Best cafes in New York
Explore 3 independent cafes in New York. Browse coffee shops in Manhattan.
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Cafes in New York
3 independent cafes, selected for the quality of its coffee.
Local coffee story
Specialty coffee in New York
New York's specialty scene is dense, restless and inseparable from the city's neighbourhoods. Its best cafés combine exacting coffee with the speed and usefulness New Yorkers expect, whether the room is a tiny counter or a full-scale roastery.
How the scene took shape
New York had influential coffeehouses and roasters long before the third wave, so no single shop began the story. A modern turning point came in 2003, when Jonathan Rubinstein opened Joe Coffee in Greenwich Village. Other local pioneers and arrivals from outside the city soon expanded the market for traceable beans and carefully prepared espresso.
The coffee scene today
Every borough now has specialty coffee, although Manhattan and Brooklyn contain the greatest concentration. Home-grown roasters share the city with international names, ambitious multi-roaster bars and community cafés. The result is less one house style than a constant exchange of approaches, origins and service traditions.