Speckled Ax

My partner and I are on a trip to Portland, Maine, for the next week and I wanted to try out some of the local coffee shops while we were in town. While my partner is not a coffee drinker, it still seemed like on the first day, there were plenty of good places to try out when just walking around looking at places. After getting a list of potential places in mind just from looking around, I dug around and found this great article about the best coffee places in Portland.

I tried to go to Tandem; however, the line was out the door. It's my understanding now that this is fairly common, but I was hoping to find a nice, quiet place to sit and relax, so I didn't end up waiting in line (but definitely hope to get back there soon!) and instead headed over to the Speckled Ax at their Congress Street location. Speckled Ax caught my eye because they roast their coffee using wood for roasting, which is highly unique, so I had to check out the coffee and see if it was worth the hype. They also specialize in single-origin coffees with super unique packaging, and they offer monthly subscriptions for their beans as well.

I went to the Congress Street location, but each location really seems to have its own unique vibe that it has going for it. Congress Street was dim, warm, and moody, the perfect atmosphere for a rainy, colder fall day in Maine, so it was absolutely perfect. It isn't the biggest storefront, so it also gives off a very cozy vibe. There are a few tables and a couple of outlets, but likely best to come fully charged to work here. You could definitely take some meetings if you wanted to, though you would likely be the loudest person there if you had to talk often, so if that's a worry of yours, it might be a little awkward. But the person working next to me was definitely on a Zoom call working on a team for something, so it can absolutely be done. They have a really cool bar right next to the espresso machines that make waiting for your to-go order a no-fuss, out of the way experience -- much better than awkwardly standing in the way while waiting for your order to be made. The baristas were super kind and friendly, and clearly knew so much about their coffee. They gave great recommendations when asked, and I found myself leaving with a bag of the Chickadee Decaf to make when I get home.

I decided on a decaf caramel latte after learning all their espresso drinks can be made decaf. They had a number of very interesting options -- a fruity pebbles latte, a maple latte -- that really have some great creativity to them. All can be made decaf, and all sound fabulous. Several people also recommend the cortado as a great option, and many cite their skills in crafting espresso drinks as one of their favorite things about this place. I have to agree with the review, my latte was simply heavenly. It was not only well-balanced but had the right amount of sweetness to it, without being too overpowering and throwing the whole drink off. The caramel flavoring itself was well-made with great caramel flavors that melded well with the espresso and milk. It was divine on a chilly day with just the right atmosphere to get you into the fall mood.

Overall, I highly recommend the Speckled Ax for your decaf coffee needs if you are in Portland. They have three different locations, with the Riverfront being more trendy, Congress being cozy, and Walton being a grab-and-go bar. I'll report back on the Chickadee Decaf roast when I'm back home, but I feel like the odds are quite solid it will be fabulous.

-Morgan

The Quick and Dirty:
What I tried: Decaf caramel latte
Outlets: A few, so come fully charged if you can
Vibe: Cozy, atmospheric, and warm
Rating: 4.7/5 stars
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