Although it is easy to find places to have coffee in New York, with over 200 Starbucks locations spread across the city, especially in Manhattan, and various other franchises, finding a truly authentic coffee shop requires more effort. Despite the metropolis having great cafes, the daily rush can lead people to ignore these differentiated experiences.
For those planning to visit NY, five options for coffee shops that offer a more genuine experience have been selected.
Reggio Coffee Shop
Located at 119 MacDougal Street in Greenwich Village, Manhattan, this coffee shop celebrates almost a century of existence, having been founded in 1927. Reggio is known for introducing cappuccino to the United States, using a recipe brought by the founder himself, Domenico Parisi. This immigrant from Reggio Calabria initially ran a barbershop at the location and switched businesses when he realized customers frequented the space more for the espresso than for the barber services.
Caffè Reggio also houses historical pieces, such as a bench supposedly belonging to the Medici family, a painting attributed to the school of Caravaggio, and an original espresso machine dating back to 1902, even predating the building. Furthermore, the location served as a set for classic films, including 'The Godfather Part II' in 1974.
Family Tradition Coffee Shop
Located at 342 East 11th Street in the East Village, Manhattan, this establishment carries a long tradition, having been managed by the same family for five generations since its founding in 1894 by Antonio Veniero. The interior atmosphere is already a point of interest, featuring stained glass on the ceiling, mosaic flooring, and preserved antique chandeliers.
Visitors should also explore the pastry section, as this cafe is considered a reference in New York when it comes to cannoli and cheesecake.
Counter Vibe Coffee
At 81 East 7th Street in the East Village, Manhattan, the coffee shop is named after a samba song by Gilberto Gil. Opened in 2007, it has a format more geared towards quick counter consumption. Its space is quite small, making seating difficult, but this characteristic helped establish the coffee shop as an institution in the East Village over two decades.
In addition to the traditional espresso, made with in-house roasting, a unanimously praised accompaniment is the olive oil cake, recommended for a complete experience at the place.
Devoción: Fresh Coffee
Located at 148 Grand Street in Williamsburg, Brooklyn (original unit), this coffee shop calls itself the freshest in New York. It justifies this title by preparing its drinks with green beans imported from Colombia, which are roasted just days after harvest. Founded in 2006 in Williamsburg, Devoción expanded from a hidden gem in Brooklyn to gain five other units across the city, including in Manhattan.
Despite the growth, the company maintains its independent operation, distancing itself from the logic of large franchise chains and seeking direct contact with South American producers, avoiding intermediaries.
Hi:en: Vietnamese Flavor
In Chinatown, near the Lower East Side, Hi:en offers an ethnic alternative, presenting the distinct flavor of Vietnamese brew. The success of the place is precisely due to the intensity of the flavor, which the founder Christmas Le compared in local interviews to something equivalent to 'two or three' standard espressos.
It is advisable to try the Southeast Asian coffee undiluted in this environment decorated with paintings on the walls, which justifies the nickname 'art café' given to the establishment.