Having a Wonderful New York City
Coffee Experience
Finding great coffee in NYC is really difficult. There are hundreds of options before you in this land of plenty. These are expensive choices as well: Most lattes will run you at least six dollars, and even a lot more. The most expensive latte I ever had cost me $8.17 including tax – and how mediocre it was! I felt disappointed, disheartened, demoralized, and ripped off.
In fact, there’s lots of mediocrity and downright awfulness when it comes to espresso-based drinks. You’ve probably experienced what is all too common: A drink so dreadful that you take one or two painful sips, head for the garbage can, and call it a day.
It’s not surprising, because it’s hard, and often painful and frustrating, to make good drinks that contain espresso and steamed milk. There’s little room for error, with even the most experienced baristas running into trouble every now and then.
What I Do
I travel all over New York City to find you the best cafes – the ones that are worth your time, money and attention. Whether you’re a local or visiting the Big Apple for a vacation, to see friends, or perhaps to attend a conference – talk about bad coffee! – I’m here to help you find an espresso-based drink so memorable that it’ll stay on your mind well beyond the final sip. You may even want to tell all your friends about it.
Why Me?
You learn a lot visiting over 240 (and counting) cafes all over the great city of New York: What tastes good and why, what tastes bad and why, what needs to happen for more cafes to provide better-tasing lattes, and much more. I also lead espresso tours throughout the city, have taken many espresso and milk-steaming workshops and private classes, and do a lot of reading. Importantly, I also make great drinks at home with my espresso machine; if I’m going to judge someone else’s drink, I should judge my own as well.
There are lots of people who review coffee drinks, but I’m laser focused on the ones that have espresso and milk in them (if you prefer coffee to espresso, this site is still for you; visit my FAQ page to learn why). But most of all, I’m obsessed with the quality of the drink, rather than the café’s wifi or seating arrangement. Because no matter how good the internet connection or how spacious and beautiful the interior, if a drink stinks, it stinks, and you won’t be happy. I want you to be thrilled with your cup!
If you follow my rankings, you’ll have a great chance of finding the best and most memorable coffee drinks in the city. And if you read my blog posts or even take an espresso tour with me, you’ll know about the “how” and the “why”: Why your latte tastes the way it does; how to fix a drink that tastes sour or bitter; why milk steaming goes awry and how to overcome this common problem, and much more.
I’m also one of those people who LOVE the things they love, to the point of obsession (I admit). That’s why I talk about Seinfeld too much – even though there hasn’t been a new episode in a quarter of a century. It’s why I go to San Francisco, my favorite city, for almost every vacation even though it’s a big world. And it’s why I can’t stop talking about my Peloton routine and my favorite instructors – I’m all about the PowerZone endurance rides.
But back to coffee: Peruse my rankings, look at the judging criteria in this blog post so you can understand what goes into the scores, and take a look at my other blog posts to learn more about espresso and what I’m finding as I pound the pavement in search of that great coffee experience for you.