Cafe Ume

I’ve tried quite a few boba and Vietnamese coffee spots around Portland, but Cafe Ume has honestly become one of my favorites lately. The drinks taste very thoughtfully made instead of overly sugary like a lot of places nowadays. Their Vietnamese coffee is especially good, strong and rich without tasting burnt, and the cream foams pair really well with it. The ube drinks are also surprisingly fragrant and balanced. One thing I really appreciate is that the drinks actually look like the photos but still taste good, not just “Instagram pretty.” The staff has always been very kind and patient whenever I visit, and the atmosphere feels cozy and calm without trying too hard. You can tell the owners genuinely care about quality and consistency. If you like Vietnamese coffee, milk tea, or unique drinks like egg coffee, pandan coffee, salty coffee, etc., I definitely think this place is worth trying. It’s one of those local spots that feels made with a lot of passion. 🙂

New review for my fave Viet coffee and croiffle spot in Portland! The salt coffee and plain croiffle with dipping sauce are my go-to pick-me-ups before work. The drink quality has become much more consistent since the last time I reviewed, and the baristas are always fast and friendly (one of them kindly offered to take this photo for me after they saw me struggling LOL)!

The coffee was so good I had to go back again. I didn’t have any expectations coming here, just want to grab something to drink. But the coffee was sooo good, it’s strong and the flavours are just like ones in Vietnam.

Stopped by UME Cafe and it’s honestly a great spot if you’re into milk tea and boba. The drinks were really solid — good flavor, not overly sweet, and the boba had that perfect chewy texture. The atmosphere is super chill, which makes it a nice place to hang out, study, or just relax for a bit. It’s not too loud or crowded, and the vibe feels welcoming. Definitely a spot I’d come back to when I’m craving a good milk tea.

I love the drinks here, and especially the coffee here is 10/10. I would recommend the honey milk tea or pandan coffee. I also tried the croffles, and they are really good. Great drinks, desserts, and service!