I had read about Tandem and their biscuits, best in town! So I knew i wanted to try them, but secretly I'm not really a biscuits kinda girl! I grew up in the south, I've had all kinds of biscuits and usually they are dry or crumbly and I usually end up saying, "eh, not worth the calories" Walking up there a line out the door, but it moved quickly, I was surprised that most things were already made and they just put it on a tray for you and you pay, very lunch line, and its not served hot!?! I immediately wished I had asked them to heat it up for me, but oh well were sitting already and they were busy! All my fears melted away when I tasted those delicious carbs! First impression the jalapeño cheddar reminded me of cheese straws, like great cheesy flavor, but the consistency was so good! Crispy edges but soft inside! But then, it gets better... one bite of that strawberry butter one, yep it's delicious moved right up the list, best biscuit I've ever had! The butter seems ridiculous like so much but it's so good, I swear seems like it's whipped with cream cheese or something cause what!? I found myself wishful for more strawberry preserves, but just so good, even took half home and ate it the next day, guess what still delicious! read more

See all

Arrived on a Sunday just after 11 am. There was a line out to the sidewalk, but it moved pretty quickly. The service at the counter was great and very efficient. We ordered an herby lemonade, savory biscuit, sausage, egg, and cheese, biscuit, black, sesame, banana bread, a jalapeño cheddar biscuit, and the ginger cookie. Everything was delicious and the leftovers kept well in the fridge. The outdoor seating was really convenient and comfortable. Looking forward to returning. read more

Tandem Coffee + Bakery - Sausage egg and cheese biscuit - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Portland, Maine

So happy to have stopped at Tandem on our way up to Acadia! Hot cappuccino and malted ice coffee were great! Wide selection of savory and sweet pastries! Heat up the quiche and the focaccia for the best tasting experience. Staff and baristas are warm and friendly and knowledgeable about their offerings! Plenty of shaded patio seating and we lucked out with a breezy, gorgeous New England summer day! Hubby got a lemonade to go as we were leaving and it has a lovely herby flavor...we think it's lavender and rosemary. Perfect for summer. read more

#47 in my NEW ENGLAND & NY COFFEE SHOP SERIES The pastries here are too die for! I believe their famous for their biscuits (which are delicious) but what surprised me was their black sesame banana bread, so good! Very soft and moist. Their coffees are also delicious. They have a large variety of pastries and common cafe drinks. My partner got their mocha and I got a vanilla iced latte. Both drinks were good, nothing that makes them too exceptional, but classic drinks done right. There is a small inside area to sit in and a large outside seating area. Parking lot available. read more

See all

Damn their biscuits are good! Tandem has become a staple for us when visiting Portland, and it's best to get there first thing in the morning because the line can get pretty long; the line moves quick though because they have a good system for filling orders. Lots of space to sit and eat, but most of the seating is outside so beware if you're visiting in the winter. Here's what we got on our latest visit: - breakfast biscuit sandwich - goat cheese and tomato jam biscuit - black sesame banana bread - rhubarb scone - ginger molasses cookie - sweet roll Pastries rotate but certain things are regularly available, like the breakfast sandwich, molasses cookie, and sweet roll. The scone flavors appear to change along with the breads and jam for the biscuit. You really can't go wrong with anything. read more

Tandem Coffee + Bakery - Black sesame banana bread - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Portland, Maine

We had family visiting, so we decided that bringing them to Tandem would be a great way to show off one of Portland's many gems! Their reputation is welll-earned. The converted gas station with plenty of outdoor seating is bright and welcoming! The staff is moving fast to satisfy the customers, but you don't feel rushed. The baked good are off the charts. The biscuits are bonkers good. There will be a line; it's worth it! read more

See all

Because we're only here for a short time, my friends and I decided to see what the hype was for this place. I don't think it was worth the hype. The jam and butter biscuit was cold so the butter wasn't melted. The biscuit was on the sweeter side with salt on top which was a bit odd for me. Lattes were normal, not special. This is somewhere you would visit just to try, but I wouldn't come back. I gave them 3 stars due to taste, long line, and price. read more

Tandem Coffee + Bakery - Butter and jam biscuit - not warmed - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Portland, Maine

See all

My favorite bite during a quick stopover in Portland! Absolutely loved their savory loaded biscuit, with tomato jam and a goat cheese spread. We asked for the cheddar jalapeño biscuit instead of plain, which worked out perfectly. Instead of one of the pre-loaded biscuits, we got the jam and cheese on the side to self spread on our bits of biscuit. Really fabulous! Also loved the sweet sticky bun. A little savory and a little sweet, shared. Iced coffee. Ideal! (I did not try their malt coffee, but it looked like that was very popular.) Next time I'm in Portland, I will absolutely go out of my way to make it back to Tandem! Long line out the door on a Sat morning, but it moved very quickly! read more

Tandem Coffee + Bakery - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Portland, Maine

Delicious! The line was out the door but it was worth it for the yummy pastries and coffee! I tried the savory biscuit which was a regular biscuit with tomato jam and goat cheese - so so so good! I also got a drip coffee and early grey blueberry scone. Also both delicious! All of the staff was very kind despite being very busy! read more

Tandem Coffee + Bakery - Savory biscuit - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Portland, Maine

I was reluctant going here because it's usually slammed...and it can't be that good right? Wrong. Dare I say best breakfast sandwich I've ever had. The biscuit...the eggs and cheese...it was a holy experience. I even got a little crazy and had jam on the side to dip it into! The line was long, but boy do they have it down, it was fast and efficient and every worker was so kind! Honestly a MUST spot if you're visiting the area. read more

See all

Great spot for breakfast bites & coffee - they have nice outside seating and since the line can get a little long (still moves fast), we enjoyed being able to order ahead on the website for pick-up! We loved the breakfast sandwich (the biscuit wasn't too heavy but still structurally sound enough to hold the sandwich together), spicy ginger molasses cookie, and blueberry earl grey scone! read more

We came in on a Monday around 9:30am. It's a cute converted gas station and has the nostalgia charm. Parking is a challenge - we found a spot up the street- but totally worth it. We read that there would be a line and yes there was, but a short one (we would have stayed either way). The line went fairly fast. Our order taker was nice and friendly. We ordered the egg breakfast sandwich, jalepino cheese biscuit and the earl gray iced blueberry scone. The coffee of choice was the malt ice coffee. Ok. Rating the food: Breakfast sandwich-ciabatta bun-slightly sweet and very buttery..nicely fried egg and sausage YUM Jalepino cheese biscuit- salted top, jalepinos mixed inside with cheese. Nice and crisp on outside, soft and fluffy on the inside. Earl gray iced blueberry scone- exciting!! Nicely baked with real blueberry. That icing tho - just the right sweetness! The malt ice coffees-great coffee flavor with a hint of malt - YUM Overall one of my own MUST TRY suggestions for anyone visiting Portland and needing a breakfast and coffee! read more

See all

Definitely a standout breakfast sandwich! Tried out Tandem while visiting Portland at the recommendation of a friend. We tried out the egg and cheese biscuit, the savory loaded biscuit, and two flavored lattes (one brown sugar cinnamon and the other maple). Loved both of the biscuits but had a slight preference for the egg and cheese one. Both biscuits were soft and buttery yet crisp with the best salt on top. We got there right at opening on a weekday and there was already a long line to enter, but the staff moves everyone through quickly. It is worth noting that indoor seating is very limited and there is more outdoor seating. We decided to purchase some of their coffee beans as a gift. Tandem is very popular for good reason and well worth visiting, whether as a tourist or as a local. read more

Tandem Coffee + Bakery - Biscuit sandwiches, lattes - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Portland, Maine

Met with a Saturday Morning Line around 9:30 AM - but would I wait again? In a heartbeat! I opted for the savory biscuit with goat cheese and bacon jam - (give me 12 of 'em). I also got a cappuccino that was so dreamy. I dined "in" but sat at the picnic tables outside and it was so lovely. There's limited seating inside (couple bar seats + a solid set of tables). side note: Parking was not fun to find. read more

See all

This place was great! Totally worth the wait in line (we waited about 30 mins on Saturday morning). Their pastries are top notch, you must get one (blueberry scone was awesome). The homemade granola and local tougher was perfect + light + fresh. The coffee was solid, I'd get it again but nothing super special. Staff was SO nice too especially for it being so busy. Cute place! read more

See all

This place came up as a recommendation for Blueberry Pies. Unfortunately, when we went there, they did not have it. We did a takeout for a Salted Maple Coconut Scone. Amazing! Definitely try it. The place was really buzzing and there wasn't any space to sit. There is some patio seating which would be nice on a sunny warm day. Staff was nice and friendly. Would definitely try it again next time we're in Portland. read more

See all

This place is popular for a reason, and you find a hint of what that reason is as soon as you step in the door and get a whiff of the most delicious aromas coming from the kitchen. When you see the line out the door, don't despair, as the line moves relatively quickly and people are generally mindful to not dawdle, so seating opens up quickly as well. I tried the jalapeno cheddar biscuit, the rhubarb scone, and had a bite of the rhubarb hibiscus pie. Everything was amazing, the platonic ideal of a biscuit and a scone. And I am weak for anything rhubarb, so the generous amount of rhubarb in the scone really did the trick. The rhubarb hibiscus pie has quite a bit of that botanical hibiscus flavor but I liked it! It might not be for everyone, though. Their coffee is also really good, and a perfect accompaniment to their excellent pastries. I also have to give props to their staff and how friendly and welcoming everyone was despite being totally slammed at all times. I know if I was working at a place as busy as Tandem I'd be way more frazzled than they came off. Anyone who knows me knows that I hate waiting in line for things, but this place is efficient enough and the food/coffee was so excellent that I actually didn't resent the line. I'd even wait again! It's that good. read more

So I asked AI who had the best breakfast sandwich in Maine. The answer came back "Tandem coffee & Bakery. A tiny storefront with minimal tables. I ordered a plain biscuit to go, a cinnamon roll & a sausage egg & cheese on a biscuit. The cinnamon roll felt stale. It doesn't come close to the cinnamon rolls made at Cafe 54 & Ocean Park variety. If you haven't had a cinnamon bun at either of those two establishments you are missing out. The sausage egg & cheese fell apart, the egg was a sheet pan square, a typical round sausage & American cheese. An adequate sandwich that filled my belly; however I will never order another one. The biscuit looks massive, can't wait to try it warmed with jam. Two weeks ago I ventured 45 minutes away, hands down I found the best breakfast sandwich I've ever had. It's in Standish, called the sweet & savory bake house. Definitely worth the trip. They make their own great English muffins & everything is over the top awesome. They also use coffee ice cubes so the iced coffee doesn't get diluted. read more

See all

Tandem Coffee & Bakery is one of those places that sticks with you long after you leave. It's a fantastic coffee shop with both indoor and outdoor seating, perfect for easing into your day or taking a relaxed break. However it gets packed because of how popular it is! But the real star of the show? The biscuits. Buttery, flaky, and absolutely perfect -- especially with the whipped butter and spicy jelly. My wife and I still talk about them at least once a month, which honestly says everything you need to know. read more

Tandem Coffee + Bakery - Biscuit with Spicy Jelly - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Portland, Maine

After hearing multiple good things about Tandem coffee when discussing Portland with friends, we knew we had to make a visit while in town. We got to Tandem late in the morning, and ran into a little bit of a line here. However, the line moved pretty fast and we were able to order within 10 to 15 minutes. Tandem is located in what looks like a renovated auto garage, so the line might go out the door, but it's really just a narrow ordering area at the front. Seating is limited inside, but there are several larger picnic tables outside. I ordered the malted coffee drink, a cheddar biscuit, and a strawberry jam biscuit. We also bought a couple of locally roasted beans to give as gifts. There were so many options, which made it hard to pick. Overall, the coffee was solid but perhaps I chose wrong on the malted drink itself. The treats and pastries were much better than the drink, and were very tasty, especially the jam biscuit. It's definitely worth a stop if you're in town! read more

Tandem Coffee + Bakery - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Portland, Maine

Amazing little bakery in downtown Portland! I would say their pastries lean towards the sweeter flavors but they have a few wonderful savory options too. We tried their egg and cheese breakfast biscuit with sausage, strawberry jam and butter biscuit, and a jalapeño cheddar biscuit. I loved the thinness of the breakfast biscuit but would have preferred bacon. The strawberry jam and butter biscuit was HUGE and they add plenty of spread for the whole thing. My favorite by far was the jalapeño cheddar biscuit! The flavors were so apparent, fluffy layers inside and a crunchy golden outside. There's pretty much always a line but it moves quickly! There's plenty of seating outside if you can't find a table inside. read more

See all

Living in Portland this is a place that everyone talks about. I just have never stopped in. I had time to run and get a coffee and it was really great. I didn't get any pastries but do want to go back to try those. They have lots of inside seating and outside seating. The service was friendly. Overall I want to come back to try the pasties as I think that's what they are known for. read more

See all

We visited Portland for days and my husband in searched for the best breakfast. We ordered it online in the morning and having it in our hotel. First bite and after bite is so amazing! Biscuit is buttery, cheese so fresh and egg is so fluffy. No additional seasoning needed. Love it! read more

Tandem Coffee + Bakery - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Portland, Maine

The wait was worth it for me. The brown sugar cinnamon latte was so good. One of the best latte I have had in a while. The blueberry scone hit the spot. Will definitely be going back when I come to visit again. read more

This was walking distance from our air bnb so we came here for morning coffee and pastries. The line was incredibly long but it moved fast so don't be intimidated. I believe it's an old gas station which is pretty awesome. We absolutely loved all the pastries. The cinnamon brought us back here twice. The olive oil banana bread was a duo I never knew I needed. The biscuits heated up was amazing. We would've tried everything if we could. Their coffee is why it's a 4/5 and. It 5/5. If their coffee game was stronger it'd be a definite 5/5. Nonetheless a must stop for pastries! read more

Tandem Coffee + Bakery - Olive oil cake is a must try so unique and so good! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Portland, Maine

See all

Tandem is a Portland institution, and even in a town packed with top-tier bakeries, it definitely lives up to the hype. We visited at around 10:30am on a Saturday and (as expected) the line was wrapped around the block. Luckily it moves pretty fast and we were placing our order after about 20 minutes. For drinks, I had a maple latte that I loved, while my husband ordered the malt iced coffee. It turns out the malt flavor isn't really our thing, but I think it's just a matter of personal preference there. Now let's get to the good stuff: the baked goods. Not to be dramatic, but the biscuit breakfast sandwich will change your life. The biscuit is melt-in-your mouth good, and the pimento mayo on it is so tasty. They were sold out of the breakfast sausage though, so we'll have to go back earlier next time to try that version. We also tried the banana bread and the loaded biscuit, which were both perfect. They're soooo decadent, it would be too much for me on a regular day, but for a Saturday morning on vacation you can't ask for much else. Definitely a Portland must try. Can't wait to come back on my next trip! read more

See all

Was in Portland for a couple of days and visited Tandem twice because it was that good. Each time we did have to wait in line for about 30 minutes, but in the end it was worth it. Both visits consisted of the biscuit breakfast sandwich. I tried with and without sausage. You really can't go wrong with either. The biscuit on these sandwiches is nothing I've had before. The biscuit being on the thin side is what really sets it apart. Usually biscuits are thick which makes the sandwiches dry but not this one! This was my favorite thing I had here. For something sweet I tried the banana bread, which was a pretty good choice. I also had the blueberry muffin that was excellent. They had a few other options I had my eye on but didn't have enough time to try them all. On to the coffee, they have a malt iced coffee on their menu. It comes pre-made and I was told it was very sweet, but to my surprise it was the opposite. It was actually quite bitter. The second visit I got a regular iced latte, and it was better but it wasn't my favorite. read more

See all

This is one of those hyped up tourist-heavy locations that totally lives up to the hype! The amount of times Ive seen this place on recommendation videos was crazy, so we decided to come here during our vacation to portland. We came for breakfast. The line was very long, reaching outside of the cafe, but this didn't deter us and we waited our turn. We tried the biscuits with jam and butter, which were absolutely delicious!! They are lightly sprinkled with salt so it adds some sweet/savory flavor dynamics. The breakfast sandwich was great too. We got some drinks too, the hot latte had some pretty latte art. There was lots of seating outside the cafe, it is a little small on the inside for the amount of people that visit it every day. Overall the food was awesome! Refer to my photos if you have any doubts. And it doesn't just look good, it tastes great. The biscuits with butter and jam are a must. Be prepared for a long line! read more

See all

Sure, coffee is listed first in the name, but there's a reason everyone is talking about the bakery. Oh my gosh , THE BAKERY! We were in a quest to drink coffee all along the northeast coast which is why we landed at Tandem. "Baked goods? Eh. Sure. Why not?" It was just a side note for us...until it wasn't. Never have I ever been so enticed by a selection of carbohydrates. Well, maybe that one time in Italy...but this was different. -Exotic choices like black sesame banana cake or kimchi cheddar scones. -Warm and cheesy breakfast sandwiches. -Down home favorites like fluffy biscuits (how did they get them to rise so tall?!?) filled with jam or pepper jelly + cream cheese. I'm from the South, so I can say with authority 10/10! And the best part...I was smart enough to grab a scone with local raspberry jam and pistachio frangpane for the road. HAVE. MERCY. It might have been the best thing I ate in my 4 day trip though 3 states! By the way, the coffee was good, too. And the service? Above and beyond. The staff went out of their way to help me out when I accidentally left my credit card behind after leaving town. I happened to be in town on Labor Day when the line wrapped around the building. So I'm here to tell you: WAIT IN THE LINE. It's so worth it. read more

See all

I was prepared to not like this place after going here twice and seeing a line out the door and leaving. Now I know why. Nice selection of breakfast items and pastries. I got the breakfast sandwich which was delicious. The coffee was excellent as well. Customer service was knowledgeable and friendly. I will definitely be back. read more

Tandem Coffee + Bakery - Outside tables - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Portland, Maine

See all

I visited Portland for Presidents' Day weekend and went on Sunday, almost cried when I went back on Monday and found it closed! Unbelievable spot. Go early! The jam biscuit was soo good. My favorite was the egg and cheese sandwich on the biscuit. I don't know how they make something so simple taste so incredible. My husband raved about the savory biscuit with pimento and the cinnamon roll. I also loved their chai. The staff does amazing keeping up with crazy crowds and a nonstop long line. It's a tiny spot that feels a bit crowded, but well worth it. read more

Tandem Coffee + Bakery - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Portland, Maine

See all

Great food (the banana bread with cream cheese and olive oil and the quiche). Service is fast because it gets busy quickly. There is seating indoors and outdoors. **No WiFi. Not sure why it came up as recommended for outdoor workspace with WiFi when I searched it. But I heard it directly-- there is no WiFi, so don't expect to work from there. read more

Tandem Coffee + Bakery - Granola parfait - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Portland, Maine

See all

I adore Tandem. This review is for the larger location on Congress, though I also love the smaller roastery location in the East End. I haunt Tandem on a regular basis, and my go-to's are the chai latte (hot or iced, both are incredible) and the biscuit with butter and jam. LOTS of butter and LOTS of jam, on a scrumptious homemade biscuit? Say less, give it to me right now, immediately. The staff are always friendly, the merch is super fun, and the prices are good! Get here early to avoid the line and get a spot to sit, especially in colder months when outdoor seating isn't available. I will say, though, the line moves fast, so don't despair if you find yourself in it. It's not the place to post up with a good book, but it's a great spot to fuel up for your day or just enjoy some people watching while you sip your drink. read more

My husband and I came here for breakfast on Sunday morning. We got here shortly after 8am and while there was a decent line already, it moved pretty quickly. We got through the line to the front counter in about 20 minutes and once we placed our order it only took around 5/6 minutes to come out. I ordered the yogurt granola bowl with fruit compote (it was peach/strawberry) and an oat milk cappuccino (though it was interesting that they had oat milk and cow milk but no almond milk). My husband got the breakfast sandwich along with a cheddar Jalapeno biscuit and a spicy ginger molasses cookie. Coffee and food items were both really great. The homemade granola and fruit compote were a dynamite combo. My only quibble would be that I would prefer a greek yogurt but the local yogurt was still great. You can place your order online for pick up but the online coffee menu is significantly more abbreviated than what you can order in person. Would happily wait in line for this breakfast again. read more

See all

100 percent loved. The service was great, food was awesome, coffee was amazing. And the setting was so cute. And old gas station with huge windows. This place is so cool. Go here! read more

This place is one of those cool spots you've probably heard about but haven't actually tried yet. Consider this your sign to go. First things first: the biscuits. Unreal. They taste like they were made with actual care and intention -- not just thrown together. 1. The egg sandwich (with sausage) is a must. I'm officially ruined. From now on, every other breakfast sandwich will be compared to Tandem's, and that's not fair to anyone. 2. The sweet biscuit with butter and jam -- the butter came as a cold dollop instead of soft and spreadable, which initially threw me off. To be fair, I grabbed it to-go on a brutally cold day, so that may have been on me. Twelve seconds in the microwave fixed everything. One bite in, and I understood Gollum from Lord of the Rings. I did not want to share my precious. So good. 3. The savory biscuit -- the pimento cheese spread was good, but honestly, after tasting the jalapeño biscuit on its own, I didn't want to distract from it with anything else. It stands on its own. In summary: if you only have enough money for one biscuit, borrow a few dollars or bring someone generous who will share. Just don't expect me to share mine read more

See all

Delicious maple latte and strawberry butter jam biscuit! Definitely recommend! Lots of seating both inside and out! read more

Tandem Coffee + Bakery - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Portland, Maine

See all

Really cool shop, great for those into specialty coffee and looking for a good roaster. Got their drip which was a Kenyan, super juicy and fruity, and a cappuccino which had super solid milk texture and the espresso had solid balance and flavor. Came in about 15 mins before they closed and it was crazy busy but they were handling the rush really well. Baristas offered a bit of info about the coffees they were brewing but it seemed like they were more concerned about the rush, which is fair enough. Definitely would want to go back during a time that's less busy to learn more about their coffee. read more

Tandem Coffee + Bakery - Drip + cappuccino + everything scone - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Portland, Maine

This bakery is so good and a must try in Portland. We went New Year's Eve and were inside within 10-15 minutes, the line does move fairly quick. We were lucky enough to get seats inside. We tried the biscuits and a slice of focaccia which were both executed so well and I loved every bite. The coffee was also delicious, and the staff were super friendly! read more

See all

This is definitely a must try! The line was long each time we went and seemed to die down around 11ish to noon. If you're going to try anything it needs to be the breakfast sandwich. We actually liked it so much we went twice. The shop itself is small, but there is a ton of outdoor seating. The staff was friendly and while the line was long, you actually do get your order very quick. read more

See all