As much as I wish I lived in New York, I don’t. During my visits I’ve had the chance to try some fantastic coffee, which led me to try and map out my favorites. As I haven’t had every coffee in the city, I split this in two. The first half is a collection of coffee shops I have loved, while the second is a list of shops I really want to try.
Places I’ve Been
Ralph’s Coffee
Is it inside a Ralph Lauren? Yes. Is it delicious? Also yes. Ralph’s jumped to fame through the social media era when a bunch of influencers discovered their aesthetic vibe. Now, you can’t walk five feet through any tourist site without seeing a coffee cup with the green logo. The coffee is good and the vibe of the shop is an excellent place to get some work done, especially around Christmas. There are also locations in Miami, D.C. and a few International.
Ground Central Coffee Company
I want to preface this by saying Ground Central is a lot more mainstream than I thought it was when I first visited. The small Midtown coffee hut was decked in Christmas decorations with a slow background of cheery music playing. It was a warm and inviting interior against the cold rain outside and served the perfect Peppermint Mocha for the moment. A few months later, I went to another location that felt a bit more sterile, but I’m including it for the perfect Christmas moment, great coffee and friendly staff.
Variety Coffee Roasters
Variety has a number of shops around New York, but I visited the one in Williamsburg. Guys, it was one of the best mochas I’ve ever had and has left me yearning for something as delicious closer to me. The sleek interior was also pretty cool for getting some work done.
Daily Provisions
Full disclosure, I came here as it was ranked among some of the best hot chocolate in the city. I ended up with a mocha that was absolutely delicious. I can’t really give more detail, it was a few years ago, but the drink hasn’t left my mind.
% Arabica
I found this DUMBO shop on one of the “Top 50 Coffee Shops in the United States.” Did it belong on the list? Questionable. Was it good? Yes! It’s a great place to take a break after walking across the Brooklyn Bridge. A large plus is that the pastries are apparently from Balthazar, an incredible SOHO French restaurant.
Places on my List
(aka don’t @ me if they’re bad)
Do Not Feed Alligators
Part bookstore and part coffee shop, this shop is named after Owner David Shama’s coffee table book. This place has been on my list for a while but mostly for the vibe. I’ve read that the coffee’s pretty good too, but I’d love to check out the book. The premise of chatting with someone who traveled the world taking pictures while sipping espresso is literally my New York dream.
Abraço
This is another one where the name carries a weight. I forget where I first heard about the shop, but its consistently discussed as some of the city’s best. It’s also on almost every list of the best coffee in America. With a limited menu and no alternative milks, it’s a down-to-earth East Village landmark. Their olive oil cake has also garnered quite the reputation.
Maman
Maman has a ton of locations around New York and is slowly starting to expand around the Northeastern Seaboard (D.C., Philly, NYC). I’ve had so many opportunities to try it, but never have. The interior of each store is very pleasing, shrouded with plants and light wood-finished furniture. I almost got a pastry in their Penn Station outpost, but was offput by a fly. I also want to try their cookies, supposedly they’re pretty good.
SEY Coffee
Another Brooklyn roastery, this coffee shop encourages conversation by outlawing laptops on weekends. It’s a pretty novel concept, but something I’m curious to check out. According to their site, their café is “meticulously constructed to suit those in need of a little beauty.” It’s also caught the attention of a lot of coffee aficionados for having some of the best coffee in the country.
Turquoise Skies 