Portland

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Lifestyle

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San Francisco

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Travel

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Houston

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Miami

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Boston

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Atlanta

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Flagship location of the Brooklyn-born specialty coffee roaster.

Flagship location of the Brooklyn-born specialty coffee roaster.

United States

Sey Coffee

From longtime reliables and sneaky Midtown secrets to a coffee spaceship that's accidentally landed in a Downtown subway corridor, here are the best of the city's caffeination outposts.

Courtesy of Gumption Coffee

There’s good news for coffee lovers. Despite the disastrous effect COVID-19 has had on far too many New York eating and drinking establishments -- resulting in heartbreaking closures -- the grab-and-go nature of coffee shops (compounded with the fact that, despite a pandemic, New Yorkers still need their quality caffeine fix) has rendered such businesses slightly less vulnerable to current dine-in restrictions. In fact, many of New York’s most prized coffee shops are up and running. Some cafes with multiple outlets are only operating select locations, meanwhile many have erected new outdoor dining patios for more comfortable sipping. 
 
Sure, NYC bodegas still dole out $1 cups of coffee, but for those with a more discerning palate, see below for 26 of NYC’s most delicious ways to stay caffeinated.

There’s good news for coffee lovers. Despite the disastrous effect COVID-19 has had on far too many New York eating and drinking establishments -- resulting in heartbreaking closures -- the grab-and-go nature of coffee shops (compounded with the fact that, despite a pandemic, New Yorkers still need their quality caffeine fix) has rendered such businesses slightly less vulnerable to current dine-in restrictions. In fact, many of New York’s most prized coffee shops are up and running. Some cafes with multiple outlets are only operating select locations, meanwhile many have erected new outdoor dining patios for more comfortable sipping.

Sure, NYC bodegas still dole out $1 cups of coffee, but for those with a more discerning palate, see below for 26 of NYC’s most delicious ways to stay caffeinated.

There’s good news for coffee lovers. Despite the disastrous effect COVID-19 has had on far too many New York eating and drinking establishments -- resulting in heartbreaking closures -- the grab-and-go nature of coffee shops (compounded with the fact that, despite a pandemic, New Yorkers still need their quality caffeine fix) has rendered such businesses slightly less vulnerable to current dine-in restrictions. In fact, many of New York’s most prized coffee shops are up and running. Some cafes with multiple outlets are only operating select locations, meanwhile many have erected new outdoor dining patios for more comfortable sipping.Sure, NYC bodegas still dole out $1 cups of coffee, but for those with a more discerning palate, see below for 26 of NYC’s most delicious ways to stay caffeinated.

While the Midtown location of this stylish coffee shop is temporarily closed until indoor dining is allowed to resume, Felix Roasting Co. is opening a new Soho spot at 104 Greene St on Tuesday, August 25. Enjoy all of your coffee favorites -- and non-dairy milks, syrups, and tonic waters made from scratch -- under pastel-colored umbrellas with fringe. How to order: Storefront (outdoor seating available)

Courtesy of Felix Roasting Co.

Felix Roasting Co.

The kid sister of the <a href="https://joecoffeecompany.com/" target="_blank">Joe Coffee</a> chainlet, this boutique is less of a cafe and more of a geeky showroom for coffee, coffee tools, and, well, coffee. Selections from Pennsylvania to Colorado rotate each month, alongside Joe's own Long Island City-roasted beans -- and one can pick up a Kalita Wave dripper or croissant from <a href="https://www.biencuit.com/" target="_blank">Bien Cuit</a> along with that drink. How to order: Storefront; takeout/delivery via <a href="https://www.ritual.co/order/JOECOFFEE" target="_blank">website</a>

Noah Jashinski

Joe Pro Shop

Midtown is home to some of the city’s best espresso-based drinks thanks to Little Collins, which now counts four outlets there. Here, beans come by way of lauded North Carolina roaster Counter Culture. Snack on their version of avocado toast made with avocado gelato, pepitas, mint, chili flakes and espresso; and one can also refuel via a range of healthy(ish) salads and sandwiches from veggies to brisket. How to order: Storefront (outdoor seating available); takeout/delivery via <a href="http://www.littlecollinsnyc.com/" target="_blank">website</a>

Little Collins

An unlikely marriage of steampunk chic and supernerd, Sweetleaf's four NYC cafes constantly supply some of the most detail-oriented and delicious coffee in Brooklyn and Queens. Founder Rich Nieto focuses on sourcing beans from small farmers in Colombia and Peru, and he roasts them at his open-air Greenpoint roastery and cafe. Come for the espresso-based drinks or try the house-favorite Rocket Fuel, made with cold brew, chicory, maple syrup, and (oat) milk. How to order: Storefront (outdoor seating available); takeout/delivery via <a href="https://www.seamless.com/menu/sweetleaf-159-freeman-st-long-island-city/2092295" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer sponsored">Seamless</a>, <a href="https://www.ubereats.com/new-york/food-delivery/sweetleaf-nyc-queens/3Aq4_ew2Q8qCNPdSOyN1bg" target="_blank">Uber Eats</a>

Rich Nieto

Sweetleaf

With five smartly designed cafes spanning from Brooklyn to the Upper East Side, Variety Coffee is the hip haunt for fair trade espresso-based drinks with beans sourced from places like Ethiopia and Mexico. Drop in for salted chocolate chip cookies from Williamsburg’s <a href="https://leo-nyc.com/" target="_blank">Leo</a>, and around the holidays don’t miss the house-favorite maple latte.&nbsp; How to order: Storefront (outdoor seating available at all locations except Chelsea); delivery via <a href="https://www.doordash.com/store/variety-coffee-new-york-597855/en-US" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer sponsored">DoorDash</a>

Photo courtesy of Variety Coffee

Variety Coffee Roasters

While Everyman Espresso’s popular Soho outlet is currently closed, both the cozy East Village and newer Park Slope shops are up and running. Expect expert espresso-based drinks brewed with ethically-sourced coffee beans via North Carolina’s Black &amp; White Coffee Roasters, along with cocktail-inspired drinks like the Espresso Old Fashioned -- a blend of bitters, espresso, and simple syrup.&nbsp; How to order: Storefront

Cole Saladino/Thrillist

Everyman Espresso

To many, Abraço's shoebox-sized space -- where you'll get&nbsp;gruff intimacy with a side of superior coffee -- is a quintessentially New York experience, one that makes it still feel like an it-spot even thirteen years later (the excellent drip coffee doesn't hurt, either). Grab a coffee (they roast their own) and a house-made treat (like the indulgent olive oil cake) and savor it on the newly built outdoor patio. How to order: Storefront (outdoor seating available)

Abraço

Culture represents the holy grail of Midtown coffee amongst a sea of brews. And that’s precisely why this unfussy shop (Midtown counts two more locations) is consistently packed. Rotating roasters range from Portland's Heart to North Carolina’s Counter Culture, and it’s the perfectly pulled espresso-based drinks that keep neighborhood denizens coming back. And unlike many other local coffee shops that outsource their baked goods, Culture has earned a cult-like following for their warm and gooey chocolate chip cookies, always fresh from the oven. How to order: Storefront; takeout/delivery via <a href="https://direct.chownow.com/order/15763/locations" target="_blank">ChowNow</a>

Culture Espresso

At just three years old, Brooklyn-based roaster Sey Coffee has already earned high nods thanks to founders Lance Schnorenberg and Tobias Polk’s ongoing efforts to source extremely high-quality nano and micro-lot coffee beans from places like Kenya and Panama. Here, one will find beans separated by producer and single varietal, brewed in a myriad of styles (espresso, pour-over) using soft water with a lower mineral content to not distract from the beans’ flavor.&nbsp; How to order: Storefront

Darren Jones

Nolita is home to a number of good coffee shops, but César Vega’s pint-sized Café Integral stands out for its excellent bevy of coffee drinks -- Japanese slow-drip cold brew on tap, two daily-changing espresso options -- and some of the best house-made almond and coconut milk you’ll find in the city. His focus on light to medium-style roasts (Vega roasts his beans in Brooklyn) makes Café Integral an especially appropriate stop for fans of pour-over.&nbsp;&nbsp; How to order: Storefront (outdoor seating available); for weekly home delivery email <a href="mailto:orders@cafeintegral.com" target="_blank">orders@cafeintegral.com</a>

Café Integral

Dweebs co-founder Will Douglas learned to roast coffee in Oslo, Norway, so it’s no surprise that he and partner Mike Golfo highlight lighter, Nordic-style coffee at their comfortable, neighborhood hang decked out with a subtle Scandinavian feel. Dweebs brews organically grown, fair-trade coffee beans via Brooklyn-based Spectrum Coffee (of which Douglas is a part), which sources from East Africa and the Americas.&nbsp; How to order: Storefront (outdoor seating available); takeout via 347-413-5272

Photo by @gnattyroberts, courtesy of Dweebs

Dweebs

Offering a number of cute neighborhood cafes serving very good coffee via pour-over, drip, and espresso (both single-origins and blends), Partners Coffee -- which rebranded last year from its former name Toby’s Estate -- is best-known for its quality-minded beverages made with ethically sourced beans prepped at its Williamsburg roastery (the Bushwick roastery is currently closed). Depending on the time of year, Partners serves seasonal drinks like a Maple Sage Latte. How to order: Storefront (outdoor seating available); delivery via <a href="https://www.trycaviar.com/m/partners-coffee--williamsburg--19540" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer sponsored">Caviar</a>

Kathryn Sheldon

Partners Coffee

Hi-Collar earned street cred as an elegant Japanese cafe acting double duty: coffee shop (with excellent siphon coffees and great katsu sandos) by day, sake bar by night. After seven years in the East Village, the beloved kissaten (a Western-influenced Japanese coffee and tea house) has moved a stone’s throw away to more spacious new digs on 9th Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenues. Note: No espresso-based coffees here; all coffees are made by hand via different brewing methods.&nbsp; How to order: Storefront (outdoor seating available); takeout via <a href="https://hicollar.square.site/" target="_blank">website</a> or call 212-777-7018 for delivery

Hi-Collar

Hi-Collar - ハイカラ (Hi-Collar)

Praised for its uber fresh coffee beans, Devoción hit the New York scene five years back (and has since spawned three locations from Flatiron to Brooklyn), promising customers an unprecedented freshness standard: that the beans in one’s cup were dry milled in Colombia no more than 30 days (as compared to the six months standard from most roasters) before landing in one’s cup. The roastery works with small farmers exclusively in Colombia, producing beautiful floral coffees from espresso to drip.&nbsp; How to order: Storefront (outdoor seating available); takeout via <a href="https://devocion.square.site/" target="_blank">website</a>

Liz Clayman

Devoción

This hip Portland, Oregon-based coffee behemoth counts three locations around the city, and though it’s now a national mini-chain, quality has never wavered. Drop in for great espresso-based coffee drinks and super strong cold brews. Stumptown also just launched a new ready-to-drink line in partnership with popular oat milk brand, Oatly.&nbsp; How to order: Storefront

Carly Diaz

Stumptown Coffee Roasters

Despite counting 72 outlets through the US, Blue Bottle maintains a tremendously high coffee quality standard, along with a commitment to sustainability. In addition to some of the brand’s popular ready-to-drink beverages, like their famed New Orleans-style iced coffee, Blue Bottle is ground zero for perfectly brewed, floral pour-overs (beans hail from places like Colombia and Ethiopia), which baristas prep on proprietary coffee equipment.&nbsp; How to order: Storefront

Blue Bottle Coffee

This New York chainlet counts 13 locations spread throughout the city, and it’s here one will find dependable coffee (with varying roasts from light to dark) prepared in styles like Chemex and French press. Co-founder Paul Schlader spearheads Birch’s quality control: he is a Q Grader, which is sort of like a coffee sommelier, and he travels around the world to oversee the brand’s beans sourcing and in-house roasting.&nbsp; How to order: Storefront; pickup and delivery via <a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/birch-coffee/id1515131358?ls=1" target="_blank">the Birch app</a>

Courtesy of Birch Coffee

Birch Coffee

Irving Farm is one of the city’s very first specialty coffee outfits, having launched its inaugural Gramercy Park location in 1996. Today, the brand counts eight cafes (four of which are currently serving), inclusive of a roastery Upstate. Here, expect microlot coffees -- some of which are organic -- in varying roast profiles, offered in a number of brew-methods, from French press to pour-over.&nbsp; How to order: Storefront (outdoor seating available at Upper West Side and Irving Place cafes)

Irving Farm Coffee Roasters

At Coffee Project NY, geek out over elusive beans roasted in-house, from the highly-praised Gesha variety (also the world’s most expensive bean!) to specific lots entered into US Brewers Cup competitions. In fact, two of the company’s baristas competed in it this year -- placing 10th and 17th in the pour-over category -- and that’s precisely the expert brew to try. Or, experiment with a deconstructed latte, which comes with a latte, and then all of the drink’s components separated so the imbiber can experience the quality of the singular ingredients.&nbsp; How to order: Storefront (outdoor seating available); pickup by calling any of the three locations

Peter Ng

Coffee Project NY

Coffee Project New York

The front portion of this buzzy cafe is perpetually packed with stylish locals reaching for bourbon vanilla oat milk lattes and other properly-pulled espresso based drinks. Expect a darker roast-style profile with beans from Red Hook’s D’Amico Coffee Roasters.&nbsp; How to order: Storefront (outdoor seating available)

Rebecca Lader

Ludlow Coffee Supply

This respected Aussie-based brand has won countless coffee awards Down Under, with one of its co-founders going so far as to win several Australian Barista Championship titles. And now the brand has planted its first US cafe and roastery in Brooklyn. Drop by to try rich espresso-based drinks or pick up brekkie/lunch fare like an egg, ham, and pesto hand pie, or a crack chicken bun.&nbsp; How to order: Storefront; pickup via <a href="https://ordering.app/gumptioncoffee/gumptioncoffee/" target="_blank">website</a>

Gumption Coffee

This quaint, foliage-filled Japanese cafe features seasonally changing, single-origin espresso-based drinks (beans come by way of Brooklyn micro-roaster 95 RPM Coffee Roasters), in addition to a bunch of Japanese tea-based beverages that call for ingredients like organic ceremonial matcha. There’s also a killer iced hojicha (roasted green tea) latte and house-made organic vegan pasties. And FYI, those lush decorative plants are all for sale.&nbsp; How to order: Storefront

Claire Chan -- who also operates newer addition Bar Beau in Williamsburg -- is behind The Elk, a cozy coffee and lunch haunt offering some of the West Village’s best brews. Chan sources several coffees from Brooklyn’s Parlor Coffee, and she rests her beans for one week after roasting, only brewing them once they’ve reached peak flavor. Beyond coffee, drop in for healthy bites like a cage-free egg and chorizo burrito or tahini-laced kale Caesar.&nbsp; How to order: Storefront (outdoor seating available); pickup and delivery via <a href="https://www.theelknyc.com/" target="_blank">website</a>

Courtesy of The Elk

The ELK

Daymoves is the dual-concepted (Daymoves becomes music haunt Nightmoves during the evening) follow-up effort from the team behind Williamsburg’s beloved wine bar The Four Horsemen. Situated directly adjacent, drop in for a Daymoves and Four Horsemen collab of cold brew and espresso-based drinks made with light-roasted beans from Brooklyn-based Coptic Light and Sey Coffee. A few plates from the Michelin-starred restaurant’s modern, seasonal, bistro menu are also available. How to order: Storefront (outdoor seating available)

Daymoves

The Philadelphia-based coffee brand has multiple locations around the Big Apple and is known for its draft lattes and long lines. Founders Todd Carmichael and J.P. Iberti are committed to keeping the brand earth-friendly with initiatives like sustainable packaging and direct sourcing, including organic and single-origin varieties. You can also grab one of their canned lattes to-go if you’re in a rush. How to order: Storefront or via <a href="https://www.lacolombe.com/collections/coffee" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer sponsored">website</a>

La Colombe Coffee Roasters

This long and narrow uptown coffee shop carefully curates its selections seasonally and prepares each drink using top-of-the-line equipment to pull the perfect shot. Look for beans from noted roasters like Sey, Regalia and Passenger Coffee, and make sure to grab a bag to go as well. Hours may be abbreviated during this time.&nbsp; How to order: Storefront

Sey Coffee

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The 26 Best Coffee Shops in NYC

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