The 7 Best Coffee Shops In New York

With the moniker “the city that never sleeps”, New York is the perfect place for coffee-centric lovers to search for their favourite brew. With new shops opening up weekly trying to establish themselves in this market, there really is an endless array of options for coffee in New York.

In this constantly-evolving coffee culture, these are the seven best shops for coffee in New York.

The 7 Best Coffee Shops In New York, How do these rankings work?

1. Birch Coffee

Birch Coffee is a chain coffee shop, but it’s still one of the more trusted shops by New Yorkers. It doesn’t matter which shop you go to because what you’ll get is a consistently great cup of specialty coffee at Birch’s.

Treat yourself to any one of their most popular orders, a Chai Latte or Iced Coffee.

2. Hi-Collar

Hi-Collar is a really small coffee shop in East Village that is inviting and well-known amongst locals, despite its miniature size. With only ten seats in this coffee shop, it’s best to just grab a coffee and then be on your way.

At Hi-Collar, you can choose the bean you want for your coffee which makes each experience here different and exciting.

3. Culture Espresso

Culture Espresso is known for their perfectly-brewed espresso as well as their drip coffees. They are known for brewing some of the more stronger coffees in New York so don’t be surprised if you’re still on that caffeine high some 10-12 hours later.

Get a single shot of espresso here, or, if you don’t feel like staying up past your bedtime, their flat whites are amazing as well.

4. Coffee Project NY

Coffee Project NY is definitely a place where coffee hipsters congregate. At this coffee shop, baristas and locals are constantly trying to find new ways to push the boundaries of conventional coffees with new java innovations.

It’s only appropriate then that you order their triple-set, Deconstructed Latte. It is a drink that you consume in three steps: a shot of espresso, followed by milk, and then finished off with the latte.

5. Stumptown Coffee Roasters

The coffee-drinking experience at Stumptown Coffee Roasters is much akin to what it’s like to drink coffee in Italy: standing up. This standing-room shop serves up some of the best cappuccinos in New York and is where all the locals come for their quick caffeine fix in the morning.

If you have a full day of sightseeing ahead of you, come to Stumptown and enjoy a quick cappuccino.

6. Intelligentsia Coffee Highline Coffeebar

Intelligentsia Coffee Highline Coffeebar is one of the few, if not only, places in New York that serves you coffee from an actual shop and from a coffeetruck (think foodtruck but for coffee!). Sip on one of their expertly-brewed coffees here and enjoy it in the quaint courtyard area in the back.

Come here for the novelty of ordering your coffee from a truck and enjoy their great cappuccinos.

7. Abraço

Abraço (meaning hug in Portuguese) is a popular coffee shop in the East Village that has a heavy Brazilian influence. This coffee shop looks very unassuming from the outside but there is some great and friendly Brazilian character inside. But once inside, it’s comfortable and welcoming.

They make fantastic cakes here as well so pair your morning espresso with a slice of cake.