amber magazine N® 01
New
COFFEE PLACES
Y o r k ’ s
Bes t
No matter where you’re from, you likely have a Starbucks within walking distance from your house. While you’re in NYC, forget about feeding the corporate giant. There are better brews with more interesting atmospheres to explore in this fast-moving, coffee-chugging city. Here at OTP, we are very concerned with bringing you the rawest, realest most high-on-caffeine review of New York’s finest coffee shops. As such, all of our reviews were written while patronizing the coffee shop under review. Let’s get you cracked-out on coffee too. Here are New York’s Lucky Seven!
Think Coffee 248 Mercer Street There are two locations of ‘Snice, one in Park Slope and the other in the West Village. The Park Slope location is nice but the West Village spot kicks ass (its bigger, badder and you don’t have to go through a baby stroller obstacle course to get to the register)It almost didn’t make our list for this reason but as its
B Cup Cafe 212 Avenue
18
A great spot to peruse for NYU college freshmen (they’re the ones that are surrounded with beverages and look like they haven’t slept in weeks), this coffee shop also incorporates a large bar in its center. Internet is spotty and electrical outlets are hard to come by. The food is over-priced and mostly vegetari-
an. They stay open pretty late (until 11:30pm) but are insanely busy consistently throughout the day. All of this sounds pretty bad but the atmosphere is something worth checking out. For starters, New York Univercity students are hot as hell. For finishers, true to its name, the place really feels like a think tank. Try
Gorilla Coffee
excellent in all other aspects, we forgave it begrudgingly due to its great coffee, food and atmosphere. The space breathes and is filled with rustic wooden tables. Their salads deserve a Noble Peace Prize. Your food comes up fast. Get a good book, an autumn salad and a cup of coffee and joy will follow.
The East Village is the queen of coffee shops and this place captures the neighborhood vibe well, complete with free wi fi, comfy couch, hiding area in the back for anti-social writers and baked goods of the healthy (and guilty) varieties. Their coffee is average (but served in mini-carafes which makes it cuter than average) but their sandwiches
rock. OTP sampled the hummus sandwich on a whole wheat baguette and with its hummus, olives, tomatoes and hard boiled egg, it won our hearts. The décor is middle-eastern chic and the tunes are mostly Elton John. Underneath their heavy accents, the staff are friendly and courteous. B Cup attracts a lot of locals so try to blend in.
97 5th Avenue