Independent coffee shops hold their own keeping locals caffeinated and happy, despite Starbucks on seemingly every block. So what makes the best ones great? Is it the quality of the beans, a daily roasting, some flavorful espresso-based experiments, the latte art, pastries, or maybe food, live music or overall mood? Or some mysterious combination of the above.
Hoodline filtered the numbers to find the top five coffee shops around the city, using both Yelp data and our own blend of analysis to produce a data-driven breakdown of where coffee drinkers go out of their way to get the city’s best cup(s) of coffee.
Coffee Project New York
Manhattan
The island is full of craft coffee shops these days, but Coffee Project stands out for a few successful experiments on top of a strong coffee foundation. It uses single-sourced beans, does pour-overs and serves the espresso-based standards. It's also averaging an unheard-of 5 out of 5 stars on Yelp with 400+ reviews, for a few reasons. One is a "deconstructed" latte that includes a straight espresso shot in one glass, foamed milk in the next, and the combo in the third. Another reason is a nitro cold brew that comes with or without dairy. And third, it has a selection of iced coffee drinks with sparkling water or tonic — like one that combines espresso and ginger.
Brooklyn Roasting Company
Brooklyn
A homegrown craft coffee roaster chain with ten shops mostly around Brooklyn, this is one of the citywide leaders in local roasting. It currently offers about 20 types of beans that are mostly sourced from certified producers around the world. In addition to the standard drinks, it offers a few specialties, like the Maple Shay latte.
Martha's Country Bakery
Queens
Famous for its baked goods, particularly with its Queens fan base, Martha's has been slowly expanding its traditional American-style bakery operation to Brooklyn and beyond. The rows of cakes and other goodies in the window and the sweet coffee drinks —including creative lattes, and frappucinos—offer something for everyone. For those wanting artisanal coffee, it has La Colombe roasts on the menu.
This Paris-inspired neighborhood favorite has all the standard espresso styles you'd want, plus a few thoughtful extras like coconut milk as creamer. It also has a short but popular list of dishes, including baked items and flatbreads. Plus lots of other perks: beer and wine, macarons, comfortable seating, plenty of outlets, wifi, and occasional live music.
Beans And Leaves
Staten Island
Fair-trade coffee and fancy waffle dishes might suggest pretension, but this cozy breakfast/brunch spot focuses on great food and drinks in a cozy setting. A daily flavored coffee drink provides a fresh reason for locals to come by (cinnamon almond macaroon and sugar cookie are two favorites). The coconut creme latte is a main attraction on the regular menu. If you prefer the sugar in your food, check out the build-your-own Belgian waffle and French toast dishes.
