Posted Sun Aug 5, 2007, 9:53am Subject: NYC: Good Coffee on the Upper West Side?
Hey folks I've been hanging out a lot on the UWS (~95th and Broadway) and I don't know a single good coffee venue there. I'm not even talking about a third wave espresso bar, just a good brunch place with a good cup of coffee would suffice. Surely someone has a relationship with Intelly or Counter Culture or someone in that neighborhood. Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks.
Cafe Lalo on 83rd St, just west of Amsterdam, definitely fits that bill.
If you are up to venturing uptown towards Columbia, look into Le Monde, a French (Lyonnaise) restaurant at 112th and Broadway.
If you haven't already, I would suggest walking Amsterdam and Columbus in the 80s and 70s to get a feel for the great restaurants of the UWS, many of which are highly-rated for Brunch (e.g. Le Pain Quotidien, Nice Matin).
Posted Tue Aug 7, 2007, 6:04am Subject: Re: NYC: Good Coffee on the Upper West Side?
Thanks Rob. I've been to Lalo for dessert, but not brunch or coffee. And yes, I have wandered Amsterdam in the 80's at least, but what I'm really looking for is a place that has a relationship with an artisan roaster and really takes their coffee a bit seriously.
wartaymor Senior Member Joined: 5 Apr 2007 Posts: 15 Location: New York, NY Expertise: Professional
Posted Tue Aug 7, 2007, 8:18pm Subject: Re: NYC: Good Coffee on the Upper West Side?
Hey there jtsnyc.
I live up at 111th on the West Side, and I must say that I am appalled by the offerings anywhere between here and Cafe Grumpy in Chelsea! Luckily for my wallet I am forced to stay in house and make my own coffee, even though there are pleasant cafes for relaxing and working around here. Unfortunately their coffee is just worthless and not at all serious.
I heard from a well informed and well respected coffee individual last week that there is a good place just above Central Park. I don't remember the name, but from my google maps searching it might be Society Coffee and Juice on Frederick Douglas Blvd (8ave) and 114th. I'm not sure if that is too far from where you are looking.
I have not been to this place, but I have been meaning to stroll this area to find the place that came so highly recommended. I'm going to try to scout it out sometime this week - I'll let you know if this is the place and worth it. They have a website, but it seems to be down since you can't navigate from their main page.
good luck - and let me know if you find any good offerings around here as well
Posted Thu Aug 9, 2007, 10:13am Subject: Re: NYC: Good Coffee on the Upper West Side?
I emailed Intelligentsia and Counter Culture -- so far no response. Gimme Coffee has a list of restaurants on their website -- nothing in that area. With all the cafes and restaurants around there's got to be one right? I'll post if I hear anything.
wartaymor Senior Member Joined: 5 Apr 2007 Posts: 15 Location: New York, NY Expertise: Professional
Posted Fri Aug 10, 2007, 11:56am Subject: Re: NYC: Good Coffee on the Upper West Side?
Hi jtsnyc,
I stopped by Society Coffee recently - great spot. They had a single origin Guatemala available and an Italian espresso roast from Kobricks. The Kobricks is nothing out of this world, but still pretty good. I spoke with the owner and staff and they are passionate about their beans and other food products they offer. If you ask for a cappuccino, ask for less milk since they put in too much and should have called it a latte. They have good beans but could improve a bit on their milk levels and frothing.
They are not the same type of cafe as 9th st or Grumpy, but surely worth the trip. I will definitely be back again soon.
The environment is also nice - free wi-fi is always a plus (although during some hours on weekends they don't allow laptops - for very good reason, I think)
they are at 2104 Frederick Douglas Blvd(8th ave)
http://www.societycoffee.com/ although they say their myspace page has better info. search for society coffee lounge in myspace.
rob_c Senior Member Joined: 25 May 2007 Posts: 6 Location: Davis, CA Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Mon Aug 13, 2007, 12:25pm Subject: Re: NYC: Good Coffee on the Upper West Side?
wartaymor: I am glad you posted the review of Society Coffee. It's great to find out about a new place - somehow I work in West Harlem, went to Columbia for 2 years and lived on 110th St and never found out about this place. Will definitely stop by soon.
jtsnyc: It looks like I took your "not a 3rd wave place" comment too far and was thinking of places that make a decent cup of coffee that can be enjoyable, but mostly because of the food it is complementing. Sadly, the really great coffee in NYC seems to be tightly constrained geographically between W 20th St and Chambers St in Manhattan, as well as the part of Brooklyn just across the river from that range (WBurg/Greenpoint). For people like me, who commute from outer Brooklyn to 125th St, it means a lot of coffee stops half-way along the commute.
NYC_Crema Senior Member Joined: 13 Oct 2004 Posts: 1,489 Location: New York City Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Miss Silvia Grinder: Mazzer Mini Roaster: Whatever NYC can offer
Posted Sun Aug 19, 2007, 1:16pm Subject: Re: NYC: Good Coffee on the Upper West Side?
I'm going to add my 2 cents here... I too am a coffeegeek and I drink espresso every day. I'm sometimes on the UWS and like most people, I can't find a place that can make a decent espresso. I'm tired of trying places that can't even come close to espresso. However, this is what I've come up with:
Italian restaurants usually come close to espresso that us coffeegeeks can, at the least, drink. If I see an Italian restaurant where you can order a coffee at the bar, that's where I'll go
Any place that has an Illy logo in the window is okay with me, especially if they have a super automatic. You at least know what to expect.
If you see the portafilter off the group, RUN!
Generally, small restaurants with outside seating will make an espresso that is drinkable, but you have to experiment.
Again, these are places where I go when I am tired and need the caffeine.
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