Partners Coffee Roasters
125 N 6th Street, Brooklyn
Williamsburg wasn't complete until Partners (previously Toby's Estate) came to town. Everything on the menu (both beverage and food) is worth making the trip for, but go for the bright, single-origin espresso, straight up. Trust us, there really is a difference between this and the house blend espresso, especially fresh as the beans are roasted in front of you. Partners' near-flawlessness extends to the friendly, efficient service and the stylish, comfortable, loft-reminiscent design - which is often mobbed with laptops. Before you go, you also have to try the signature flat white, so smooth and rich it takes you to another world.
Check out Partners Coffee Roasters at The New York Coffee Festival.
Two Hands
251 Church Street
Two Hands deserves a loud clap for looks, variety, and vibe. This big Tribeca room looks great and hums with activity from a crowd that seems mostly locals rather than workers. The owners are Australian, and the menu does the whole Oz thing – make it healthy, but make it look and taste great – very well. Grab a table if you’re eating. But if you just crave a well-made coffee and some quality time with your smartphone, settle in at the bar in the back of the room.
Check out Two Hands at The New York Coffee Festival.
Bluestone Lane
55 Greenwich Avenue
Bluestone Lane does not do unattractive: all its locations are a treat for the eye. But the Collective Café is particularly pretty, especially on a sunny day. The white picket fence might make you think you’re in Melbourne or Sydney. The menu will do the same trick, with its Antipodean views of clean and healthy living (including a totally delectable brunch menu). Coffee at Bluestone is never anything less than outstanding: it’s just a question of whether you’re in the mood for a well-pulled espresso shot or a famous flat white.
Check out Bluestone Lane at The New York Coffee Festival.
Banter
169 Sullivan Street
Founded by former Two Hands baristas and Australian natives, Nick Duckworth and Josh Evans, Banter is a new and exciting Australian café just off Houston. It brings together a delicious restaurant menu with a casual sit-down aesthetic, creating a perfect balance between formal dining and café casual. Banter features a health-conscious menu with items popular in both Australia and the US. The light wood interior and airy aesthetic, along with the beautiful prints lining the walls, gives the whole room a friendly, inviting feel, and the beautifully prepared dishes are not to be missed. From tempting chia pudding bowls to skillfully poured golden lattes or flat whites, there really is something for every discerning New Yorker. Added bonus? Their lovely patio offering airy outdoor seating during the warmer months.
Hole in the Wall
15 Cliff Street
Wedged between the narrow streets and towering office buildings of the Financial District, this lively Aussie-owned café has your AM and PM covered. By day it’s all sun-drenched interiors buzzing with upbeat tunes and lively chatter, welcoming you in through an outdoor oasis of lush plants to enjoy light, earthy batch brews and expert flat whites teamed with healthy, hearty brunch fare. At 6pm the café transforms into the cracking bar and restaurant, Sugar Momma. Hold the espresso and take a martini instead.
Citizens of Gramercy
362 2nd Avenue
Citizens of Gramercy embodies a ‘new’ New York brand of casual daytime excellence, where getting a healthy, luxurious meal and enjoying first-rate coffee isn’t mutually exclusive. On their all-day menu, stunningly green avocado toast is served with magenta pickled onions and swooshes of beetroot hummus. Laid perfectly alongside are jade coffee cups filled to the brim with perfectly executed latte art that screams to be photographed. Think pink with frozé all day or coffee enthusiasts can opt for the creamy, rich nitro cold-brew martini. The color scheme is rounded out with a glowing pink neon sign and luscious green plant-life scattered throughout the café. Coincidence? I think not. Citizens of Instagram, meet your match.
East One Coffee Roasters
384 Court Street, Brooklyn
Coffee connoisseurs will fall in love with East One Coffee Roasters (E1), a hip new venue in Carroll Gardens. Located on a lovely corner spot, this venue is striking in both the atmosphere and the quality of the roast. In addition to the spacious café up front, there is a large restaurant with a full-service menu—and trust me you do not want to skip it! The food is absolutely delicious, their beans are well roasted, and there is plenty of space to enjoy yourself with family and friends.
Check out East One Coffee Roasters at The New York Coffee Festival.
Image: Henry Hargreaves
Jack's Wife Freda
50 Carmine Street
Jack's Wife Freda is hard to miss—their blue and white striped awning and colorful flower arrangements can be spotted from a block away. An eclectic mix of Israeli, South African and traditional New York cuisine, their menu stands out from the crowd. Try the Green Shakshuka or Rosewater Waffle while sipping on bottomless Stumptown drip coffee.
Charley St
41 Kenmare Street
Increasingly, Australian cafes are synonymous with fresh, cool and featuring avocado. Well, welcome to Charley St. This all-day cafe is a great example of fine casual dining with young chef Dan Churchill blending his Australian roots and modern approach to food, creating colorful bowls, toasts and healthy treats with a focus on sustainable, local, and ethical ingredients. This served aside damn good coffee - in a city where finding a great meal and an excellently pulled coffee can feel mutually exclusive - makes Charley St a pretty and unique addition to the New York coffee scene.
The Butcher's Daughter
19 Kenmare Street
Vegetarians, rejoice! This plant-based "vegetable slaughterhouse" serves up a statisfying brunch, without a single piece of bacon on the menu. A typical Saturday morning will have a line out the door, but the stacked menu, complete with savoury bowls, nutrient-rich juices, four different types of lattes and yes, avocado toast, is well worth the wait.
Check out The Butcher's Daughter at The Street Food Market at The New York Coffee Festival.
craving more? see the full list of must-visit cafes in The New York Coffee Guide, which you can purchase here and at The New York Coffee Festival.