Back from New York and overall the state of play is probably comparable to London with the amount of truly exceptional coffee houses. Now I didn’t get round every place but there are the usual multiples and then smaller local chain who from the ones I tried when needing a top up all served very drinkable filter which is a far cry from over here.?
Factors which help I presume are that they have massive turn over so brew time is usually very fresh and also maybe higher quality produce in the first place. Mostly take away as you would expect in such a huge metropolis but also the culture is very coffee orientated.
Then there were the serious guys who were incredibly serious about premium coffee, and the ones I had time to visit were.
OST
www.ostcafenyc.com – new place opened barely 2 weeks as recommended by Jason ( nice one). Made sure I called on a Saturday as Daniel from
http://danielhumphries.typepad.com/coffee/ mentioned he would be there. Intelligentsia blend extracted to perfection with faultless latte art in all the one I saw go out . this place rocks and will thrive I have no doubt.
9th Street ninthstreetespresso.com – 3 locations now my visit was to the original (I think) in the east village only a couple of blocks from OST.
They guys there were incredibly talented friendly baristas who served me the best espresso while I was there. The place oozes atmosphere and there must have been 5 different nationalities inside chatting away which added to the cosmopolitan feel. All said it’s the coffee that’s important and even brought back a pack of Stump town offering to play with myself.
Grumpy café
http://www.cafegrumpy.com/ had a delicious clover Yirgacheffee but didn’t see the Panama which I regretted. Had an espresso which was good and bought a bag back also to play with. BTW £10 for a half pound HOLY pap. They know how to charge those new Yorkers.!!
Over all these are all really great places with gifted staff but 9th Street is a no brainer don’t you dare miss, if you land in that city.
Overall cant recall having an awful coffee which I cant say about her in the UK,