nyc_crema Senior Member Joined: 13 Oct 2004 Posts: 1,602 Location: New York City Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Alexia, Silvia Grinder: Mazzer Mini Roaster: Gorilla, Intelligentsia,...
Posted Wed Aug 30, 2006, 9:06pm Subject: New York City - Crestanello's in Midtown Manhattan
I discovered this place just last week and I was really suprised to find real espresso right in midtown - on Fifth Ave directly across from the New York Public Library. It's between 40th and 42nd street and makes a great place for tourists since it's right by the library, times square, empire state building and 42nd street.
I've only ordered espresso and both times it was good. Tamped and using a semi-automatic machine. QUality espresso and really refreshing considering it's location. They also have food and a HUGE area to eat.
I went there on a Wednesday late-morning (10:30am) and asked for a double shot. I was given a little glass of water which REALLY made my day. I'm a total coffee geek and being that the espresso was excellent (nutty, smooth, not too deep of flavors though), the added water really made it complete.
caferacer Senior Member Joined: 22 Mar 2004 Posts: 101 Location: NYC Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Expobar Pulser Grinder: Rocky
Posted Thu Sep 14, 2006, 1:18pm Subject: Re: New York City - Crestanello's in Midtown Manhattan
Andre,
I hate to disagree with you because you have never steered me wrong in the past but, I found their espresso to be barely drinkable this afternoon. Of course, "barely drinkable" is still above average in Manhattan!
Since I relocated to Midtown last month I have been enjoying single shots (the doubles are overextracted) at Oren's Daily roast in the South side of Grand Central. They use their own Beowulf blend which is roasted in NJ and delivered fresh and seem to grind for nearly every shot though I have gotten shots from the hopper. There also appears to be some care and attention from the baristas towards the tamp and the pull. Care and attention goes a long way in my book and I believe shows in the cup. I have had a couple of shots that I really enjoyed, others that were pretty good and one that I threw away (the double). My benchmarks are Bluespoon and Gimme and I would rate Oren's just below them but above any restaurant or Starbucks.
Oren's sells their beans in the Grand Central Market (an incredibly cool place for those of us who grew up here and remember what GCT used to be like) so I bought a pound of the Beowulf last Friday (9/8) that had a 9/7 roast date . My results at home were not as good as at Oren's so that could mean that their baristas do a good job on quality equipment and/or that Beowulf just isn't as forgiving to the home barista as fresh Black Cat. I am looking forward to getting down to Heather's for a fresh pound tomorrow.
We should meet at Oren's one of these days and then walk to a couple of other places I have been checking out.
but, I found their espresso to be barely drinkable this afternoon. Of course, "barely drinkable" is still above average in Manhattan!
But I don't like the sound of that!!
You probably had a different barista than I did... that has to be the only explanation. For everyone else, it's worth a shot to try them out.
As for Oren's, I'll have to check it out. I'm in Grand Central at least once a week, so I'll have to take a few minutes and see what they're all about. I've heard someone else talk about them too.
Symbols: = New Posts since your last visit = No New Posts since last visit = Newest post
Forum Rules: No profanity, illegal acts or personal attacks will be tolerated in these discussion boards. No commercial posting of any nature will be tolerated; only private sales by private individuals, in the "Buy and Sell" forum. No cross posting allowed - do not post your topic to more than one forum, nor repost a topic to the same forum. Who Can Read The Forum? Anyone can read posts in these discussion boards. Who Can Post New Topics? Any registered CoffeeGeek member can post new topics. Who Can Post Replies? Any registered CoffeeGeek member can post replies. Can Photos be posted? Anyone can post photos in their new topics or replies. Who can change or delete posts? Any CoffeeGeek member can edit their own posts. Only moderators can delete posts. Probationary Period: If you are a new signup for CoffeeGeek, you cannot promote, endorse, criticise or otherwise post an unsolicited endorsement for any company, product or service in your first five postings.
![nyc_crema: Photo_08.jpg](javascript:ImagePopup("/images/27720/Photo_08.jpg", 640, 480, "nyc_crema: Photo_08.jpg");)
= No New Posts since last visit 