Take Manhattan with some of our favorite shops in our home borough.
There was once a time, not so long ago, when New York City's specialty coffee scene was thought to pale in comparison to some of its West Coast counterparts.
Happily, those days are long behind us! And while we may be biased, we also confidently say that it's one of the great coffee shop cities in the world. Whether you are a native New Yorker or are just visiting the city, here are five of our favorite Manhattan shops that are guaranteed to carry various types of coffee. And don't worry we’ll discuss the best coffee in Brooklyn next!
Third Rail Coffee
Greenwich Village
240 Sullivan Street
New York, New York 10012
East Village
159 2nd Avenue
New York, New York 10003
One of the shining beacons of the early 2010s NYC specialty coffee scene, Third Rail still remains low-key of underrated. They’ve never opened a third location, they never took up roasting, they’ve “only” served some of the most consistently delicious coffee in New York City for over a decade.
Third Rail’s vibe, whether in the tiny Sullivan Street shop or in their slightly roomier East Village location, is that of a reliable, relaxed neighborhood shop. This New York coffee shop, though, just so happens to be serving some of the best coffee you can find (from top roasters like Temple Coffee Roasters and Onyx Coffee Lab).
Coffee Project New York
239 East 5th Street
New York, New York 10003
Few recent openings have been welcomed by New York’s barista community as much as Coffee Project NY. Their tiny East Village shop serves their house-roasted beans alongside some of the coolest roasters from around the world. Their expansive Brooklyn spot does that, with more space for community and education-focused events like coffee cuppings. Both shops straddle the line between super-focused and super-fun brilliantly. Which is to say, if you’re in the mood for a well-prepared shot or filter coffee from some of the best coffee beans in the world, but you also want something with whipped cream on it, this is the spot.
Cafe Integral
149 Elizabeth Street
New York, New York 10012
If I told you an excellent coffee shop in New York sources beans exclusively from one country, Nicaragua might not be your first guess. But Cafe Integral does just that, and delivers not only consistently delicious coffee, but a wide variety of flavors at any given time, with balanced chocolate-flavored coffees more typical of Central America sitting alongside naturally- or experimentally-processed fruit bombs. The espresso’s delicious, and if you’re in the mood for a latte, their homemade alt milks are really well done. It’s a great coffee shop that also happens to be a great defacto advertisement for an often under-appreciated coffee-growing country.
Everyman Espresso
East Village
136 East 13th Street
New York, New York 10003
SoHo
301 West Broadway
New York, New York 10013
Another stalwart of the last decade of NYC’s coffee scene, Everyman still proves as consistently delicious as any shop around. The two Manhattan locations are about as aesthetically different as can be. The original 13 Street shop is in the lobby of the Classic Stage Company, a relatively huge, open room for a Manhattan Coffee shop.
The SoHo shop is both significantly more snug and more specifically aestheticized; it’s “homey” if the home in question belonged to Mondrian. Both shops manage to feel equally friendly, and serve excellent coffee. It’s not a coincidence that so many of the most highly respected coffee pros in the city have served coffee here.
Black Fox Coffee Co
70 Pine Street
New York, New York 10270
Black Fox was far from the first shop to serve specialty coffee in the Financial District, but in that stereotypically fast-moving neighborhood it is the one that, in some ways, takes things furthest. If you want to try a variety of roasters from both the US and Scandinavia, Black Fox is as good as any shop in the city.
You might see Copenhagen’s Coffee Collective sharing shelf space with San Francisco’s Ritual, London’s Square Mile, and Vancouver’s 49th Parallel. Like many shops, Black Fox has also started roasting a few of their own coffee beans, while keeping that multi-roaster model for an overall fun variety of offerings. Whether you want drip coffee, iced coffee, cold brew coffee, or a latte, they have it all.
Check out our other café guides if you’re looking to try quality coffee in varying states and follow our top coffee brewing tips for how to make a delicious cup in the comfort of your own home. Whatever the brew, Trade is here for you.