Hello Again

Hello coffee friends,

It's been a while! I'm just now getting back in gear from the summer. Please check out my latest film. It's called "Uncle Morty." Enjoy!

Uncle Morty

A Redundant Conclusion: Coffee at The Coffee Shop

Well folks, I'm about to graduate, which means a temporary end to the NYC Coffee Reviews. No need for tears though, what we had was real. 

For my final review, I went to a place that I have passed several times during my visits to the Lower East Side, Coffee Shop. That's right, Coffee Shop. As in, What kind of place has the audacity to call itself Coffee Shop? 


Located at 14th and 1rst Avenue, Coffee Shop is a little hole-in-the-wall between other small businesses. It's a diner with good prices and oatmeal. However, the customer service is not very strong. As I walk in, I do that dance where you try to make eye contact with an employee while pacing about. I am finally seated towards the back of the restaurant. Since it's so early in the morning, I let the waitress know that I'm in desperate need of coffee.

She brings out their Colombian blend. It's strong and bold and smells fantastic. Coffee shop truly delivers on their coffee. It's smooth, concentrated and only $1.10. That's pretty hard to beat in NYC.

The diner is definitely a local spot. Families and friends are catch up all around me. The blonde 20-something behind me rants about the sacrifices that bar-tending takes, and how she's eaten everything in her apartment. In the meantime, her very patient friend smiles, barely squeezing a word in.

I smile too, because it's been a good year and it's always easy to smile with a cup of coffee in hand.

Coffee: 8/10, Good

Location: Lower East Side (14th and 1rst) 

Atmosphere: The classic diner

Cost: Under $1.10 

Recommend: Yes

http://www.yelp.com/biz/lower-east-side-coffee-shop-new-york

Living it Up at Laughing Man Coffee

Hugh Jackman is a lot of things. Wolverine, Jean Valjean, Van Helsing, The Boy from Oz. But who knew that coffee shop proprietor was also on his resume? Jackman is one of three founders of Laughing Man. LM has three locations, all in the Financial District. I visited the one off Reade St. and Broadway.

LM is a really cool place. In addition to 100% of their profits going to education and business in underdeveloped countries, LM has the most energetic and joyful crew. As I walk in, the two baristas and a customer are all dancing to the radio. I ask them about their famous drink, the Flat White, and they are more than happy to pitch it to me.

"It's the Australian Version of the cappuccino!" one of them shouts.

"It's like when you ask that guy to the dance in middle school and he accepts," another one of them offers.

"It's just good," the third guy adds, and they all laugh. 
I can't help but laugh too. It's a bit contagious, this effervescent energy.

Unfortunately, there's no sitting room inside. But the small venue is clean and well-organized. Black-and-white tiles decorate the store along with pictures of Hugh Jackman and Dukale, an Ethiopian Coffee Farmer. I head outside to sit on the steps with my drink.

The Flat White is slightly bitter. It tastes like a hybrid between hot chocolate and a cappuccino, which is a far less romantic description then any of the baristas provided. Overall, it's a well-blended drink and refreshing. I like it, but I think what I like even more is the crew and the altruistic message that LM represents.

Coffee: 8/10, Good

Location: Financial District (Reade and Broadway) 

Atmosphere: Tiny, but optimistic and very friendly

Cost: Under $3

Recommend: Yes

https://secure.laughingmancheckout.com

Special: Food, Food, and More Food...

Food, Food, and More Food...

Whenever I have company in town, it's always an excellent opportunity to check restaurants off my bucket list. I realize that's not the point of having friends over, but it certainly is a wonderful benefit. It's kind of like how at Christmas, everyone says that it's not about the presents. But we all know that it really kind of is. You know what I mean. 

Anyway, I've had some lovely friends, Diane and Steve, stay with me for this last week. We've had some real fun (Central Park Zoo, Plaza Hotel, the whole tourist shtick). And, it so happens, that we've tried a lot of great a food. A lot. I mean, I have been doing extra yoga to avoid a food baby. 

Here is a portion of my food journey: 

Cafe Lalo (83rd and Amsterdam) which you might remember from the 1998 Tom Hanks-Meg Ryan-Email flick, You've Got Mail. It's a love triangle between technology and humans. Spoiler alert: technology wins. 

Lalo completely lived up to all that I had dreamt it would be. It's such a stunning little cafe. 

Cafe Lalo Exterior 

Diane enjoyed Lalo as well. 

What a cool interior. 

I ordered quiche and a Mediterranean Salad. Diane got the whole-wheat Belgium Waffle!

Their dessert bar is incredible! (I borrowed this photo from tripadvisor.com)

http://cafelalo.com/cafe/

One of my go-to Greek Restaurants is Dafni Greek Taverna (42nd and 8th Avenue). It requires a reservation, but the food is reasonably priced and always first quality. I usually order a Greek salad with gyro slices over it. It runs about $14. 

They're very generous with their Dolmades. I love Dolmades, I wish they went with everyday food. Dolmades with sandwiches. Dolmades with cereal. I would do it, don't judge.  

http://www.dafnitaverna.com/

Yes, it does have Dolmades! More please!

Finally, I had the BEST Indian food I have ever tasted at this nice little restaurant, Benares. It's located near Columbus Circle (56th Street and Broadway). You MUST try their Malai Kofta. I couldn't pronounce the name, so I did the little kid thing where I point at it on the menu. Diane ordered a rice dish that tasted incredible, especially when dipped in the Kofta sauce. 

I felt food drunk. You know that thing where the food is so good it makes you drowsy. It blew me away.

http://www.benaresnyc.com/

Diane and I had no idea how good that was going to be!

That has been my food journey thus far. Any recommendations of new places to try?

Gregory's Coffee and Feeling "Coffeed-out"

   
I have a confession to make, as I arrive at Gregory's Coffee...
 I feeling slightly "coffeed-out."
I feel blasphemous just typing up the the phrase. I love coffee, right? We all know that. I have an enormous sense of guilt whenever these rare days occur.

It's like betraying a friend. I'm sorry, coffee. I don't want to be that person. We've established a strong bond and I believe in you.

Good. I just had to get that off my chest.

I like the layout in the front. So does this man who had no choice but to be immortalized in this photo. 

Gregory's Coffee is in the midst of the craziness that is Times Square. The easiest way to spot the tourists from non-tourists is by going to Times Square. 90% of those people are tourists. NYC Natives avoid that place like a death-trap. Gregory's Coffee is located at 6th Avenue and 44th Street. It's one of five locations, three of which are located within Midtown. It can be spotted by its logo, a pair of large, green glasses. F. Scott Fitzgerald would be proud, it's very Gatsby-esque. I presume Gregory watches over all of us.

What a nice set-up. There are pastries and yogurt further on the right of the counter. 

The baristas are lively and nice. The scheme is black-and-white with various splashes of color. Some classic New York photographs hang on the wall. Mellow pop music plays in the background. The clientele is mainly business people. So, lots of blazers, laptops and bags-under-the-eyes. 

The coffee itself is a smooth medium-blend. It's good, but honestly nothing about it is truly remarkable. It's strong enough to wake you up, but not to make you a regular here. I will say that it is a nice atmosphere. It's relatively quiet and very clean, but not my first choice for coffee.

Coffee: 7/10, Good

Location: Midtown (6th Avenue and 44th) 

Atmosphere: Clean and accessible, good for business 

Cost: Under $3

Recommend: Sure

http://gregoryscoffee.com/

Falling in Love with Stumptown Coffee

Hey CoffeeHeads,

I think I've done it. I have found the most incredible place to enjoy coffee in New York City (at least so far)! I can't stop thinking about Stumptown Coffee. Located in Chelsea, at 29th Street and Broadway, I wish I had known about Stumptown months ago. 

Such a classy and beautiful front window

You wouldn't expect such a classy shop in this neighborhood. It's surrounded by a bunch of cheesy businesses, the kinds of places where one buys discount rubber boots from. But Stumptown is so beautiful, complete with gold curvy lighting and a chalk board with the most perfectly spaced font I have ever seen. Seriously, whoever wrote that should consider taking up calligraphy, they are unnaturally good at forming letters.

The front of the shop is this intimate space with a huge glass window overlooking the street. The decorating is simple and classic, with eccentric touches everywhere. There are a variety of random animal statues positioned along the front shelves beside vintage coffee machines. The mugs are also printed with black-and-white animal art. The highlighted colors are gold and silver. 

It's a snake-like lighting pattern. 

Every barista is skinny and wears a hat (this could be said about most NYC Baristi). 
They look like extras for a hipster MTV show with a tagline like,
 "We work in the City. We are baristas. Whatever."
 Is it required that all baristas wear a page boy hat and/or a scarf? I'm certain there must be some sort of legal obligation.

Hipster Baristas, as per usual

The lady barista who rings me up is rather unfriendly and manages to spill my decaf coffee out of the cup. She wipes it up without apologizing.  But the roast is so strong, fully-realized and bold that I quickly forget her stumble. 
This coffee is exceptional. It's exactly what I want from a cup of joe.  No grounds, no bitterness, no weird aftertaste. The Stumptown Roasters are masters at capturing the essence and flavor of coffee without the pitfalls many roasters struggle with.  

After I get my coffee, I meander into the open seating in the lobby of the Ace Hotel.
It's amazing, they actually want people to be here. This is probably one of the only times I have felt not only welcomed, but also wanted at in a NYC venue (also see Sasha's).

The entrance to the Ace Hotel Lobby

The set-up is totally posh. Marble tables, lightening-fast wifi, comfortable leather chairs, dark-stained  benches. Then there's more odd decorations like taxidermy badgers in a glass cage, old newspaper as wallpaper, and a painted American Flag on the back-
wall. It's like your uncle's creepy den that you simultaneously admire, but fear you'll get murdered in. 

Coffee: 10/10, Stellar

Location: Chelsea (29th Street and Broadway) 

Atmosphere: Classic, eccentric and comfortable 

Cost: $2.25

Recommend: Yes, absolutely! 

http://stumptowncoffee.com/

Brooklyn Roasting Company: Stellar Scenery, Meh Coffee

I'm not one to just venture outside of Manhattan for the heck of it. You could call me a square, and I would not deny it. But Brooklyn Roasting Company came to me with the highest of recommendations. It's located in Dumbo at 25 Jay Street and is the sole BRC. 

Brooklyn Roasting Company Exterior 

The surrounding brick walls on the outside don't necessarily draw one in.  But inside, it's much larger then you'd expect.  And even though it's pretty cozy, the place still maintains its warehouse ceiling. A giant chalkboard hanging from the ceiling lists all the coffees, teas, and food items. The colorful logo bubble letters don't exactly fit the "hole-in-the-wall" vibes either. 

It's a whole slew of elements that work together surprisingly well. 

I order the Kenya Roast, which is the special of the day. A skinny barista in a tight t-shirt tells me that he personally prefers the lighter roast but that the Kenya is still good. I have to say, it's not bad, but it's also not that memorable either. It's smooth, but not bold enough for my tastes or to illicit a 40-minute trip outside my island. I do own Manhattan by the way,  so I can legally refer to it as MY island. 

The seating situation isn't awesome. There's a few wooden seats and barstools, but I recommend sitting outside because the surrounding area is incredible. My friend, Lucy, and I wander about between the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridge. 

I am also working on stalking Lucy as a side project 

Everyone is taking pictures: couples, friends, graduates, wedding parties.  We examine Anne Hathaway's plush penthouse and decide our next life move will be to ride the local carousel. 

Even though the coffee didn't wow me, Dumbo itself is very charming. 

And any day I get to ride a carousel is a great one. 

BRC Link: http://www.brooklynroasting.com/cafe 

Coffee: 6/10, Just average

Location: Dumbo, Brooklyn (Jay Street) 

Atmosphere: Cozy warehouse for cool people 

Cost: Around $2.50 

Recommend: Yes, but mainly to see Dumbo 

Boston Special: Loving L'Aroma

 

Hey Coffee Friends,

 

I have to apologize for the lateness in my writing, I've been on a bit of hiatus with Spring Break. Whilst in Boston with my lovely friend Aly, I tried the most delightful little coffee shop, L'Aroma. Although this is no formal review (I can't judge non-New York coffee, surely you know that by now), I have some thoughts on L'Aroma.

 

It's a very classy, quaint little shop. There are two of them in the Greater Boston area, I visited the one on Newton Street. It was definitely a hen party inside, all women. If I were a middle-aged man looking for a lady...nope, not going there with you. You thought I would, didn't you? You got all excited and that's why I had to stop. I'm not sorry, I would do it again.

 

I told Aly to pick something off the menu for me because I am very spontaneous and wild. She brought back a Snicker's Cappuccino. I won't insult your intelligence by saying it was INCREDIBLE. That would be expositional, but I will say that if you melted a Snicker's into a cup of coffee and stirred, this is the symphony that would arise. It's like a happy little accident that I drank all of with no remorse. L'Aroma Link: http://www.laromacafe.com/

 

Next up, I'm on a mission to try out some of the finer coffee in the Midwest before returning home. Please don't use this information and attempt to find me because I am very illusive and I have seen enough Lifetime Movies to know how this ends. I refuse to be the sad-eyed protagonist.

 

I'll write soon though!

 

Emily  

This tasted exactly like a melted Snicker's in coffee.

This is my stalker photo of Aly, and of the quaint setting that is L'Aroma. 

Joe Coffee: Not Feeling It

The sad thing about Joe Coffee, is that it has so much lost potential. It has all the right elements to knock it out of the park: a quaint, well-decorated setting. Festive Spanish music. Coffee bean-shaped designs on the tiles, funky mirrors... the set-up is classy, and the location is nice (I went to the Upper West Side stop). But there's really nothing notable about the coffee. It tastes like office brew, blegh!  My decaf blend was stale, boring and dull. The best part of Joe's is the adorable designs on the to-go cups. You know the coffee is bad when cardboard art is the most stand-out quality. 

    Joe came to me with the highest of recommendations from friends and even, The New York Times. But they are all liars! LIARS I SAY. My experience at Joe's was so negative. I originally came not only because of those high remarks, but also because they offer coffee courses. For $120, you can attain the basic know-how of a barista. Additionally, you can take mini courses in specialty skills for $30. I asked the grumpy barista about these courses and he told me not to bother, that it was just better to work there. I told him he sounded jaded, and he asked me what that meant. Was I accusing him of being privileged? "No," I stammered, "Jaded means you're not... super encouraging." This was the nicest way of telling him he sounded burnt out. "Oh," he said, "I'm just giving you my opinion. That's just my experience." Okaaaay...Well, that was uncomfortable.

     And speaking of uncomfortable, in New York, I've come to accept that coffee shops are generally pretty small. But this place has way too many tables for such a condensed space.  I felt like I was standing on top of the other customers. I had to use my vulture techniques to snag a table. And when I did, an elderly couple gave me crusty looks. The woman whined, "Well, I guess there's just never any available tables!" Then looked straight at me. I know she thought she had this table first, but I had dibs on it. Dibs! I had patiently waited for two middle-aged friends to finish up their conversation. No sir, I had the table first. It's my table. Remember the principle of dibs! 

     Not that dibs compensate for the fact that I probably should have let them have the table... because the man was using a cane. A nicer, more altruistic person would stand up and say, "Go ahead, I can wait." But I suppose I'm a bit of a wild rebel. The kind that wears a leather jacket and drinks her coffee with no remorse. Yeah, I like that. 

Coffee: 2/10 Not memorable 

Location: Upper West Side (85th and Colombus) 

Atmosphere: Well-decorated, but good luck finding a table 

Cost: $2.50 

Recommend: No, sir! 

Incredible Desserts from Two Little Red Hens

One of the great loves of my life is pie. It's a problem solver, a friend, and a social advocate. I made up the third thing.

The best pie I've had in New York (and in a long while) can be found at Two Little Red Hens Bakery on the Upper East Side (http://www.twolittleredhens.com/). I had the apple crumb, which was divine on every level. My mother tasted their chocolate pecan, also a killer. One must also try the Brooklyn Blackout Cupcake, one of their most popular items. I easily could eat everything in that bakery. In fact, should the world be coming to an end and I cannot return home, you will find me at Two Little Red Hens. I will be the crazy girl attacking the scones, cookies, and pie. This is becoming more and more a set plan as I write this. Yes, I like this idea quite a lot. Yes.

My Conversion to Light Roast Continues

My wonderful friend, Aly, recently sent me a care package with this incredible light roast from George Howell. I've been drinking it for the last week and it has a very unique, memorable aftertaste. It's called La Esperanza and it originates from Guatemala. It has a complex process of creation that yields a hint of fruit.

I highly recommend it, as does my roommate, Jorge (pictured above).

Mudshop Review: Light, Sweet and Wonderful

    Let me start this review with a confession: I am not a fan of light roast coffee. Throughout my life, I have avoided it whenever possible. Perhaps it's because it struck me as a weakling, despite the fact that it holds more caffeine then it's brother, dark roast.
     Mudshop comes as a recommendation through various friends. There is also a Mud Truck that barrels around the NYU scene, but in this snowy weather, I prefer the indoors. There's a few things that stand out to me about Mud...First of all, total hippie digs. Red brick walls with Christmas lights, mis-matched tiles, vintage artwork. Splashes of uncoordinated colors as the main design scheme. One small, square canvas ironically warns, "Beware of the Square." Indeed.
    Every table has a candle lit. The mellow music vibe is quite eclectic: from Beatles to Indie Rock to  everything in between. It seems like a pretty groovy place to hang out (groovy is still a thing, yes?). They even serve beer here, which strikes me as unusual for a coffee shop. One can imagine a lot of NYU students might hang around here, just trying to be cool. That, and actual cool coffee blog writers. Right, guys? Right. Thanks for that.
    I order a decaf Americano. It's unlike anything I've ever had before. It's light, naturally sweet and foamy. In other words, exactly what I normally avoid from my coffee. But what would normally fail miserablly, totally works here. It's a surprise and I'm slightly intrigued by how these elements function together. It's just perfectly sweet, and the light roast has none of that bitter aftertaste I've come to accept from dark blends. Perhaps, I've been judging light roast all these years without just cause.
   In any case, As I finish up my drink, the winged-eyeliner waitress seems fatigued that I'm not ordering any food. Little does she know, I've already acquired a warm cup of knowledge.

Coffee: 8/10 Bring on the light-roast!
Location: (Off 9th and 2nd Ave.) Right around NYU
Atmosphere: Mellow, hippie-ish. Great to meet a friend or group of friends for dinner, dessert, drinks, etc.
Cost: $3 + tip
Recommend: Yes!

http://www.onmud.com/

You must try a latte and gelato at French Roast (85th and Broadway)! I recommend both within the same visit. Excellent atmosphere as well. Formal review of French Roast to come in the near future!

http://www.frenchroastny.com/

Swedish Import: FIKA in Review

I have never given much thought to Sweden. Their neutrality and cheese are perhaps their biggest claims to fame. But I have to admire the country for their ability to FIKA. That's right. I said it, I think I'll say it again, FIKA. It's a Swedish Verb which translates to "taking a coffee break." The Swedes got it right when it comes to how they respect their coffee. Where as, here in America, we (well, obviously not I) tend to rush around and grab our coffee on-the-go. In Sweden, it is something to be savored and cherished. Also, coffee is usually accompanied by something sweet. Like I said, the Swedes do coffee right.

   Fika, the coffee chain, has been in existence since 2006. I recently ventured out to their Columbus Circle Venue (58th and 6th Ave). The place was interesting... and by interesting, I do mean cool, but not super welcoming. Like that aunt that you never hug because she seems too important.

That kind of vibe. Black and white is the theme, with new age music playing in the background. Metal tables line the walls of the tiny interior. Lots of awesome Europeans inside. I felt like the frizzy-haired, frumpy American in the corner (the title of my auto-biography).

     The coffee is super strong. It's the kind that "grows hair on your teeth," as my mother would say. It has a bitter aftertaste. It's also expensive. A small is $2.50. And it's European small, not American small; meaning that you take three sips and you're almost through. This is the type of place to read a book and occasionally glance at the outside world. It's not an especially homey location. But if you deeply desire to feel cool and artistic, by all means.

Coffee: 7/10 super strong brew

Location: 10/10

Atmosphere: classy, rigid

Cost: $2.50 for a small

Recommend: Maybe. For a strong blend, but not for a warm environment. 

http://www.fikanyc.com/

Upper West Side Gem: Sasha's Coffee

   Located in the Upper West Side (94th and Amsterdam), this place is a hole in the wall. Crammed between (and connected to) a children's care center, it would be all too easy to overlook. However, inside is probably one of the friendliest atmospheres I've encountered in New York. The barista gave me a free shot of orange juice just for buying some coffee, which by the way, was incredible. Strong, rich and fully realizing its dark potential. And speaking of potential, this place definitely has it.
    It's in its early days, the barista tells me it is one year into its journey. And because of this, there's a lot of room for it to grow (in the actual literal sense). Sasha's has lightening fast internet. But be warned, it looks like it could seat 10 at most. And even then, it would be tight. The coffee equipment spills out into the seating area- a bench and some bar stools against wooden counter tops. A few Christmas lights line the window. It's definitely modest and understated.
    But I'll be honest, I kind of enjoy the small-time feel of it. In opposition of more established and thus non-personal coffee shops (Starbucks, Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf), it's a unique change of pace. And don't get me wrong, I'm not at all against big corporation beans. I'm actually a fan of both above listed places, but it is nice to feel more like a person and less like just another number.
      There is a real sense of community inside. One of the customers tells me that his brother and he found the place after stellar Yelp Reviews.  They've been supporting it ever since. A local guy comes in and praises the coffee. It's clear he's a regular.
If other people of his neighborhood actually venture inside, I think they'd like what they find quite a lot. Sasha's Coffee is on the top of my list.

Recommend: Yes

Coffee: 10/10

Location: 6/10

Comments: Intimate atmosphere, not great for a conversation (but ideal for a quiet work space) 

Official Website: http://www.menupages.com/restaurants/sashas-coffee/

First Review: Cafe Grumpy

If you're an older (30ish +) hipster and looking for a cool place to get a cup of joe, Cafe Grumpy is your dig. If you like watching older hipsters (sicko) in their natural environment: reading newspapers, chatting about their boyfriend problems and how they'll incorporate them in their future stand-up routines, Grumpy is also your place.
    Located at 20th and 7th Avenue, CG is Chelsea's answer to, "I'm 30 and I'm still alternative, where can I meet my friends?"  The place has a very open vibe. Wide-glass windows and dark cherry tables and counter tops create a calm environment. New York Times spread along the front window,  just begging to be read.
    The first thing I notice as I walk in is a sign that reads, "No laptops." Surely this cannot be true. I ask the barista to clarify.
"Oh, we just don't want people staying all day to you know, work on their laptops," he says.
"Is it okay if I read a book?" I wonder aloud as I indicate my latest Stephen King.
"Of course," he smiles. "Reading is great!" How odd.
    I sit down to enjoy a Nicaraguan Coffee with milk, the special blend of the day. Although as soon as I do, I'm quite certain it did not require milk. It's strong, bold, very refreshing. No bitter aftertaste or floating grinds. I am pleased.
 As I finish up my coffee, I can't help but notice that the Cafe Grumpy logo looks like the Zoloft fellow if he had melted a little (and forgot to take his namesake medication). Still, I think going here might put him back in good form.

Recommend: Yes

Coffee: 8/10
Location: 7.5/10
Comments: Great to chat with a friend, not to do work. No laptops allowed.

Official Website: http://www.cafegrumpy.com/