Portland, Oregon, has been named the best U.S. city for coffee drinkers in WalletHub's latest ranking of the nation's coffee cities. The study, released in honor of National Coffee Day, evaluated the 100 most populated U.S. cities across 12 metrics and scored them on a 100-point scale. It found Portland's edge comes largely from a high number of affordable coffee shops per capita and a thriving cafe culture. The data are current through Aug. 20, 2025, and come from sources including the U.S. Census Bureau, the Council for Community and Economic Research and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
WalletHub's methodology weighed 12 metrics, with the most significant category being the number of affordable coffee shops per capita rated 4.5 stars or higher. Other factors included the average price per pack of coffee, the monthly amount spent on coffee, the share of residents who drink coffee, and online interest in the term “coffee.” In the overall ranking, Portland earned a total score of 71.09, followed by Orlando, Florida (69.44); Long Beach, California (65.46); Miami, Florida (63.94); and Seattle, Washington (63.82) to lead the top tier. New York City placed 36th with a score of 50.23.
Rounding out the top 10 were Tampa, Florida (63.62); San Francisco, California (62.84); Austin, Texas (62.61); Oakland, California (62.53); and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (60.87). The study notes a broad geographic spread among the top cities, underscoring how affordability, access and local coffee cultures influence where residents and visitors gravitate for caffeine.
WalletHub also highlights spending patterns and household behavior. In Portland, for example, households spend about $192 per year on coffee, and roughly a third of residents report owning a coffee machine at home, illustrating a culture that blends café culture with at-home brewing.
The rankings come as consumer interest in coffee remains high nationwide, with prices and supply dynamics affecting affordability across markets. While New York City did not crack the top 20, the city remains a major consumer hub where coffee traditions run deep, even as price pressures and drought-related bean supply concerns influence the market.
