A delicious cup of coffee.
Everyone is talking about New Years resolutions. All this talk of diet and exercise is making me tired. So I started thinking about having a cup of coffee.
I love a delicious cup of coffee. I like it served to me with a smile. I like to drink it in a comfortable place, a calm and well decorated place that offers a clean bathroom. Taking the time to have a cup of coffee in the day is a luxury – so I like to pick a place that offers a moment to relax, a quiet place where one can read the paper without any phones ringing, or singing, or gurgling…
For me, the antithesis of the lovely coffee shop I’ve described above is Starbucks. New Yorkers are demanding, exacting and jaded – but we’ve fallen for the burnt tasting, overpriced, clumsily handled coffee of Starbuck’s, a chain that doesn’t offer comfortable seating, complimentary Wi-fi, clean bathrooms nor a bargain price. The magic of Starbuck’s is their ability to build a mega-brand without a quality product, good service, or competitive price.
The other morning I had a cup of coffee that was so delicious, the environment so delightful that I felt transported to the corner cafe of the 15th arrondisement. There were lovely pastries and croissant, a perfectly made cup of coffee, comfortable seating, lovely fellow diners – several parents with angelic little ones, complimentary Wi-fi, and a pristine bathroom. So on the chance that you too would prefer a coffee shop run by the proprietor with love and care, I thought I would share a short list of these places I’ve stumbled upon, and am always delighted to return to.
Chelsea:Â La Bergamote
169 9th Avenue (corner of 20th) New York, NY 10011, 212.627.9010
1073 6th Avenue, New York, NY 10018, 212.869.1700
Southstreet – Café Dodo – 45 Peck Slip
The next best thing to the charming little gems above is Pain Quotidienne. These Belgian bakeries are popping up all over and offer, sincerely, a delicious cup of coffee. There are several midtown locations, as well as Upper East Side and Upper West Side.
