The Coffee Crawl Sipping my way through New York City…one coffee shop at a time.

Venturing to Hell’s Kitchen today, I decided to crawl to a local coffee shop called The Coffee Pot. Located in the Theater District at 350 West 49th Street (at 9th Avenue), this shop is perfect for that early morning commute to the office, midday snack break, or even for that pre-theater pick-me-up.

Upon walking into The Coffee Pot, one thing becomes quickly evident: this place promotes a relaxed and chill-as-long-as-you-want vibe. With about 6 square tables with 4 chairs each and a bar area with stools against the window, this shop is easily a favorite among students. Even when I was there at 10AM this morning there were 4 people doing homework. Good job kids! In the back of the shop is what I loved the most. A very comfy and cozy living room set up complete with couch, love seat, coffee table and rug all centered around a large HD TV. I enjoy that this coffee shop not only caters to the students that live throughout the immediate area, but also to those patrons who want to come in to take a rest and be completely at home while doing so. The music playing in the background was the NY-NJ station KTU. Being more of a dance music station it could easily have been a nuisance, but the volume was so low that you could barely make out the songs (unless you were behind me in line then you heard me singing like I was at karaoke).

While I did not have anything to eat during this crawl, I do have to say that everything looked delicious. Every one of their baked goods were bought from an outside vendor and resold in the store. This doesn’t mean that they aren’t just as scrumptious as fresh baked goods, I just prefer a coffee shop to prepare their own sweets and treats if they have the capability to do so. There’s just something about the smell of a freshly baked cinnamon roll that makes you salivate as you sip your coffee. And about the coffee, I ordered a small iced coffee with soy milk, totaling $2.50. The price wasn’t bad at all nor was the taste. Pre-ground and a little weak and watered down, my iced beverage was still tasty as the bean had a slight sweet hint to it.

My recommendations for The Coffee Pot are these:

1. Try to bake something in-house. Even if it’s cookies, freshly prepared foods always sell better.
2. If at all possible, purchase a grinder and grind your own beans in-house as well. The taste will be phenomenally better.
3. Get a website. I know this sounds a little punchy, but we as consumers love to visit a store’s website, read its history and get to know it a little better. This can only help in the long run.

When Carrie and Samantha visited The City Bakery in the ever popular Sex And The City to discuss “the face girl,” Carrie proclaimed that they had the best brownies in all of New York City. Being a coffee and sweet food junkie I had to check this out! Located in the Flatiron District at 3 West 18th Street and Fifth Avenue, The City Bakery can appropriately be described as a decadence on Fifth. I passed by the shop today while trudging through New York’s recent snowfall and immediately made the decision to stop in. Luckily for me, the shop wasn’t as crowded as usual, the music was almost inaudible, and I was able to take in the ambiance and enjoy myself.

Walking into the shop today, the first thing that greeted me was a marshmallow display. The display was created from what looked like 100 of their freshly made marshmallows stringed together creating a garland-like decoration above the barista station. Quite clever. I quickly found a table to stash my puffer jacket and umbrella and took to the salad bar in the back, as I had not had lunch yet. I was able to take only a small portion of some of the foods they had to offer despite my eyes wanting to be larger than my stomach. Pictured to the left are 2 of the dishes I chose from: Roasted Tofu and the Butternut Squash with Asian Pear & Hazelnut Salad. Yes, it tasted just as good as it sounds. I also enjoyed the Cilantro Chicken which was heavenly prepared and tasted somewhat of a healthy Mexican dish.

Finally reaching the barista station to place my coffee order, my senses were overcome with the sight and smell of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies and newly melted chocolate for their fabulous hot chocolate. Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on how you look at it) I was unable to resist the chocolate chip cookies. Gooey, buttery, chewy and amazing, my purchase was well worth the extra calories. I also placed an order of their drip coffee. Being that The City Bakery isn’t exactly a coffee shop, they brewed a very simple yet light and nutty-flavored coffee. Adding a little soy milk and organic brown sugar to it made my mug of coffee a delicious ending to a perfect lunch and dessert. Also, spending only $12 on my salad bar concoction, cookie and coffee isn’t such a bad deal!

So if you haven’t yet, please stop in to The City Bakery. If not for the delicious salad bar, the scrumptious baked goods or the amazing coffee & hot chocolate, then definitely for the fact that you can say, “I went to where Carrie and Samantha trashed ‘the face girl.’” I know that my New York City Bucket List, after living here for almost 7 years, can be one step closer to being complete. The City Bakery is a must-stop for any local or tourist alike.

The Coffee Crawl has really been getting around this week! Bis.Co.Latte was fabulous, so it inspired me to try out another coffee shop that sold more than just coffee and a few select treats. As a relatively new edition to the Village, Sweet Revenge is akin to discovering a plate of golden cupcakes at the end of a very crowded rainbow. Located at 62 Carmine Street, close to Bleecker Street, you can imagine what I allude to when referencing a “very crowded rainbow.” From the picture to the left, it is easy to see why I love this cafe already: the dark framed entrance surrounded by white brick gave it that comfy and relaxed feel that I constantly praise many times over. The script of the shop’s name is even well-thought out, giving it that old and rustic feel. I instantly felt excited to step into Sweet Revenge to revel in the goodness that was about to take place.

The first thing that I noticed, besides the delictablicious (an amazing descriptive word that Sweet Revenge actually uses on their site!) cupcake smell, was the decor of the shop itself. Tying seamlessly in to the rustic exterior, was an equally rustic and chill interior. The entire left side of the shop featured a full bar. Yes, a full bar with liquor and beer. One identifying trait to Sweet Revenge is that they offer up great combinations of beer and cupcakes! Yes, seriously. It’s right on their menu. While I didn’t try any beer on my visit this time, it’s quite the interesting and enticing suggestion. The bar, along with the tables and chairs were made of a very dark wood, and quite comfortable. The lighting, as you can see a little from the picture above, is a mellow color making it that much more relaxing inside. The music playing was just the right level and was reminiscent of a light indie rock: perfect for the shop’s ambiance.

Now I absolutely must get to the cupcakes. First, please take note from the picture how beautifully styled they are and appear almost too good to eat. However, I was able to tear myself away from the notion of not eating one to allow myself this indulgence. I tried the “normal” cupcake called Pure. It was simply a vanilla cupcake with vanilla frosting…but there was absolutely nothing normal or simple about it. I don’t believe I have tried a cupcake yet that was so moist, so delicious, so full of amazing flavor. My friend tried the Peanut Butter cupcake which was a vanilla cake, peanut butter frosting with a chocolate ganache center. Yes, I’m completely serious here. And yes, I tried that one as well and almost fell out of my seat it was so delictablicious and rich. Yum. I know where I’m going for my next dozen of cupcakes for any dinner party!

The coffee was equally delicious. The weather yesterday in New York City was almost starting to feel like spring was peeking its cute little head around the corner. I was very excited that I had to order an iced coffee, which was served in a tall clear glass reminiscent of old-style fountain soda glasses. It’s the little touches like this glass that make me so happy. Smooth, perfectly brewed, organic and fair trade, that iced coffee was also delictablicious. Pictured to the left you can see the bottom of my glass next to the Pure cupcake. They really are works of art.

Please also visit Sweet Revenge’s website. The story of owner/founder Marlo Scott is a very inspiring and interesting one. Being fed up with working for “The Man” and the “concrete jungle of Corporate America” as she puts it, Marlo got up and left one day with the mission of opening a fabulous coffee/bakery/bar. In my humble opinion, she has done so. Remarkably well, I might add.

Visiting a friend in Hell’s Kitchen today, I decided to crawl. I asked him for a suggestion of a cute coffee shop that he thought had great drinks and snacks in the area. One place instantly came to his mind: Bis.Co.Latte. Located at 667 10th Avenue at 47th Street, this cafe is a diamond in the rough. Situated amongst construction, bodegas, dry cleaners and busy Lincoln Tunnel traffic, Bis.Co.Latte provided us with a safe haven from the noise of the New York City streets.

Walking into the cafe, one design factor separates Bis.Co.Latte from most other coffee shops to which I have crawled so far. A retro, comfortable and welcoming atmosphere completely envelopes you. The bistro tables with wrought iron and wicker seats, bright-colored walls, a ceiling fan centered in the store, and even fresh tulips scattered throughout all lend credibility to the coffee shop being a relaxed and inviting treat. The music playing in the background while my friend and I enjoyed our coffee and biscotti was a subdued 50s-style music weaved together with classical. Amazing and oh so chill. The staff, likewise, provided us with a sense of calmness. They were very laid back, friendly and offered suggestions without hesitation. As someone who does not often order biscotti, the help was well-received.

As you can imagine, the food served at Bis.Co.Latte pretty much was biscotti. Many, many flavors of biscotti. Also serving, soups, fruit, oatmeal and even cheese plates, this coffee shop offered food for every meal. Baking more than 60 flavors of biscotti, you can imagine the difficult time I had in selecting which to order. The nice girl who helped suggested that we try their Biscotti Sampling Plate, featuring 5 flavors. We chose the Black & Tan (made with Guiness Beer and Butterscotch chips – surprisingly delicious), Coconut Oatmeal Chocolate Chip, Pecan Oat Chip, Mutligrain Pistachio & Cranberry, and Toffee. I’m not sure which left my mouth watering and craving more, but the Black & Tan was quite delicious. One way to help their customers choose from amongst the 60 flavors is the Bis.Co.Latte sampling wall (featured above). Small pieces of biscotti broken up and served in little coffee mugs offer people a way to distinguish which flavor is their favorite and thus suitable to order. Quite amazing.

In addition and as a great supplement to the yummy treats, the coffee served here was great. Of course, when Illy Coffee is a part of a coffee shop it has to be good. As per usual with this well-known coffee brand, the grinds were excellently brewed with great smooth taste. Priced at $2.10 it was slightly more expensive than the usual coffee shop, but again, the brand is delicious and deserves the price premium. I highly recommend Bis.Co.Latte. Delicious drinks and food, nice counterstaff and a relaxing environment will always draw in customers.

Strolling along Bleecker Street in Greenwich Village yesterday with no direction and really no intention of coffee crawling, I stumbled upon this cute little coffee shop. Third Rail Coffee is located at 240 Sullivan Street between Bleecker and West 3rd Streets. Situated very close to NYU and amongst many other cafes and coffee shops, something would need to be done differently in order to stand out. Third Rail Coffee successfully achieved this.

Very sleek, modern and decorated with beautiful wood flooring and furniture, I found myself instantly relaxed and wanting to sit down with a good cup of coffee and perhaps a treat. The music playing in the background was at a very low-level and just audible enough to recognize what was playing. Not too loud or overbearing. The style was similar to that of “classic” Cold Play – a laid back and low-key rock. The walls featured work from local photographers that were framed in a simple black wooden frame with a white matting. One wall of the shop’s seating area featured an exposed brick wall. All of these decorations and themed elements worked well together to give Third Rail that soothing environment that I always seek out in a coffee shop.

The coffee and food of Third Rail Coffee were also a very pleasant treat for me. As you can see from the picture above, the cookies sold here are the same as those at Joe the Art Of Coffee. This Chick Bakes really gets her cookies around and does it so well! This time around I enjoyed her chocolate chip cookie and it was scrumptious: the perfect combination of sugar, chocolate and deliciousness.

The coffee likewise was great. Incredibly smooth and not bitter at all, I thoroughly enjoyed my small coffee. Priced at $1.65 it was on par with other coffee shops I have crawled to recently. Another point that makes Third Rail Coffee stand out are the various types of coffees sold. From the store and their blog/site I gather that different flavors and roasts are featured weekly. While I was there yesterday for instance, the four flavors are: Burundi-Bwayi, Brazil-Agua Preta, Rwanda-Muyongwe, Colombia-Las Vegas. My delicious coffee happened to be the Colombia-Las Vegas and I highly recommend it.

Please check out my great little coffee shop find, it will be a worthwhile visit.

Quickly becoming a coffee shop staple in New York City, I decided to venture to Joe the Art Of Coffee (Joe) today for my next crawl. With 5 locations throughout the City, I chose to try the store located near Union Square at 9 East 13th Street near 5th Avenue. Approaching the store and once I opened its doors the smell was unmistakably delicious. My first whiff of the caffeinated goodness was definitely that of great coffee, while the second note to hit my nose was that of sugar, cinnamon and chocolate. I could tell right away that this coffee experience was going to be a great one.

As is typical with my blogs, I like to comment first on the atmosphere that each coffee shop or bakery conveys. Recently I find that most shops fill their stores with loud, rock-style music which lack any real relaxing qualities to it whatsoever. This was not the case with Joe. A light almost ethereal music drifted in and out of earshot while I waited on line to order my snack and drink. It instantly put me at ease. The music also worked well with the decor of the coffee shop. As you can see from the logo pictured above, Joe uses a lot of brown and blues, both very soothing colors for the emotions, attitude and mind. The tables and chairs of the shop were  small and made of a lightweight metal, both of which allow customers to sit and enjoy their food and drink but also control the amount of loitering to optimize customer turnover. The employees were very calm and easy to talk with. The counter person that helped me with my selections today offered me snacks based on what flavors I enjoy most and what would go with my coffee perfectly.

Once I reached the counter to place my order, I was overwhelmed with the many  choices of snacks. Delicious cookies, brownies and moon pies lined the top of the glass counter. Taking closer note at the labels provided in front of each treat I found that they are provided daily by This Chick Bakes. I definitely need to give her props, those cookies and brownies looked absolutely scrumptious. However, what I decided to indulge in with this visit was the peanut butter cup. Not your average peanut butter cup, this sweet delicacy featured a lower layer of chocolate chip cookie, creamy peanut butter smoothed down on top of that and all of this perfectly covered in milk chocolate. My mouth salivated the instant I set eyes on this sweet goodness. Priced at only $3 per cup, I have to say that I got a steal! The amazing taste of the peanut butter, cookie and chocolate covering were all well worth the money.

To go with the peanut butter cup, I ordered a small cup of, what else, joe. Just as many people suggested to me, Joe’s coffee was delicious. Not too light. Not too strong. Perfectly ground and roasted beans. This coffee was delicately smooth down to the last drop. Featuring coffee from one of the 12 best coffees in America, Joe orders its beans from Ecco Caffe. As a Certified organic coffee roaster, Ecco “sources directly from growers and importers focused on phenomenal quality who are known to be socially and environmentally responsible. Ecco custom roasts each batch in their signature Northern Italian style. All coffees are shipped within 24 hours of roasting to insure optimal freshness.” Priced at $1.61 for my small cup of coffee, I also got a deal here.

The atmosphere, employees, delicious treats and smooth-tasting coffee all worked well together to provide me and Joe’s customers with a great coffee shop experience. Joe the Art Of Coffee is definitely not a shop to be missed.

The snowpocalypse of 2010 will not keep this coffee crawler down. This week’s menu brings me to Billy’s Bakery. The hugely successful coffee shop and bakery first opened its doors in Chelsea on 9th Avenue between 21st and 22nd streets. After years of their vastly popular cupcakes selling out, Billy’s Bakery went on to open a second location in TriBeCa (75 Franklin Street between Broadway and Church Street). As a frequent customer of Billy’s for years (since I used to live on the same block!) I can firmly attest to the delicious buttery goodness of this little slice of heaven.

The first thing that caught my attention as I walked through their door was the freshly baked cupcakes. But before I get to the sweets, let’s discuss the store’s ambiance. Walls decorated in an old-fashioned pale yellow and green wallpaper, antiqued light fixtures, and 50s-style tables and chairs, Billy’s Bakery achieves its goal of having that down-home southern feel. Just like grandma’s kitchen. One would think the music accompanying this delightful sight would be Patsy Cline or Loretta Lynne, but unfortunately for my ears, hard rock music was blasting in the background. This audio-visual disconnect left a lot to be desired. The staff on-shift while I visited however, was very friendly. Customer service was quick, the perfect amount of milk was poured into my coffee and everything was handled with a warm smile. Also, as I sat and enjoyed my coffee, it truly looked like every employee had fun at their job. Whether it was decorating cupcakes with frosting, steaming milk for an espresso drink, or doling out slices of pie, laughter and happy conversation dominated.

Now for the cupcakes. The cupcakes are absolutely delicious. Sugary sweet and buttery cake topped with a creamy and indulgent buttercream frosting define Billy’s Bakery. Featured on many Food Network and Bravo shows, magazines and even the Today Show, you have to be curious about the goodness of these little gems. The vanilla cupcake with vanilla buttercream frosting is my absolute favorite. The first bite is always the best. The cake is moist, so sugary and buttery that it almost melts once it hits your tongue. The icing is phenomenal. You must truly appreciate powdered sugar blended with many sticks of butter to enjoy this. It’s very decadent, to say the least. If cupcakes aren’t your thing, Billy’s Bakery offers many other treats to tempt your palette: cakes, cookies, brownies and blondies, pies, cheese cakes, muffins and assorted breads. With a list like that, I’m sure you’ll find something to dive in to.

With treats as amazing as these, I worried that the coffee quality would be overlooked. So far on my coffee crawl, I have seen places with excellent food yet the taste of the coffee was below average. This simply was not the case here. Jack’s Coffee is the bean of choice at Billy’s Bakery. With beans that are 100% organic, fair trade, and shade grown how can you go wrong? A lightly roasted bean, with no bite or bitter aftertaste, was ground and brewed into my cup. Adding a little soy milk and this cup of coffee was perfect. Priced at $2.65, although a little expensive for a cup of brewed coffee, it was well worth it. The price increase is easily explained for the high quality bean that they are roasting.

Overall, I have to say that Billy’s Bakery is a huge success. You simply must travel over for a cupcake and cup of that coffee. You will not regret it.

Located at the corner of greasy fried foods, Corner Bistro, and the sugary sweet concoctions of Chocolate Bar stands a little piece of vegetarian heaven. ‘sNice, situated at 45 8th Avenue is just south of 13th Street. Besides being a great little coffee shop, it offers up paninis, salads and desserts. Being mainly a chicken and meat kinda guy, the thought of dining at a vegetarian café left me a little uneasy. I was pleasantly surprised.

Stepping into its large space, ‘sNice’s atmosphere was one of relaxation, calmness and subtle creativity. The exposed brick walls were delicately decorated with photographs taken by independent photographers from around the city. One wall featured a large antique bookcase outfitted with various novels for customers to enjoy while sipping on their soy lattes. The ceilings of ‘sNice had ceiling fans. Yes, ceiling fans! I have this great love of ceiling fans. They give a great air flow to prevent a stifling atmosphere. They also bring a sense of home and relaxation to any coffee shop. The back of the shop, outside of the iron New York City grates was a graffiti-decorated wall. I’m not sure if they intended for patrons of the shop to take great notice of what the outside wall showed, but it added that artistic and creative feel to ‘sNice that gives it such great character.

The food offered at ‘sNice may be off-putting to some people if they are accustomed to the traditional burger or sandwich. While they do offer food such as the Cuban panini or a grilled chicken sandwich, the “meat” at ‘sNice is actually a soy-based product. Most of the foods mimic meat with seitan, tempeh, or TVP (textured vegetable protein). Actually quite delicious. For dinner I had the Quinoa salad (pictured). Quinoa is a complete protein, is easy on the stomach, simple to prepare, and tastes great (see more info for great Quinoa recipes at Recipe For Life). Besides the grain, this salad featured freshly cut avocado, vine-ripened tomatoes, corn and black beans. At only $8.95, this dinner was definitely well worth every penny.

For dessert, I enjoyed a Decaf Soy Latte and an Apple Bran muffin. The latte was incredibly smooth and delicious. The espresso was beautifully ground and pressed into my cup for me to enjoy. The muffin, vegan, was amazing. Tasting of cinnamon, apples, sugar and freshness it is difficult for me to believe that it was healthy. Also, both the latte and the muffin cost me only $5.50, a steal for any coffee shop in the City. I will most certainly be stopping by here in the future for dinner, a cup of soy latte and freshly baked muffin.

Last night led me to dinner down in the Lower East Side. It just so happens that I dined a few blocks away from my favorite bakery / coffee shop, Sugar Sweet Sunshine. Located at 126 Rivington (at Essex), this kitschy little gem of a bakery offers much to the eye (and stomach). The shop is nestled inconspicuously between two other retail stores and if you’re not looking, you may walk right by it. A simple chalkboard display outside dictates the bakeries specials and various cupcake flavors, beckoning customers to come inside.

Upon opening the doors to Sugar Sweet Sunshine a waft of delicious and sugary cupcake smells filled my nose. The first thing I noticed, after the aroma, was the decor of the sitting area. Antique bookshelves and comfortable chairs outfitted the customers’ area for enjoying their baked selections. The music played in the background on a very low, relaxing and enjoyable level. Most customers that I observed last night were enjoying a good book or were chatting with a group of friends. I will definitely find myself here in the future with a novel in hand.

The sweets at Sugar Sweet Sunshine are a story unto themselves. They are fabulous. I can say with the utmost confidence that this cupcake is possibly the best that I have tasted in New York City. In a place so overridden with cupcake shops as this one, that’s a mouthful to say! Last night I tasted a bite of the cupcake that my friend ordered, the Sunshine. This is a simple yellow cake with vanilla buttercream frosting but the taste experience definitely was not simple. Unlike most cupcakes in the City, the frosting was sweet and buttery yet not overpowering. The cake. The cake is what stood out most: moist, buttery, sugary and a right-from-the-oven taste that makes my mouth water just writing this blog. I hope that you take me seriously when I tell you that this cupcake experience cannot be surpassed.

Another claim to fame that Sugar Sweet Sunshine boasts is its trifle. Trifle is an English dessert usually consisting of custard and cake soaked in wine or liqueur, and jam, fruit, or the like. The bakery stocks a vanilla pudding/trifle, and a chocolate chip cookie trifle, which has butterscotch pudding layered with homemade whipped cream and of course, chocolate chip cookies. Their seasonal trifle, the Pumpkin Trifle, is to die for. I had this in the past and almost died. Twice. So rich, decadent, smooth and delicious, this sweet features eggnog pudding layered with homemade pumpkin cake. Yes, I’m being serious. It’s utterly amazing. Go get some.

The beverages at Sugar Sweet Sunshine are typical of any coffee shop. They sell coffee (1 kind of bean), espresso-based drinks, hot cocoa and tea. The standout here is the whole leaf tea selection. There easily were 10 different flavors of tea, all hand bagged and kept in their own little glass containers. Last night I happened to order a small coffee. It was burnt, a very dark roast and had been sitting for awhile. To their credit, it was 8:30 in the evening and probably were not anticipating many more coffee orders. At $1 for a small, if I were in the area again I would stop by for a cupcake and another inexpensive cup of coffee.

Give them a try. Sugar Sweet Sunshine definitely will not let you down. Literally…the best cupcake in the City.