A thick, rich, roasty espresso with a creamy, bubble-tight cap of crema on top --the kind of mythical sip you stumble upon in Rome.

Everything here is worth sampling, from barely sweet mochas with Italian cocoa powder to toothy, real-deal biscotti meant for dunking.

[29]In the book Best Places: Portland (2010), John Gottberg and Elizabeth Lopeman recommended Spella for "flawless, roman-style" drinks and affogato "as a refreshing treat" in the summer.

[30] In her Food Lovers' Guide to Portland, Oregon (2014), Laurie Wolf recommended the "dreamy, chocolate-flaked stracciatella gelato in the warmer weather", acknowledging she "would eat it outside in a snowstorm".

[31] The Portland Books of Dates (2021) says "splitting a rich affogato in the window of the Italian-style (and adorably miniature) Spella Caffè is an experience unlike any other in town".

[33] In Food & Wine's 2019 overview of Portland's coffee scene, David Landsel wrote, "Andrea Spella's welcoming little cafe, with its well-trained baristas, holds an outsized spot in the heart of many a downtown worker.

[35] Delia Mooney of Tasting Table included Spella in a 2017 list of Alton Brown's favorite coffee shops as part of his Eat Your Science tour.