Toby'sEstate

The best coffee shops in New York City

Where to go for a cup of joe in the Big Apple
Where to go for a cup of joe in the Big Apple

New York City is known as the city that never sleeps. And that’s definitely true for me. I visit twice a year, and when I do, I drink so much coffee that shut-eye is often elusive. But given that New York is one of the greatest coffee cities in the world, the last thing I want to do is sleep. Below are some of my favourite coffee haunts in the Big Apple.

 

Saturdays (Soho)Saturdays

While Saturdays is technically a surf shop,
its espresso bar serves seriously good coffee
and is manned by expert baristas. Its Americano, made with a custom blend by La Colombe, explodes in your mouth in a cacophony of flavours, and gives you the boost needed to face the hustle and bustle of NYC. The one downside: unlike most NYC cafés, there is no real seating other than a couple of benches.

31 Crosby Street

 

 

La ColombeLa Colombe

So, full disclosure: I am a bit obsessed with this Philadelphia-based coffee company. It has some of the best coffee I have tasted in my life — and that says a lot. The Single Origin Ethiopia-YirgZ is a standout. Do yourself a favour and buy some beans to take back with you across the border.

Various locations

 

 

 

 

Toby’s EstateToby'sEstate

I’m not ashamed to admit that I’ve walked for miles, and sometimes even cabbed it, just to grab a Japanese-style pour-over coffee from this Brooklyn-based roaster. Its coffee is simply top-notch. You can find Toby’s Estate at various locations in NYC, but my favourite is the Williamsburg location, which is absolutely stunning. Grab a passion fruit donut with your coffee, and your life will be complete.

Various locations.

 

 

Blue Bottle CoffeeBlueBottle

During my last visit to New York City, this past February, I stayed at a hotel a few doors down from Blue Bottle’s Bryant Park location. I’d be lying if I said that the proximity to Blue Bottle was not a major consideration in choosing a hotel. Blue Bottle is just that good. Its pour-over coffees are so wonderful that I’m actually considering writing to the founder, a self-proclaimed “coffee lunatic,” to beseech him to open a location in the Big Smoke.

54 W 40th St.

 

 

 

 

Next time you’re in NYC, forget about eating out at great restaurants. Take my advice and focus all of your energy on the amazing coffee.

 

Iman AkoborIman Abokor is an insurance defence lawyer at Lawson LLP and Precedent’s coffee columnist.