Cup

Cup is a cute and bright little neighborhood coffee-shop located in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. I was surprised to learn that there are actually quite a few great independent restaurants and coffee-shops in this area. I have spent very little time in this area and Manhattan Ave. (the main drag in that area) seemed very unassuming. Cup is located off of the Nassau Ave stop on the G train. Greenpoint is just North of the oh-so-trendy Williamsburg and, while popularin it's own right, is kind of like the slightly less cool little sister of Williamsburg.

My boyfriend and I went there on a Sunday afternoon in early August and I really had to look for the place, hoping that my Google Maps directions were not leading me astray. (usually my motto is: 'Trust in Google') It did not help that it was a weekend and, as usual, the MTA was having 'issues', but sure enough we found Cup, a bright emerald gem, in the middle of a very quiet and residential block. There was another interesting shop right next door, Brooklyn Mac, and I still can't believe we didn't try it.

There were a lot of cute gardens in the neighborhood and I really got the feeling that Cup was a popular community spot.

Cup's claim to fame is their Cococano (advertised above). It is basically an Americano made with coconut water and apparently a great hangover cure... so of course I had to get one! The barista helpfully recommended adding a lot of milk to help adjust to the flavor. He also said that if you're not used to it, it can be a bit of an acquired taste and I have to agree. I was getting used to it by the time I was about half-way through but I'm not sure I will ever order it again. It's a shame I didn't really like it because I've read other reviews on Yelp that say the coffee there is great and brewed from local roasters! I guess it doesn't always pay to go for the gimmick.

Luckily there was no wait when we got there on a lazy Sunday afternoon, but I can easily imagine the line going out the door with early weekday commuters. The interior is on the tiny side, but it has very cute window seat with a little community library! The policy is: you bring a book, you take a book! Brilliant! They even had a decent selection of children's books!

It's surprising to me that their website is such a basic webpage, rather than the elaborate setup that most of their competitors seem to have, especially considering they have been opened since 2009. Their webpage includes a description, location, hours, and an email to contact them. Perhaps that is because they seem to be a much smaller setup then other chain spots (imagine running a coffee shop out of a garage). Come to think of it, most of the companies with an elaborate site, classes, etc have at least two locations.

Actually, visiting Cup has really given me hope for my own ventures. It can be very intimidating seeing the highly polished cafes that NYC offers but Cup proves that good coffee is really all you need to be successful. 

FYI- Cup takes cash only.

On a side note, we were also hunting for good record stores (it's one of the only ways I can lure my boyfriend into coming with me on my reviews). We were having a nice discussion with the barista and when we told him we were looking for record stores, he recommended a place just two blocks away called: Co-Op 87! Luckily they placed this sign at the corner or we would have had a really hard time finding it. It's very easy to walk past it in this residential area. Incidentally, it's a great record store and the salesperson was very funny and helpful. Definitely a place to check out while you drink your coffee from Cup.

Roasting Plant Coffee

Roasting Plant Coffee has two New York locations and one recently opened in Detroit. The location I visited is in the West Village, which is known for having a strong artistic and cultural community, filled with theaters, restaurants and shops. This is their 2nd location, their first and flagship store located in the Lower East Side. Upon approaching, there is a definite industrialist vibe to this place with lots of exposed concrete, big glass windows, and steel materials. Inside, this is further emphasized with a maze-like system of clear, pneumatic tubes winding all over the interior of the shop, going along the walls and even the ceilings. The industrial, mad-scientist look is broken up by a counter and benches made from ply-wood, and bright primary accent colors scattered about. Something about this combination of hard industrial materials mixed with warm plywood and primary colors always reminds me of the west-coast, California-surfer vibe, and indeed, their owners feel that an infusion from the west is just what the New York coffee culture needs to shake things up a bit.

I actually discovered this place completely by accident when I was on my way to brunch at the nearby Morandi Restaurant. I was very surprised that this shop was not listed in my beloved New York Coffee Guide, as it seems to already have had an extensive number of reviews done on it by some pretty big names!

Menu

I noticed that they seem to have the basic sugary coffee options, but not of the coffee shake variety such as Starbucks' Frappuccinos. Maybe they will make something like this if you ask nicely, but I kinda doubt it.

Eureka! At last! This wall explains everything!

On The Shelf: Bodum Products

Their shelf products consist primarily of Bodum products, which you can buy directly on their website, including drink-wear, grinders, and brewers. They have a very pretty Cona Vacuum Brewer which I am currently lusting after and looks like a Steam-Punker's wet dream (see top shelf of pic above).

The JavaBot System

The JavaBot. Where to begin? This is a patented system of pneumatic tubes designed to keep the coffee beans at their peak of freshness. The coffee is changed every 48 hours and is meant to take the human element (i.e.- mistakes) out of the usual roasting process. I won't go into detail about the entire system as you can find multiple explanations across other reviews and on their website. Also, I have to include the usual maniacal, paranoid warning/reference about the machines rising against us, but other than that, I will say it's pretty darn cool to watch this baby in action! Dinner and a show!

If I drink this, will I become lucky?? I'll let you know...

As usual, I don't really like to review the actual coffee because I think it is highly subjective and I hardly consider myself a connoisseur on the subject. Instead, I prefer to review a shop from the average consumer's point of view and try to comment on what I see as good marketing/business strategies. I don't know enough to say that this is actually as fresh as they claim but as coffee goes, I liked it.

Milk Bar

Love this high-tech way of pouring the milk! So easy- no muss, no fuss! Brilliant! Although, I am curious how they clean it- seems complicated, but I'm sure they have their ways. I have no complaints about the cleanliness of this place. Everything seemed polished and cleaned to within an inch of its life!

Chocolate Chip Cookies are said to be the 'best in the city' according to Serious Eats

According to Serious Eats, the chocolate chip cookies, baked fresh 4-5 a day at the Roasting Plant cafes, are the Chocolate Chip Cookie Champion of New York City. A pretty lofty title if I do say so myself! The dough is actually made by Tom Cat Bakery and is sold in many cafes across the city, but Roasting Plant is the only one which bakes them fresh at their location throughout the day. What did we learn from this? Freshness is key! Also, exceptional ingredients. These cookies are made with pastry flour and Callebaut chocolate, commonly believed to be the best quality chocolate by professional pastry chefs (or at least the French pastry chef I used to work for, who has been in the industry for almost 20 years).

I wish I had known this before I went there, (I usually like to do a little research before reviewing a place) as I would have tried one, but who am I to turn away from fate just because of a lack of research? Instead I purchased the Peanut Butter & Jelly Bar, a scrumptious concoction that looks like a giant chocolate candy bar and does little to hint at the yumminess inside. I did not take a picture of this as it was a scorching hot day in July and my purchase completely melted before I had a chance to even eat it! Luckily it was packaged in plastic or I would have had a gooey disaster inside my purse. I didn't let that stop me though. I solved this little problem by briefly sticking it in my fridge at home to harden up the chocolate enough to peel the plastic off before devouring it. Wow. So- good. It was a little hard to tell as it had melted together and re-solidified before I had a chance to eat it, but it seemed to have 3 layers: peanut butter with little bits of peanut, a thin layer of something spongy (maybe a cake?), and jelly that was not your typical straight-up jelly- it seemed like it did not have as much moisture as regular jelly and was probably made from scratch and boiled down to make it concentrated, but I have no way of confirming this. If anyone happens to know how this was made, I would love a blow-by-blow! All-in-all, I was very impressed.

Their website is also very good and offers a 'subscription' service where you can sign up for a regular, scheduled delivery of coffee, either:  weekly, bi-monthly, or monthly. On their Shopping Section, you can order from a decent selection of their coffees. What I really like about this feature is that they include a very detailed description of each coffee and include a scale of how the coffee rates according to Acidity, Body, and Roast. You can also specify what kind of grind you need for the coffee according to your brewing method and even whether you want the coffee roasted or un-roasted! It really takes the guesswork out of the equation for both the average consumer who just wants the coffee they make at home to be the best it can be and the connoisseur who wants to control every aspect of their brew. A very smart plan of attack!

Fairhope, AL, Part Two: The Coffee Loft

This sign pretty much sums up the whole mood of The Coffee Loft: artsy, eccentric, bohemian, and fun. I have no idea who put this sign together but they really put their ALL into it! This spot has free wi-fi and while I did not have the opportunity to test it out, one reviewer claims they have an "honor code for coffee payment early in the morning after a run"! How cool is that?! I don't think any place in NY would do that for you.

They have art from local artists all over the shop, mismatched furniture, and of course the typical moody teenager scattered about. I did see some local reviewers complaining online about the prices being a little too high, but being from New York, I did not think it was anything unusual. Of course my perspective may be a little skewed coming from one of the most expensive cities to live in, in the U.S.

Check out the glitter painted directly onto the building!

Another complaint was the limited parking. Again, not an issue for the typical New Yorker who walks everywhere, but I could see why it's frustrating in a town where everyone drives.

As you would expect from a small business, they are anti-establishment (read: anti-Starbucks). Try ordering a 'Frappuccino' in this place and you'll learn a thing or two!

They proudly advertise other anti-establishment views with the poster above, featuring the local hero: Willie Bean Roscoe P. Coltrane, an honest-to-God yellow Labrador, who ran for mayor in 2008, and almost won!

It may be worth mentioning that the Latte Da! coffee shop, only a few blocks away, has many similar drink names (such as: Shamrock and Ice Rages instead of Icerageous) but who came first, I'm not sure. It's obvious though that there's a little competition going on here.

This is a pretty great shop and their sausage biscuits are a-mazing!! The real deal folks!

Happy 4th of July y'all!

Fairhope, Alabama, Part 1: 'Latte Da'

I spent the 4th of July on vacation in Fairhope, Alabama to visit my grandmother and some other family members, and of course I had to check out some of the local coffee spots! The first place I am reviewing is a long-time favorite of my family's, located in the heart of downtown Fairhope, called Latte Da. 

The Handle on the door is made from a piece of driftwood!

Many people may not know this about Fairhope, but it has a large community of local artists, writers, and other creative types. This dreamy bay-side community located off of Mobile Bay & the Gulf of Mexico is steeped in history and southern charm, and is quite proud of their burgeoning artistic community! This little spot is a great place to pick up a book and a cup of coffee and spend the day reading away. My idea of heaven!

The steel siding used around the base of the counter can also be found on the roofs of many of the houses in the Fairhope area.

I spy a bookstore!

The Page and Palette Bookstore connects directly to the Latte Da! coffee shop. This is a common feature among the shops in the historic district, which helps promote local, small businesses. I think this is a great practice! I love the idea that, instead of competing with each other, they realize that the best way to survive is to help each other and feed off of each others' strengths. Not to mention that it really helps to make it feel like a real community effort.

This lighting fixture is so unique I can't help but imagine that it's from one of the local artists!

Iced Latte

Shamrock: White Chocolate, Espresso, & Irish Cream

They had some really creative drinks and it's a shame I only got to try the one, but The Shamrock definitely fulfilled it's implied promise of being a sugary treat that hit the spot on a hot July morning. They incorporate ice-cream into many of their espresso and non-espresso drinks, which makes it a great place to stop for the kids too! The Iced Latte was pretty much what you would expect for a standard latte- a good balance of espresso and milk that needed little to no sugar.

So. Many. Choices. Aaaaaah!

Other side of the door, with the driftwood handlebar.

This place is a great spot to try something new & exciting but I get the impression that this is not the spot for a gourmet cup of coffee. However, they must be doing something right if they have stayed in business for 10 plus years, so I feel that there is something to be learned here. They don't pretend to be something they're not. There is no pretension here. Just like the local community, they are charming, casual, and quirky. They definitely know their market and I can see why it's a local favorite. Overall, I would give this place 4 stars for a relaxing & charming atmosphere and creative drink choices, and a 3 for quality.

Photos by Nathanael Maharaj