Top 5 NYC Coffee Shops
This is the only NYC Coffee Guide you need whether you are travelling or if you are a new resident of this beloved city. Aside from the fact that there are probably countless options out there, these are the top 5 NYC coffee shops you need to try (trust me).
5. Cha Cha Matcha
I know this isn't coffee but I needed to include this. Cha Cha Matcha is not only aesthetically pleasing (the most important part of course) but it is the best matcha I've had, and I've had A LOT. This shop was first opened in 2016, with now 5 NYC locations and two LA locations. Honestly, I thought there were a lot more NYC locations because I saw them more than any other shop around the city.
I am a chai tea connoisseur, so when I discovered that their menu offers Matcha Chai, I never ordered faster. In short, it was amazing. Long answer: The sweetness of the homemade chai blended with the very light and rich matcha flavour was perfection. All chai lovers and matcha lovers need to unite here.
Back to the second most important part; the interior. If 2015 were a cafe, it would be this, in the best way possible. Picture this: vibrant back-to-school videos trending on YouTube, that pink wall in LA, the Love Club by Lorde (the remix), and neon signs. Yep, that is Cha Cha Matcha and I am here for it.
4. Bluestone Lane Coffee
This shop will literally make you believe you teleported from New York City to Australia in a matter of walking through their doors. This beachy and Austalian-inspired cafe not only offers great coffee but delicious health-focused food options! For almost 10 years, Bluestone Lane Coffee welcomes customers to challenge their perceptions of coffee, all with a small taste of Australia.
The iced oat latte with (optional) homemade vanilla syrup is your typical everyday latte; rich, creamy and a fair but adjustable amount of sweetness. You may be wondering why this ordinary, slightly above-average latte is ranked 4th. ell... the food! The avocado toast with the lot was the best avocado toast I have ever had. IT is topped with cherry tomatoes, chilli flakes, feta cheese and prosciutto. Mouth watering I know and this is coming from someone who swore nothing would top my homemade avocado toast.
The first signs you have teleported to Australia are not hard to miss! From the blue pastel walls and the anchor decor to the tropical plants; this cafe screams beach.
3. Ralph's Coffee
Yes, Ralph Lauren has a coffee shop, and no, even if this was at the bottom of the top 100 coffee places to visit, it would not sabotage him in the slightest. Aside from being an A list fashion designer, billionaire, and automobile collector, he also offers fresh coffee and pastries. Eight years ago Lauren opened the doors to the first shop in the city and is now a shop in dozens of cities all over the world.
The oat draft latte is an exceptional coffee; it is not bitter, it is full yet light. Though no request for a sweetener, it is a tad sweet but just enough to not overpower its heavy coffee flavour. A drawback; not enough ice. I'm sorry, I said it but after five minutes of holding my drink, it was warm.
This coffee shop is my favourite interior, it is absolutely stunning. Its green brick walls and white countertops feed the elegance of what Ralph Lauren's empire offers. Definetly a shop you would see fashion bloggers go to on a daily, it is quite classy and has a collected atmosphere.
2. Arabica Coffee
This coffee shop was an unplanned visit after I had crossed the Brooklyn Bridge, it's roughly a 10-minute walk. Located in Dumbo right by the water, it is surrounded by local restaurants and ice cream trucks. The journey to bring the best coffee possible began on a coffee farm in Hawaii and almost 10 years later, it still strived towards the same goal---to see the world through coffee.
I ordered the Spanish iced latte, a recommendation from the barista after mentioning I love sweet coffee. It is similar to a mocha latte, a true cocoa blend, but with a right balance of sweetness, as it is topped with condensed milk.
Although Arabica has only one location in all of America, they offer their vision in over 90 locations in a dozen countries. The Brooklyn location is a fairly large shop, and has outside seating. It has a unique feel, and an inviting, energetic vibe.
1. Blue Bottle Coffee
After five kilometres of endless walking around Manhattan, we (finally) hunted down this beloved shop. Blue Bottle promises exquisitely tasting and fresh coffee beans, offering a diverse yet essential menu in the U.S, Japan, and Korea, for over 15 years.
The iced sweet latte is the most perfect creamy, fruity blend, though not particularly strong, yet it is far from underwhelming. The difficulty with iced drinks, in my humble opinion, is the ice quantity; too much ice waters it down, and too little ice ruins the whole experience. Fortunately, the iced element was exceptional. Blue Bottle offers every cafes staples, from iced coffee, to cappuccinos, but their exclusives -hayes valley and dandy- are the most praised.
Though simplistic and minimalist, this cafe greets you with a comfortable and a typical post-business-meeting-chat-spot atmosphere. Emphasis on the chat, the Midtown North location does not offer seating, however, there are luckily 18 (plus one coming soon) alternative locations in the city that accommodates for all the for here orders.
It was my favourite coffee yet, (4.5 stars). Over time, it has been slowly less convincing that a $6 latte is justifiable, but for Blue Bottle...for that iced sweet latte… it really is.
So how's the planning going? Are you ready to go to New...York...City...?
Great read! Love the recommendations, key places to visit for sure!