Getting To Know Speedboat Coffee in Southeast Portland

Walking up tow Speedboat in Portland, Oregon.

Late last year, I heard that Speedboat Coffee was moving to a new location, so I stopped in on their opening day in December. They made me a really good cup of coffee and super tasty croissant breakfast sandwich—one of the best I’ve had lately. But what I didn’t know is that they make their own baklava! That definitely hooked me, so I wanted to learn more about them.

I reached out to them with interest and curiosity, and here is what I’ve learned about Speedboat Coffee, so I thought I’d share it with you.

Who Is Behind Speedboat Coffee?

That would be Alex El-Khal and he has owned Speedboat for about a decade. He actually bought the coffeeshop with the name attached, and when he moved locations last year he decided to keep the name. “It’s become a neighborhood institution.” he said.

He has been in and out of food and hospitality for the last 15 years. His extended family runs a couple of restaurants in the area where he worked at growing up: Aladdin’s Cafe (Syrian and Mediterranean food) in Northeast Portland and Al-Amir Restaurant (Lebanese food) downtown.

Speedboat’s Cafe Space

As for the new location, they get to appreciate a different aesthetic there. “The original Speedboat had a dive bar coffee shop vibe,” said Alex. “With our new location we wanted to create a space that reflected the level of service we provide to our community in the coffee space.”

Speedboat's interior in Portland, Oregon. — Photo credit: Speedboat Coffee.

The interior is light and spacious, with big windows up front, white walls, a modern sea-foam green banquette, and wood throughout. It was designed by Alex “with input from a few trusted Speedboaters.” Their new space includes handmade tables made of local white maple, a natural plaster wall done by Traditional Natural Plaster, hand picked vintage lights, and “a color scheme and new logo that reflects the fun, casual vibe of Speedboat. “

The new Speedboat is also larger than the previous one. “The [new] location is incorporated into the neighborhood more than our last location,” said Alex. “Being the cornerstone of a historic building, next to other businesses, has some advantages that we didn’t have at our last spot.”

The exterior of the old Speedboat in Portland, Oregon. — The old Speedboat. Photo credit: Speedboat Coffee.

The Food and Drink

The coffee roaster they like to use is one of Portland’s most prominent. “We primarily feature Coava Coffee Roasters,” said Alex. “We’ve been with them for the majority of the last 10 years and we think they do some of the best roasting in the game.”

Right now they offer pastries, breakfast sandwiches, and bagels, and offer Jen’s Pastries and Gabriel’s Bagels. They do plan to expand their midday food offerings into desserts and limited alcoholic beverages.

Alex tells me that the classic breakfast sandwich (with bacon and avocado, and Sriracha) is his favorite thing on the menu. I have to agree—it is seriously tasty.

And while my experience is with their standard coffee drinks, I’m curious about the “HVAC,” their longstanding latte special flavored with honey, vanilla, and cinnamon. They hope to add additional specials as they settle into their new space.

And about that baklava: “My mom makes the baklava fresh, nearly everyday,” said Alex. “I’m first-generation Syrian American and there’s little hints of my heritage in menu items at the cafe.” Side note: When I was there on opening day, samples of what they called “peanut butter and chocolate baklava” were being passed around and it was crazy delicious.

Another thing they value is their staff. “Our staff has been together for a long time serving the community,” Alex said. “And it shows in the long-standing relationship between the coffee shop and the neighborhood community.”

Congrats to Alex and the staff of Speedboat Coffee for their success in the new location, and their staying power in the neighborhood. I look forward to stopping in again soon.

Speedboat Coffee [reo-opened December 12, 2024]
5927 SE Foster Road, Portland
Speedboat Coffee website | Instagram