it’s moving all that quickly.

Tandem Coffee + Bakery has become well-known in Portland, not only for having some of the best coffees in town, but also for their delectable bites!. They serve breakfast sandwiches, pies, buns and other sweet treats, but arguably the best item on the menu is their unique egg and pickle sandwich. Tucked between fresh focaccia you’ll get a taste explosion with sliced eggs, pickled beets, creamy mayonnaise and herbs.

On the list of official Maine symbols, you’ll find wild blueberry pie and whoopie pie right up there with white pine, lobster, and moose. But the state’s salute to these traditional baked goods only hints at the mouthwatering options coming out of Maine ovens these days. This is especially true in Portland, whose top bakeries are turning out breads and pastries that rise to any occasion.

If you’re blessed with more than one morning in Portland or you need an additional breakfast to get you through the your morning strides, head over to Tandem Coffee & Bakery. Here, order yourself a delicious drip coffee, locally roasted in their other location, Tandem Cafe + Roastery and perhaps a sticky bun. Or a warm biscuit slathered in whipped butter.

Next up is Tandem Coffee & Bakery, a spot that’s very well known for its coffee but has incredible sweet treats on its menu, too. The shop was opened in 2012, and the founders later added a second location in the West End in 2014. At this bakery, 1% of their sales are annually donated to non-profits focusing on protecting the future and the environment.

A highlight of last summer’s (brief) visit to Portland was Tandem Coffee Roasters, the roastery doubling as a lovely, intimate coffee bar. I was staying on the opposite side of town and Google Maps suggested I’d pass Tandem Coffee + Bakery on my way. So off I went, keeping an eye out for said bakery, only to walk right past without noticing!

At the heart of Portland’s coffee culture is Tandem Coffee, a hip spot known for their meticulously roasted beans and velvety brews. The Congress Street location offers an industrial-chic vibe, perfect for sipping artisan lattes and soaking up the local scene. Address: 742 Congress St, Portland, ME 04102, United States | Google Maps

True devotees of the West End’s Tandem Coffee + Bakery know the best time to try Briana Holt’s coconut-almond cream pie is when this gas-station-turned-café opens at 7 a.m. That way you’re guaranteed to get some—the stuff sells out daily, with good reason. Plus, who wouldn’t want to start the day with a top-notch espresso drink?.

Tandem Coffee has a bakery in an old gas station/laundromat on Congress Street, and it is just the cutest spot in town. They have a myriad of baked goods choices, including biscuits, sandwiches, cookies, cakes, and pie. Grab a cup of joe and sit down to enjoy it over conversation with a friend because there is NO wifi available.

Not only is Tandem Coffee one of the best coffee shops in Portland, Maine, but it’s arguably one of the best and most Instagrammable cafes in all of New England. The Congress Street cafe is housed inside of an old filling station, giving it super trendy vibes. And, they offer both blend and single-origin varieties.

Tandem is unique in that it’s housed inside of a converted gas station!. It’s popular with both locals and tourists alike, with lines out the door even during the offseason. It was pretty crowded inside during our visit, which wasn’t super conductive to inside photos, but thankfully the line moved quickly.

Currently only open for pickup, Tandem’s bakery (they also have a café/roastery at 122 Anderson Street) is just as well known for their coffee as they are for their baked goods…especially their iconic sweet (butter and strawberry jam) or savory (local soft cheese, honey, and black pepper) loaded biscuits.

The line extends out the door at this temple of caffeine and butter in a former gas station. It’s worth waiting for Tandem’s breakfast sandwiches, orange brown butter sticky buns, rosemary lemon pie, banana and black sesame cake, and so much more. Everything is good: Baker Briana Holt is a serious talent.

We started the next day at one of our all-time favorite coffee shops, the Tandem Coffee and Bakery. The structure is a renovated gas station, giving it an old-school charm that is hard to beat. Known for its buttermilk-loaded biscuit (loaded with butter and strawberry jam), not to be missed if you go!

It would be extremely wise of you to choose a hotel or Airbnb near one of Tandem’s two locations. That way, you don’t have to waste time before you stand in line for what will be a magical, caffeine and pastry-filled morning. Tandem is home to some of the best pastries we’ve ever eaten.

Located in a converted auto garage, this place is a coffee destination. They have their own ‘roastery’ nearby and serve slow drip as well as hyper-trendy aeropress coffee. The bakery goods are amazing as well and it’s a great place to grab a snack and a latte if you are on the go.

Tandem Coffee and Bakery in Portland is a haven for coffee and pastry lovers. Savor expertly roasted coffee alongside their delectable selection of house-made treats. Indulge in buttery croissants, beautifully crafted tarts, seasonal pastries, and other baked delights.

We originally went here to get coffee and breakfast sammies but because I have zero self control I had to get pastries too. Their cinnamon roll was a true cinnamon roll with icing on top and fluffy. But the real star of the how was their kimchi and sharp cheddar scone.

This bakery’s breakfast sandwiches and sweet treats may get all the love, but its lunch offerings are stealthily gaining a following. The unusual crowd-pleaser is the egg and pickle sandwich: sliced eggs, pickled beets, mayonnaise, and herbs on focaccia.

Owner/partner Arlin Smith saw Hugo’s coffee service as a way to round out the restaurant’s multi-course adventures. Smith wanted Hugo’s customers to leave feeling, “I got a coffee experience that was thought out and put together with purpose,” he said.

Tandem Bakery is a cozy bakery that offers delicious pastries and coffee. They use local ingredients whenever possible, and their pastries are made fresh daily. They also offer a variety of coffee blends, including pour-over and espresso drinks.

If you're looking for good coffee, start your day at Tandem Coffee + Bakery. Set inside a former 1960s gas station, Tandem pumps out some of the best brew in town. Get one of their unique roasts and a pastry or opt for a malted iced coffee.

The popular bakery and cafe, Tandem Coffee and Bakery, was once a gas station, then a laundromat – now a beautiful place to sip coffee, eat delicious baked goods and chat with friends. Picnic tables available on first-come, first serve.

Tandem Coffee + Bakery is a must-visit for coffee lovers and pastry fans. This cafe and bakery serves exceptional coffee and handmade pastries in a renovated 1960s gas station. It’s a charming spot for breakfast or a mid-day treat.

- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (182 reviews)- Detailed ratings: Food (4.5/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (4.5/5)- Type of cuisine: Coffee & Tea, American- Price: $$ - $$$- Address: 742 Congress St, Portland, ME 04102-3322- Read more on Tripadvisor

Ask a local where to find the best coffee in Portland and without a doubt, they will point you to Tandem Coffee - a cozy coffee place where you can have delicious baked goods and sip coffee amid locals.

Similar to Speckled Ax, the first time I heard about Tandem I was living in Boston. Coworkers were ranting and raving about it. If you’re in Portland, it’s definitely worth a visit.