Portal West Coffee — Restaurant in Akron

I WISH I had thought to take pictures!

TLDR: It was amazing, kindest staff, the drinks were delicious, and the apple turnover was incredible.

Culture/Atmosphere: At one point, someone — I’m pretty sure it was one of the owners — dashed in with a princess balloon and gift for an employee. Idk if it was her birthday or what, but it spoke volumes about the culture and care they have for their employees. I’m not one to usually comment on “the vibe” of a place, but this is definitely my new go-to coffee shop. It just felt warm and embracing. And I’m not the only one who felt it! There was a young woman doing latch work, a gentleman working on a speech, a woman with her laptop who was very focused, a couple on a date, a solo woman enjoying alone time, a mother and her adult son clearly having a weekly catch up mother-son date, a family with two kids (who sat outside on the lower level), and a mix of regulars at the counter, and me and my book club gals. This is definitely a “come and relax and enjoy yourself” kind of place.

Drinks and food: I got a dirty hot chocolate (the barista actually knew what it was and that’s a first for me in this area!) and my friend got the blue tea drink iced. Both were delicious! But the apple turnover?! We got one to share and it looked so good our other friend went back for one. I could have eaten a dozen of them. Perfectly flaky pastry with just the right amount of sugar in the filling to compliment rather than overpower the natural flavor of the apple. I can’t wait to go back and get more!

Prices: They’re great! The Drip Drive brought us in and my husband has decided he’s only going to try a double shot of espresso from each place. Some locations on the drip drive are pricy for this but PW only charges $2.50 for a double which seems very reasonable to me! I forgot my passport, so I’ll definitely be back (and with my hubby!). I’ll update this review with photos next time!

Seating: They had indoor and outdoor seating (two outdoor locations). And they’re kid friendly, we saw a 20 month old there and a...

You'll be hard pressed to find a better cafe experience in the midwest than Portal West. The quality of the product and attention to detail the team brings to their work was exceptional. This is the easiest 5 star review I've ever written, you will not be disappointed.

The team's non-judgmental attitude makes exploring new drink options way easier than the other specialty shops I've visited. They definitely have something for everyone and will share recommendations if you ask. While I was there for there for single-origin coffees, they have matcha and even a blue dream latte that looks so cool. If you haven't tried your coffee black in a pour-over from a shop like this, do yourself a favor and see what it's all about - it was sweet like fruit, something totally different than what I normally drink.

The cafe is a warm space, lots of varied seating inside and outside, so definitely ideal for working. Paul, the owner, has more than 15 years in the industry and sources coffee beans, roasts them himself, and pours the most incredible latte art I've ever seen. If you have a question about anything coffee, whether how it's grown, processed, roasted, or made in the cafe, this is...

I’ve been here half a dozen times but am yet to leave a review. There really isn’t much to say that hasn’t already been said—delicious coffee, inviting atmosphere, and excellent customer service. Though it can be a bit crowded at busy times, I’ve never failed to find a seat to sit to do some work and enjoy my beverage. The plants are lovely, bathroom is always clean, and personally, I feel like the music has always been on point. The last thing with mentioning is that I typically don’t care about customer service. I don’t go to any place of business for anyone to be over-the-top and chatty and smiley and happy all the time. But when I come here, the moment I open the door, I’m greeted, and often the barista with red hair is caught in my gaze smiling warmly at me and welcoming me. It’s one of the very few customer service interactions which seems unforced and completely organic. I’ll happily patronize your coffee shop anytime I’m down in the Merriman Valley. Please keep doing the little things right that you’ve...