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