NYC Coffee Rankings

Score: 4.7

Date visited: 4/12/24

Note: I originally visited Hutch and Waldo on 11/12/21, awarding it a 4.9/5. So it was time for an updated review — it’s still great. The score is a bit lower but only because I’m a tougher grader now. This is still destination coffee — love it!

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Score: 4.7

Date visited: 5/29/23

Note: This was the 100th shop I visited! I planned to visit La Colombe for this milestone and it didn’t disappoint. Destination Coffee my friends, Destination Coffee.

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Score: 4.7

Date visited: 3/3/22

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Score: 4.6

Date visited: 4/11/24

Note: I originally visited the Nomad location on 3/19/22. So it was time for a new rating. I’m happy to report: still excellent! A lower rating than the original 4.9 only because, as I note above, I’m a tougher grader now. This is still great coffee.

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Score: 4.6

Date visited: 5/21/23

Note: Bold and excellent.

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Score: 4.6

Date visited: 5/7/23

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Score: 4.6

Date visited: 4/16/23

Note: Fantastic.

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Score: 4.6

Date visited: 11/18/21

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Score: 4.5

Date visited: 1/4/25

Note: Fantastic. Rich, perfect temperature, everything a great latte should be. And, this shop is indeed named after a three legged cat! Click here to learn more about the backstory.

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Score: 4.5

Date visited: 3/29/24

Note: Stellar.

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Score: 4.5

Date visited: 12/23/23

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Score: 4.5

Date visited: 8/27/23

Note: Bold!

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Score: 4.5

Date visited: 5/28/23

Note: Excellent.

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Score: 4.5

Date visited: 5/28/23

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Score: 4.5

Date visited: 5/22/22

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Score: 4.5

Date visited: 1/10/22

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Score: 4.5

Date visited: 12/1/21

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Score: 4.5

Date visited: 10/13/21

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Score: 4.4

Date visited: 8/18/24

Note: Awesome. They don’t roast their own beans but who cares; this was great. Also, I visited this place when it was known by its previous name, Vibrant Coffee.

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Score: 4.4

Date visited: 8/10/24

Note: Awesome.

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Score: 4.4

Date visited: 6/3/23

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Score: 4.4

Date visited: 6/3/23

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Score: 4.4

Date visited: 5/6/23

Note: On the stronger side — we like that.

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Score: 4.4

Date visited: 4/30/23

Note: This was a tough one to rank. Incredible BUT the latte needed to be a bit hotter. Had the temperature been ideal, this would have ranked much higher. Still, this is destination coffee — it was that good.

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Score: 4.4

Date visited: 4/8/23

Note: The Aussies know their coffee!

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Score: 4.4

Date visited: 3/3/22

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Score: 4.4

Date visited: 2/4/22

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Score: 4.4

Date visited: 1/7/22

Note: Sadly, now permanently closed.

Score: 4.4

Date visited: 12/9/21

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Score: 4.4

Date visited: 11/23/21

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Score: 4.4

Date visited: 10/8/21

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Score: 4.3

Date visited: 3/29/25

Note: I’ve got all the love for Loveless! This was really good. Go here if you’re in Brooklyn.

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Score: 4.3

Date visited: 8/10/24

Note: Really good.

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Score: 4.3

Date visited: 6/2/24

Note: Excellent — bold!

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Score: 4.3

Date visited: 3/10/24

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Score: 4.3

Date visited: 1/27/24

Note: Very good.

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Score: 4.3

Date visited: 1/20/24

Note: Excellent. On the stronger side (Sweetleaf Beans). No actual cats there.

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Score: 4.3

Date visited: 11/26/23

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Score: 4.3

Date visited: 5/29/23

Note: Solid.

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Score: 4.3

Date visited: 1/18/23

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Score: 4.3

Date visited: 1/5/22

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Score: 4.3

Date visited: 10/19/21

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Score: 4.2

Date visited: 3/29/25

Note: Really good! Milk texture was not perfect BUT this latte tasted fantastic — rich, and a nice chocholate-y flavor. This is one of the best places I’ve been to in a while. Definitely go here if you are in this area of town. No sleep till Brooklyn!

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Score: 4.2

Date visited: 3/21/25

Note: My latte had a very nice, earthy taste so definitely come here if you like that. The latte art — a heart — was excellent as well. Overall, visit this shop if you’re in the area.

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Score: 4.2

Date visited: 12/29/23

Note: Very good — definitely a go-to if you live/work in or near this area of town.

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Score: 4.2

Date visited: 4/16/23

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Score: 4.2

Date visited: 3/19/23

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Score: 4.2

Date visited: 2/12/23

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Score: 4.2

Date visited: 2/12/23

Note 1: The shop was playing U2’s Tryin’ to Throw Your Arms Around the World as I waited for my order. I promise, I did not let this color my judgment! It’s a great song, though, even if it did not make my Top 25.

Note 2: Now closed!

Score: 4.2

Date visited: 12/27/22

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Score: 4.2

Date visited: 4/12/22

Note: I know, I know, I know. BUT, I had a good latte there, what can I say. If you’re visiting NYC I would not go here since there are more unique places. It’s been three years since I went to Blank Street so a re-ranking is in order.

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Score: 4.2

Date visited 3/7/22

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Score: 4.2

Date visited: 12/2/21

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Score: 4.1

Date visited: 3/8/25

Note: I originally visited Kobrick on 10/22/22, awarding it a lofty 4.7/5. It was time for a re-ranking. My latte this time was still good, with nice latte art, but the temperature was a little too high and I could not justify a higher ranking; the latte was just not as good this time around compared to last time. I still think you should make a stop at Kobrick as it’s still a go-to, and I think it may have just been an “off day” for the barista. They have an excellent reputation.

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Score: 4.1

Date visited: 3/14/25.

Note: I originally visited this shop on 11/17/21, awarding it a 4.3 score. It was time for a re-ranking, and this time the score is a still solid 4.1/5. While the music was too loud at 10:15 AM, the foam was nice, the latte art was nice, and the taste was bold. It’s a neighborhood staple, and I think it’s worth a visit, especially during the week, as it gets real busy on the weekend.

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Score: 4.1

Date visited: 2/8/25

Note: Quite good! The only thing preventing an even higher score was that it wasn’t my favorite-tasting bean, but definitely check this place out if you’re in the area; it’s worth it. I also appreciated the very nice latte art — rosetta!

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Score: 4.1

Date visited: 1/12/25

Note: This was a nice surprise, since places that have split loyalties (in this case, loyalty to flowers AND to coffee) are often not great, in my experience; this is not unexpected since a devotion to doing one thing well — coffee — makes for a better product. But my latte here was really solid. This goes to show that who the barista is really matters. Speaking of devotion, this place uses Devocion beans. Get it?

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Score: 4.1

Date visited: 11/3/24

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Score: 4.1

Date visited: 10/27/24

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Score: 4.1

Date visited: 10/19/24

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Score: 4.1

Date visited: 9/25/24

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Score: 4.1

Date visited: 7/4/24

Note: Solid — would be a go-to if I lived in this area of NYC.

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Score: 4.1

Date visited: 2/2/24

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Score: 4.1

Date visited: 5/21/23

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Score: 4.1

Date visited: 5/20/23

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Score: 4.1

Date visited: 4/30/23

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Score: 4.1

Date visited: 1/7/23

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Score: 4.1

Date visited: 12/27/22

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Score: 4.1

Date visited: 11/26/22

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Score: 4.1

Date visited: 9/21/22

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Score: 4.1

Date visited: 8/25/22

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Score: 4.1

Date visited: 7/24/22

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Score: 4.1

Date visited: 4/1/22

Note: Excellent. A go-to for the Upper West Side.

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Score: 4.1

Date visited: 11/19/21

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Score: 4.1

Date visited: 3/7/25

Note: I originally visited Joe on 10/22/21 and awarded it a 4.1/5, the same score it gets on my more recent visit. Great to see the consistency. Recommended.

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Score: 4.1

Date visited: 10/15/21

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Score: 4.0

Date visited: 3/16/25

Note: This was a good latte. It was on the milder side, which prevented a higher score, but again, I was happy with this drink.

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Score: 4.0

Date visited: 3/6/25

Note: A pleasant surprise, considering this place does not focus solely on coffee, which I have found is generally not a good thing for the quality of a latte. But, talking with the barista for just a minute told me she really knew her stuff; she said she had practiced a lot on latte art at the previous cafe she worked at. This was a very good latte, with a nice subtle taste, and, yes, nice latte art (tulip). The good taste lasted throughout the cup, and I would go back here if I lived in this area. If you find yourself in Harlem, give this place a try.

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Score: 4.0

Date visited: 1/28/25

Note: Quite good. The only reason it doesn’t rank higher for me is that these weren’t my favorite-tasting beans. But you may rank this much higher. Definitely a place for repeat visits. And it’s getting a lot of buzz these days (get it)?

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Score: 4.0

Date visited: 7/27/24

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Score: 4.0

Date visited: 7/27/24

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Score: 4.0

Date visited: 5/18/24

Note: The first place I’ve found in NYC that uses George Howell beans.

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Score: 4.0

Date visited: 3/30/24

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Score: 4.0

Date visited: 3/30/24

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Score: 4.0

Date visited: 3/28/24

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Score: 4.0

Date visited: 3/28/24

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Score: 4.0

Date visited: 3/27/24

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Score: 4.0

Date visited: 3/23/24

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Score: 4.0

Date visited: 3/10/24

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Score: 4.0

Date visited: 2/1/24

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Score: 4.0

Date visited: 10/7/23

Note: PERMANENTLY CLOSED

Score: 4.0

Date visited: 6/29/23

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Score: 4.0

Date visited: 4/20/23

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Score: 4.0

Date visited: 4/9/23

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Score: 4.0

Date visited: 4/2/23 — Now CLOSED.

Note: Nice and hot, with excellent foam.

Score: 4.0

Date visited: 2/18/23

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Score: 4.0

Date visited: 1/8/23

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Score: 4.0

Date visited: 12/31/22.

NOTE: Permanently closed.

Score: 4.0

Date visited: 3/26/22

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Score: 4.0

Date visited: 10/20/21

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Score: 3.9

Date visited: 3/29/25

Note: Excellent milk steaming and nice latte art. Really decent, just misses a 4/5. If you’re in Essex Street Market, go here. Stumptown beans.

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Score: 3.9

Date visited: 3/21/25

Note: A quite decent latte. The latte art (rosetta) was there but it was also hard to appreciate. That’s because it was difficult to see the rosetta, considering it occupied only a very small portion of the surface.

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Score: 3.9

Date visited: 3/14/25

Note: Very bold coffee — I like it! The music was too loud at 9:45 AM for this Gen X-er, but they were nice behind the counter. About the latte: As I mentioned, this is a bold cup, and I would definitely go back here; you should try this shop if you like bold. But, despite decent latte art, the milk was slightly too hot and the foam had too many visible bubbles, which prevented a higher ranking. But if they hit the sweet spot with the steamed milk, then we would really be talking.

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Score: 3.9

Date visited: 2/8/25

Note: Bold Columbian coffee! If you like bold coffee, you’ll like this latte. However, I must say that the thumping music at 11:30 AM on a Saturday was not appreciated; I’m there for the latte, not the club! But I didn’t let the music cloud my observations or affect my score. Gotta stay objective my friends!

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Score: 3.9

Date visited: 6/8/24

Note: Not bad.

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Score: 3.9

Date visited: 4/12/24

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Score: 3.9

Date visited: 3/17/24

Note: Not bad at all; just misses a 4.0/5.

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Score: 3.9

Date visited: 2/15/24

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Score: 3.9

Date visited: 2/14/24

Note: Bold.

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Score: 3.9

Date visited: 1/20/24

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Score: 3.9

Date visited: 1/13/24

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Score: 3.9

Date visited: 12/16/23

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Score: 3.9

Date visited: 4/9/23

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Score: 3.9

Date visited: 1/8/23

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Score: 3.9

Date visited: 11/6/22

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Score: 3.9

Date visited: 3/10/22

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Score: 3.9

Date visited: 10/28/21

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Score: 3.9

Date visited: 10/10/21

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Score: 3.8

Date visited: 4/18/25

Note: I originally visited this cafe over three years ago (10/25/21), when it was called Filicori Zecchini. I wanted to re-rank it, not only because it’s been a while, but because, in hindsight, with a lot more latte experience under my belt, I felt I overrated it with a 4.5. This time it gets a 3.8. It’s still good, but does not merit Destination Coffee status. But the staff are very friendly, and the cookies are good, so it’s worth a visit if you’re near here.

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Score: 3.8

Date visited: 4/12/25

Note: This was a quite decent latte, but the beans for it were not my favorite (you may like them better), and there were lots of visible bubbles in the foam. But this is kind of a cool place — the idea to have coffee while you’re eating caviar was totally new to me! I did not have any caviar but you should visit here and try it along with the latte.

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Score: 3.8

Date visited: 1/14/25

Note: This is a new place on the UWS, open for only a couple of months. Not a bad latte, but it didn’t particularly stand out to me.

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Score: 3.8

Date visited: 1/14/25

Note: Not bad, with a subtle flavor that tasted good, but the drink needed to be much hotter. One of the key things I have learned during my latte journey is that the correct temperature of the milk is absolutely crucial. Otherwise, the latte will likely fail, and sometimes fail spectacularly.

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Score: 3.8

Date visited: 10/17/24

Note: Good, but it’s just not my favorite bean. If you like the beans they use, you may like this a lot more.

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Score: 3.8

Date visited: 5/29/24

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Score: 3.8

Date visited: 3/19/24

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Score: 3.8

Date visited: 2/11/24

Note: Counter Culture beans.

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Score: 3.8

Date visited: 2/2/24

Note:The gall to charge $7.50 ($8.17 with tax) for this latte! It wasn’t bad, but, like Ralph Lauren’s other merchandise, this is way overpriced for what you get.

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Score: 3.8

Date visited: 1/27/24

Note: This place gets great reviews from those in the know, but I just don’t like the beans they use. If you do, you’ll likely rate this higher.

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Score: 3.8

Date visited: 12/17/23

Note: Decent, but I wouldn’t travel for it. But if you’re in the area, it’s worth a try.

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Score: 3.8

Date visited: 7/1/23

Note: Not bad but too mild to receive a higher ranking.

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Score: 3.8

Date visited: 5/20/23

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Score: 3.8

Date visited: 4/9/23

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Score: 3.8

Date visited: 4/2/23

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Score: 3.8

Date visited: 11/8/21

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Score: 3.8

Date visited: 11/7/21

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Score: 3.8

Date visited: 11/6/21

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Score: 3.7

Date visited: 3/27/25

Note: Quite decent, and on the bolder side. Too many visible bubbles in the foam, though. Fix the milk texture and this would rank a bit higher.

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Score: 3.7

Date visited: 12/30/24

Note: Really not bad, but the latte needed to be hotter, and the espresso part of the latte needed to be bolder.

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Score: 3.7

Date visited: 11/1/24

Note: The first sip was bold and amazing — initially I was thinking around a 4.5 (!). But the latte deteriorated as I drank more, perhaps because it was a bit too hot. So this latte snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. A bit of a tragedy.

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Score: 3.7

Date visited: 3/15/24

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Score: 3.7

Date visited: 8/12/23

Note: I’m not sure what beans this establishment uses, but I just didn’t like them. If the beans they use are to your taste, then this place would rate much higher.

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Score: 3.7

Date visited: 5/22/23

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Score: 3.7

Date visited: 5/20/23

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Score: 3.7

Date visited: 5/6/23

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Score: 3.7

Date visited: 4/19/23

Note: To be honest, in hindsight, with a lot more latte drinking under my belt, I overrated this one. A re-rating is definitely in order. Stay tuned. (P.S. Nevertheless, Zabar’s is famous, so go for a bagel with lox and try the coffee anyway, so you can say you had a true NYC experience).

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Score: 3.6

Date visited: 4/19/25

Note: When he was stranded in the combat zone, Billy Joel walked through Bedford-Stuy alone. Today, I was alone in Bedford-Stuy, too, but I was in the coffee zone —in this case, Little Roy. The taste of this latte was decent, though quite subtle. But there was no latte art, and overall this was just ok. It’s bettter than Nostrand (see below), so if you’re in this area of Bed-Stuy you can go here. But otherwise this is not worth traveling for.

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Score 3.6

Date visited: 3/14/25

Note: This place is known for its Vietnamese coffee and is highly regarded. But their standard latte was just ok (despite using Stumptown beans). Try the former, not the latter.

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Score: 3.6

Date visited: 3/23/24

Note: They only use oat milk! Considering oat milk is not my favorite, this ranks lower than it otherwise might. If you’re ok with oat milk, you may very well rank this shop higher.

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Score: 3.6

Date visited: 12/29/23

Note: Ok, but don’t bother since there is much better in this area.

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Score: 3.6

Date visited: 8/7/22

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Score: 3.6

Date visited: 12/29/21

Note: In hindsight, I overrated this one a bit. Will revisit.

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Score: 3.5

Date visited: 3/19/25

Note: This is a reranking, as it had been over two years since I visited. While the original visit on 9/2/22 resulted in a lofty 4.4 — it was great — the most recent visit was not as favorable. The latte was ok, with the taste deteriorating a bit over the course of the cup. The latte art attempt was not bad but the barista said they were still learning in that regard. Overall, a 3.5 is not a bad score, and it’s fine to have the latte with the food. Speaking of which, the food is good — in fact, the crispy potatoes were absolutely killer, with a huge portion size, too!

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Score: 3.5

Date visited: 3/2/25

Note: This one hurts. I originally visited Black Press on 10/23/21 and awarded it a 4.7/5 — I remember having had something great. But it was time for a re-ranking after a few years — I want you to know how cafes are doing right at this moment — and unfortunately, disappointingly, my latte tasted a bit stale/bitter, and it just wasn’t up to snuff. This place uses Parlor beans. If you’re on the UWS, I’d still give this place a chance; hopefully the cafe was just having an off day.

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Score: 3.5

Date visited: 7/20/24

Note: Like Moka & Co (next ranking), this place specializes in Yemeni coffee, so I tried the classic Mufawar coffee. Very good BUT, as with Moka & Co, the coffee was just way too hot at first; this may just be a feature of Yemeni coffee. I’ve discovered that I really like this kind of coffee, but the initial temperature is HOT and you really have to wait before you drink it.

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Score: 3.5

Date visited: 7/12/24

Note: This shop specializes in Yemeni coffee, so I ranked their Mufawar coffee, which is a specialty blend with cardamom and cream. It was quite good BUT way too hot to drink at first , which may be par for the course for Yemeni coffee.

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Score: 3.5

Date visited: 11/5/23

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Score: 3.5

Date Visited: 2/12/23

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Score 3.5

Date visited: 11/29/22

Note 1: Now permanently closed!

Note 2: I originally visited this shop on 4/22/22 and gave it a 4.5. My most recent visit was not as favorable, hence this new ranking. AKA: You’re only as good as your last latte.

Score: 3.5

Date visited: 9/5/22

Note: Yes, they serve coffee! I originally visited this shop on 3/6/22 and gave it a 4.4. Similar to my experience with Black Lab Cafe (see previous ranking), my most recent visit was not as favorable, hence this new ranking. Once again I need to emphasize: You’re only as good as your last latte.

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Score: 3.5

Date visited: 12/17/21

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Score: 3.4

Date visited: 4/19/25

Note: Not great, but not terrible either. Not my favorite bean.

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Score: 3.4

Date visited: 3/27/25

Note: A little too hot. Overall just meh.

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Score: 3.4

Date visited: 3/8/25

Note: This is a re-ranking. For my initial visit, on 4/8/23, my latte received a stellar 4.5. But since it had been two years since that visit, it was time for a new review. Unfortunately, the drink did not measure up this time. While this was a bold latte and the latte art was very nice, the good taste did not last through the entire cup, which is a major problem.

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Score: 3.4

Date visited: 3/6/25

Note: This would have been a pretty decent latte, but the temperature was too high so it was hard to focus on the taste for most of the drink. If the temperature was right, this would have ranked higher.

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Score: 3.4

Date visited: 2/20/25.

Note: Having visited Blue Bottle way back when on 10/26/21, it was time for an up-to-date ranking. The original visit saw this cafe get a fantastic 4.5. But this time the latte was just ok, and I was really surprised by that, since Blue Bottle is legit and was a go-to for me. The milk was not steamed properly — I saw large bubbles, the latte art was meh, and the temperature was too hot. And, the extraction was not great — the latte was a little bitter. Blue Bottle has bold coffee, which I love, and that is why it gets a 3.4 here, rather than a lower score, as the boldness of the coffee can mitigate, at least somewhat, the aforementioned flaws. This may simply be a case where the barista was having a bad day, or is not as good as other baristas they have, so I wouldn’t give up on this place at all, as I have always had fantastic drinks here, until today.

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Score: 3.4

Date visited: 10/27/24

Note: Not bad, but the coffee flavor was very subtle, so that knocks the score down. They roast their own beans. Go to Outro instead, which is nearby.

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Score: 3.4

Date visited: 5/9/24

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Score: 3.4

Date Visited: 3/29/24

Note: Parlor beans.

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Score 3.4

Date visited: 2/11/23

Note: Now closed.

Score: 3.4

Date visited: 2/3/23

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Score: 3.4

Date visited: 10/20/22

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Score: 3.3

Date visited: 4/20/25

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Score: 3.2

Date visited: 5/27/24

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Score: 3.1

Date visited: 10/26/24

Note: They give you a shot of orange juice with a latte — it goes well with it, they said — and a cookie too! Charming and I love it! The coffee was just ok, though. They couldn’t tell me what bean it was, and whatever the bean was, it was not my favorite, though you may like it better.

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Score: 3.1

Date visited: 6/1/24

Note: The latte was too hot and would have scored higher otherwise.

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Score: 3.1

Date visited: 3/9/24

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Score: 3.1

Date visited: 8/7/22

Note: This location is now closed.

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Score: 2.9

Date visited: 4/12/25

Note: This latte started off ok but then deteriorated. It was also on the stale/bitter side. Nice latte art though.

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Score: 2.9

Date visited: 11/2/24

Note: This place uses Parlor beans.

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Score: 2.9

Date visited: 6/8/24

Note: Not my favorite bean. You may like it better.

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Score: 2.9

Date visited: 5/11/24

Note: Ho-hum.

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Score: 2.9

Date visited: 3/5/24

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Score: 2.8

Date visited: 11/16/24

Note: I originally visited this place on 11/26/22 and gave it a 4.0/5. But this visit was not as favorable, though, admittedly, I probably overrated this shop the first time. You’ve heard me say it before: you’re only as good as your last latte — case closed.

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Score: 2.7

Date visited: 1/18/23

Score: 2.5

Date visited: 3/12/25

Note: Where do I even begin. I guess I should get right to it: Artly is a “barista bot.” This robot made my latte — it pulled the espresso shots, it steamed the milk, and it even poured decent latte art. It also asked for a tip (that was a hard no; I only tip human baristas). I guess Artly is some kind of feat of technology, but the latte was truly mediocre. The temperature was a little too high, good taste did not last through the whole cup, and overall this drink tasted stale. Is this worth waiting 10 minutes for? No. Watch the robot work on someone else’s drink ahead of you, and then go off to the nearby Blue Bottle, and then to Magnolia — their medium banana pudding was only a dollar more than the latte and you can’t go wrong with it. Bottom line: Pay for quality from human baristas, not robots.

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Score: 2.5

Date Visited: 1/18/25

Note: The first sip was excellent, but then I found that the latte was way too hot, which doomed it; it’s impossible to appreciate the taste when all your tongue and brain can sense and think is, “Wow, this is too hot.” I’ve come to believe that for lattes that are too hot, the first sip can still be good since you’re getting a lot of foam in it, which masks the high temperature.

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Score: 2.5

Date visited: 4/5/24

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Score: 2.5

Date visited: 1/13/24

Note: I think this place is better known for its pastries, which looked great. But the latte was not up to par.

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Score: 2.5

Date visited: 3/19/23

Note: Disappointing. The latte needed to be a touch hotter too.

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Score: 2.4

Date visited: 3/5/25

Note: I originally visited this shop on 9/3/22 and awarded it a 4/5. It was time for a re-ranking, and the latte, this time, missed the mark. To be honest, I always thought I had probably over-ranked Bluestone originally. The problem on my recent visit was that the taste deteriorated after getting through the foam, and the last 1/3 of the cup was not enjoyable. The temperature was good, though. The bottom line is that there is much better in NYC.

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Score: 2.4

Date Visited: 1/18/25

Note: The first sip was excellent, but then I found that the latte was way too hot, which doomed it; it’s impossible to appreciate the taste when all your tongue and brain can sense and think is, “Wow, this is too hot.” I’ve come to believe that for lattes that are too hot, the first sip can still be good since you’re getting a lot of foam in it, which masks the high temperature.

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Score: 2.4

Date visited: 2/18/25

Note: This is a re-ranking. Once again Coffee Project NY disappoints. This time I went to their Chelsea location, vs. the original visit at their East Village location. The latte art was beautiful and the milk was steamed correctly with a perfect temperature. But the drink had a bitter/stale taste. Coffee Project New York is well regarded — I even took an excellent espresso workshop with this company — but I have not had a good experience with, now, two of their locations.

Original note (visited 8/20/22; received a 2.5): Coffee Project NY usually receives good reviews. But my latte missed the mark at their East Village location. Despite good foam, the drink was not hot enough — a cardinal sin — and overall just didn’t cut it. Disappointing.

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Score: 2.4

Date visited: 2/19/25

Note: I originally visited this place on 10/12/21, when it earned a 4/5. Unfortunately, my latte missed the mark this time. Everything started out great, but then the taste deteriorated, likely because the milk was steamed too hot. There was no latte art either. I do think the barista may simply not have been as good as some of the other ones they have. Nonetheless, this was disappointing.

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Score: 2.4

Date visited: 11/23/24

Note: I’ve come to the conclusion that places that offer more than one or two sizes for a latte are trouble. This place had 4 sizes! 8- ounce, 12-ounce, 16-ounce and 20-ounce, with 2, 2, 3, or 4 shots, respectively. Ridiculous. I got the 12-ounce. This latte was not great, though drinkable. Temperature-wise, it was not hot enough.

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Score: 2.4

Date visited: 5/27/24

Note: The latte started off sour, though it then got a little better. But, overall, a disappointment.

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Score: 2.4

Date visited: 5/11/24

Note: This latte was a bit too hot, and by the time the temperature went down so that it was more drinkable, the taste had deteriorated.

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Score: 2.4

Date visited: 2/11/24

Note: Counter Culture beans.

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Score: 2.3

Date visited: 4/21/25

Note: This latte tasted stale — I think the beans had been sitting around for a long time. The food looked good, though.

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Score: 2.3

Date visited: 2/24/24

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Score: 2.3

Date Visited: 4/8/23

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Score: 2.2

Date visited: 8/18/24

Note: Started off quite decent but the taste deteriorated quickly.

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Score: 2.2

Date Visited: 2/24/24

Note: My latte was just too hot to receive a better score.

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Score: 2.1

Date visited: 2/18/25

Note: Another disappointing re-rank; I just happened to be here so I decided to try this place again. I originally visited their East Village location on 7/26/24, when the latte earned a 3.8. This time was not so good. The latte was made too quickly. The foam was not great — you could see larger bubbles — hence the latte art was not great. Further, this drink tasted stale/bitter once I got into the cup. Not good.

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Score: 2.1

Date Visited: 5/22/24

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Score: 2.1

Date visited: 5/18/24

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Score: 2.1

Date visited: 5/14/24

Note: This newly-opened place does not serve lattes, so I judged a cappuccino instead. Unfortunately, while I liked the authenticity of the place, my drink missed the mark, including being too hot — why?!?

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Score: 2.0

Date visited: 8/29/24

Note: I hesitated to rank Orwashers since it is mainly a bakery that does not specialize in coffee. But when I saw them advertising that they now use beans from Jack’s Stir Brew (one of my favorite spots), well, I had to try a latte. It was not good — at all. Go here for the food, not the coffee.

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Score: 2.0

Date Visited: 12/23/23

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Score: 2.0

Date visited: 7/1/23

Note: My latte was too hot.

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Score: 2.0

Date visited: 4/1/23

Note: I guess it really was April Fools’ day because this latte was a joke. Not good. Likely the food is much better.

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Score: 2.0

Date visited: 8/20/22

Note: My latte was made too quickly, with poor foam. That contributed to a drink that just didn’t taste good enough. Disappointing.

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Score: 1.9

Date visited: 4/5/25

Note: Alas this latte was not good. The taste was bad — on the stale/bitter side — and there was no latte art. This location is a coffee truck, but they’re going to be opening a cafe soon.

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Score: 1.9

Date visited: 6/21/24

Note: This place seems to be more about the food than the coffee. Perhaps that’s why my latte was not very good.

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Score: 1.9

Date visited: 6/2/24

Note: Slight sour milk taste. Will go back another time to try their Turkish coffee, which may be better than their standard latte.

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Score: 1.9

Date visited: 4/9/24

Note: Go for the bagels, not the coffee.

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Score: 1.8

Date visited: 4/5/25

Note: This was a bad latte — stale/bitter taste. There was also no latte art — never a good sign. This place uses beans from La Colombe, so there is no excuse for the poor quality of this drink. Avoid.

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Score: 1.7

Date visited: 4/18/23

Note: Not good.

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Score: 1.5

Date visited: 3/1/25

Note: NOW CLOSED! Original review: After getting through the foam, the drink deteriorated rapidly and was undrinkable at the end. Tasted stale/bitter.

Score: 1.5

Date visited: 2/15/25

Note: My latte tasted stale/bitter. Also, while I am a huge book lover, I think the split attention/divided loyalty between books and coffee at this place may be the issue — you want places that have a laser focus on the coffee.

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Date visited: 11/23/24

Note: Avoid

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Score: 1.5

Date visited: 10/29/22

Note: Scalding hot, and the foam didn’t look right. Should have given it a zero. The coffee truth hurts. Avoid, avoid, avoid. Now permanently closed.

Score: 1.4

Date visited: 2/15/25

Note: Really bad. The latte tasted stale/bitter. But this cafe seemed to be more about the food than the coffee, so again it’s a question of divided loyalty/split attention/not enough attention: The best places focus squarely on the coffee.

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Score: 1.4

Date visited: 1/18/25

Note: I did not have high hopes for a shop that relies on Jitters, “a first-generation robotic barista” (your eyes are rolling as much as mine are, I’m sure), to make pour-over coffee. Those low expectations were warranted: While they make the lattes by hand, my latte did not taste good. I think it was more bitter than sour. Maybe there was some channeling going on (an uneven extraction where the espresso is both under- and over-extracted at the same time). Avoid this place — unless you like robots I guess?

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Score: 1.4

Date visited: 5/25/24

Note: Apparently this place is all the rage on Instagram. But, the argument here is of an inverse correlation between popularity on Instagram and the quality of the coffee. Go for the ambience, not the coffee.

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Score: 1.4

Date visited: 5/24/24

Note: Sour. Avoid.

Score: 1.3

Date visited: 4/6/25

Note: It took just one sip to realize this latte was horrifically bad. The milk steaming was terrible — large visible bubbles and a miserable attempt at latte art — and the taste was awful. Do not stop by the Stop By Cafe — unless you like desserts, which looked quite good.

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Score: 1.3

Date visited: 11/2/24

Note: Alas, my 200th coffee shop was a disappointment. I did not like the taste — my latte reminded me of the one I had, on the same day, at Octavia (see below). They use Devoción beans so there is no excuse for making a poor latte.

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Score: 1.2

Date visited: 11/2/24

Note: No good. The latte had a bad taste, maybe a bit sour. Partners beans so there is no excuse for this not to be good.

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Score: 1.2

Date visited: 10/26/24

Note: My latte was not hot enough, and it was more like drinking milk rather than coffee. Avoid.

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Score: 1.2

Date visited: 5/29/24

Note: This was a latte that tasted like sour milk. Likely the problem was with the extraction, rather than with the milk itself. Avoid.

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Score: 1.2

Date visited: 5/18/24

Note: A little too hot, and it tasted like sour milk — we’ve seen this story before.

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Score: 1.2

Date visited: 2/18/23

Note: A sour latte means a very low ranking — the extraction was a disaster.

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Score: 1.1

Date visited: 2/21/25

Note: This place, nestled in the subway station, uses its own beans, but my latte was bad. Large bubbles marred the latte art (I think that was supposed to be a rosetta) so the milk steaming went awry. Overall, the latte tasted like sour milk. No good.

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Score: 1.1

Date visited: 2/15/25

Note: I tried to cut this place some slack considering they do not use dairy milk (only oat, almond or coconut milk) and I really don’t like those non-dairy milks. But, the latte I had was just terrible, well beyond the fact that it was made with oat milk. Not only did the latte taste atrocious, but the foam was not right — large, visible bubbles are an indicator that the milk steaming did not go well. One of the problems is that this place serves not only coffee but non-alcoholic drinks too, and this split loyalty — or is it divided attention? — can mean trouble, in my experience. Maybe you’ll like this place a bit better if you like non-dairy milk, but otherwise, I’d avoid the lattes here.

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Score: 1.1

Date visited: 11/16/24

Note: Atrocious. One of the things I’ve learned on my coffee travels is that places that are coffee by day and bar by night are usually pretty bad. A single-minded focus on coffee is what you should be looking for, if Destination Coffee is what you want.

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Score: 1.1

Date visited: 10/17/24

Note: Sour taste. No good.

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Score: 1.1

Date visited: 9/25/24

Note: Let’s give it an “AA”: Atrocious and Avoid. Bleh.

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Score: 1.1

Date visited: 6/21/24

Note: Terrible. Don’t go.

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Score: 1.1

Date visited: 4/11/24

Note: I just couldn’t drink this thing. Avoid.

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Score: 1.0

Date visited: 3/6/25

Note: This started out promising when I saw that this place uses La Colombe beans. But the latte was atrocious: bitter, bad foam, way too hot. Undrinkable.

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Score: 1.0

Date visited: 10/26/24

Note: When your reaction to the first sip is an audible BLEH! then you know you’re in trouble. The foam wasn’t right, which makes sense since the latte was too hot. I almost gave this a 0, but since my scale is 1-5, I’ll stick with a 1. A tragedy.

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Score: 1.0

Date visited: 5/22/24

Note: Atrocious. AKA: Undrinkable. Now Coppa Nomad has company.

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Score: 1.0

Date visited: 4/5/24

Note: Undrinkable. This place has the “honor” of being the first to receive my lowest score possible.

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