NYC Mugged - Exploring all the best coffee in New York City

For all you Hair Bender-obsessers: Stumptown has officially opened a location in the Ace Hotel in Manhattan.

Ace Hotel

20 West 29th Street

New York, NY  10001

I’ve been sampling the menu over at Ninth Street Espresso for the last few months.  It’s been an enjoyable experience so far so I will probably make it a regular spot in my travels.  The macchiato and cappuccino, are very good.  You can just tell that the barista loves doing what he does because you can taste it.  The iced coffee was ok, but the ice diluted it too much for my liking.  What I liked best was the regular cup of joe, which is my favorite beverage here.  It’s flavorful and strong and left a faint reminder of its scent a while longer after drinking it.  Now, that’s potent.

In March, they started pulling shots of Alphabet City Blend, which is a custom designed espresso roasted by Intelligentsia.

Ninth Street Espresso
700 E 9th St
(Between Ave C & D)

Intelligentsia Coffee is hosting a cupping event on Thursday, June 25th from 1-2pm in their New York Training Lab.  Since there are only 8 spots per session, they fill up pretty quickly.  And unfortunately, this one is currently sold out.  Lucky for us, they run these cuppings semi-frequently so  keep your eyes peeled for the next one.

What’s a cupping, anyway?  Coffee cuppings are used in the coffee industry to observe the tastes and aromas of coffees, which consists of sniffing and tasting to measure the coffee’s taste.  Think of it like a wine tasting for coffee.  It is typically a professional practice but can be done informally as well.  This event is for appreciation so go and geek out with other coffee lovers by tasting and discussing coffees and their origins.  Viva!

Abraço is the tiny little cafe situated on 7th Street, near First Avenue.  Translated from Portuguese, abraco literally means “an embrace”.  It’s not uncommon to walk by and hear the sounds of Brazilian jazz dancing through the front windows, with a line of people waiting patiently for their caffeine fix.  The coffeehouse is set up like a traditional Italian espresso bar, with large windows overlooking the street.  You order your beverage and drink it while standing.  It’s the perfect pit stop on the way to work, in between errands or on your way to your next adventure. Read the rest of this entry »