November 27, 2006
The Not-Starbucks Niche
Tired of your job and want to strike out and open up a coffeehouse, even though your friends think you're crazy? Jonathan Rubinstein and his successful Joe coffeehouses were profiled in the Jobs section of the Times, $14,000 espresso machine and all. Rubinstein prices his java similarly to Starbucks and his customers will wait for his beautifully brewed coffees and espressos (the image is from the Joe website). With three locations (Waverly Place, East 13th Street, Greene Street at the Alessi store) , Rubinstein, a former talent agent, hopes of expanding but...
Joe has stiff competition from Starbucks, which now has 170 cafes in Manhattan, as well as from a new crop of coffee connoisseurs who are trying to fulfill their own entrepreneurial urges. Mr. Rubinstein said he recently found an ideal location, also on East 13th Street, only to learn that another cafe was scheduled to open down the block.That's so true. And opening up a cafe is attractive - you've got a place to hang out all day automatically! The thing is that Starbucks has a death grip on Midtown and other commercial districts, because rents are so high that it can be hard to get retail space. Then again, maybe customers are comfortable with going to Starbucks because they know how to game the system.Edward Rogoff, a professor of management at Baruch College, said he saw room in New York for small players like Joe. “People like local places,” he said. “Maybe part of the formula is just not being Starbucks.”
What's your favorite "not-Starbucks" or "not-Duane Reade"? If smaller chains like Fairway, Le Pain Quotidien or Love the pharmacy count, then they are on our list.
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Gorilla Coffee on Fifth Avenue and Park Pl in Brooklyn. It's ace. Not really a non-Starbucks, since Starbucks is only open on Seventh Ave, there to upset the stroller trash.
in williamsburg, i like st. helen cafe on wythe avenue - it's a cozy space, good coffee, and the decor is a nice mix of part grandma's house, part lodge, part small-town cafe.
in clinton hill i recommend a new-ish cafe on lafayette avenue called choice market - a nice, neighborhood-y cafe with a communal table, benches out front under the giant awning - lots of babies and dogs hanging around (dogs outdoors, of course). the coffee tends to be overshadowed, however, by the extensive pastry selection.
Nespresso
66th and Madison.
;)
i also forgot to mention gimme coffee on lorimer in williamsburg, as well.
In Soho, I love Balthazar Bakery - yummy lattes. On the Upper West Side, I am partial to Le Pain Quotidien on West 72nd and Patisserie Margot on West 74th in the Ansonia.
I wish I could say I didn't go to Duane Reade as often as I do, but it's on the way home!
i'm all for indie business, but joe's coffee is for le douchebags. they've got good coffee, but it is so bright, friendly, and expensive. i'd rather go to starbucks since they've got more edge.
Joe has fallen victim to the common ailment of having staff that think they are too cool to give decent service. You know, like when you go in and they are too busy with their banter to notice that a huge line is forming and that people are starting to walk out because the wait is too long.
I have been a regular customer of Joe's for 2 years, but after the last mediocre cafe au lait and having to wait around for the banter to die down, I'm not very motivated to go out of my way to get there.
Anyone who thinks Starbucks has edge has got some issues.
I specialise in finding coffee shops that not only have good coffee but also ones that you can kick back for two hours and read a book in without feeling rushed.
-B Cup on Ave B and 13th is a cute little spot that's not too crowded.
-9th St coffee is also nearby on E9th and Ave C. Only open till 7pm though.
-Lotus Lounge is a recent discovery on Clinton and Stanton. Huge space though it's crowded.
Many more, but that's a good start for the E Village/LES.
the mud trucks has great coffee! and the Mudspot is a lovely place to hang and drink your cuppa at a relaxed pace.
I'm not a fan of Joe's mostly because they're kind of expensive for me.
the verb cafe on bedford ave. in williamsburg.
lots of hipsters but great food and warm drinks.
Brazilian Coffee House on 30th and Lex. Friendly staff and their BCH Blend is my favorite cup of coffee in the city (it's a bit pricey, $.20 more than a comparably sized Starbucks' medium, but worth it). There regular coffee is good as well.
And, judging from the crowd, it's a good place to hang out in/study. I've never done it, so I don't know anything about WiFi access, power outlets, etc. for laptop users. There's usually a table or two free.
I second Mudspot.
Also, Cafe Regular in Park Slope (5th Ave. and 11th St.) has great espresso.
joe's?
besides the dumb name, their staff all have something up their asses.
the place is highly unpleasant.
Blue Spoon Coffee on Chambers Street!!!!! They are so friendly, the coffee is great, Crumbs scones and bagels and muffins--oh my! I love going there on my way to work, and their lunch menu is great, too. Considering there are FOUR STARBUCKS within 4 blocks of this joint, Blue Spoon is remarkable!
I second the mudtruck seeing them across from starbucks on astor pl warms my heart.
I live down the street from gorilla coffee in parkslope-I find their staff attitudinal but I enjoy the iced thai coffee in the summer.
Finding new and interesting coffee places in the city is one of my very favourite pastimes. These are some of the places I've found:
This is a very neighbourhood-y spot in Gramercy. Great coffee, lovely location. No WiFi, though, and on the weekends it tends to be jam-packed
New place with a fine latté. Free WiFi. Could use some couches rather than the rather sterile tables and chairs.
I've only been to the Union St location, but it was thoroughly enjoyable. I had a great cup of coffee and listened to some jazz for at least an hour. What else could you ask for?
kiva cafe on reade between greenwich and hudson. great coffee, fresh food, wonderful baristas. it's a small space, but nice and cozy featuring local artists' work, etc. there's also another one on hudson b/w canal and broome, i believe. love that place!
Joe at Alessi in Soho is the best! All the employees are super friendly and make a smooth, silky espresso drink. They also give me double punches on my little card so I get free drinks all the time! Yes!
outpost in clinton hill on fulton east of grand is my favorite cafe - the coffee is fantastic, the food is always delicious, the staff is awesome, the art is interesting, the ambiance is comfy, the backyard is sunny, the music is (usually) solid, and the wifi is fast and free.
what more could i want?
i guess it could be cheaper... but it's worth every penny. barely cheaper than starfuxxx.
Zibetto....west side of 6th Ave. btw 56-57th....tiny, no seats drink + go Italian-style.
Sìcaffe......Lex & 66th (?)...maybe 68th...try the Triestino in a glass.
Angelique....Bleecker....one in Noho...one in Village.
I like a place with real cups.
Would someone PLEASE open a decent coffee place in West Chelsea?
9th & 10th Aves are a no man's land.....(not counting La Bergamote)
I'm getting some great tips here. Moving to America I've found it hard er, finding a coffee culture here besides Starbucks. In Australia we laugh at Starbucks because it's just like McDonalds to us - soul-less, franchised, and kinda ugly. I was so amazed to learn it's popular here. Hopefully more small businesses open up so I can sip my coffee at a leisurely pace, in nice surroundings.
i'm way ahead on the dunkin donuts bandwagon - authentically working class and everything - so when the backlash comes i can laugh at all of you and say "i was here first, and i'm judging you based on your choice of coffee."
just kidding!
we all know anyone who would judge someone else based on their choice of coffee is a fucking asshole. there's far too much going on in peoples' lives to notice such a trivial thing in the first place.
my fave 'not starbucks' / not 'duane reades' as follows:
greatest things ever: books, coffee, chocolate, music, drugs, films, neighborhood restaurants, bread, bars/beer, sweets/ice cream, clothes, diners, readings and public libraries!
books: 192 books, housing works, st. mark's books, 12th st books, alabaster books, spoonbill
coffee: 9th St Espresso, coffee klatch (fulton area), juicy lucy
music/vinyl: other music, housing works
bulk coffee: porto rico, mcnulty's (christopher st.)
drugs: bigelow pharmacy
chocolate: li-lac
bread: vesuvio
films: anthology, millennium
sweets/ice cream: eddie's sweet shop (forest hills, queens; on metropolitan st.)
bars: pete's tavern, fanelli's, broome st., old town, subway inn, pete's candy store, tia pol, blue & gold on weeknight or early on weekend
neighborhood-ish restaurants: tia pol, quartino, lil frankies, financier on stone street, adrienne's pizza, atlas cafe, mission cafe, ukranian place on 2nd ave with long hallway
clothes n stuff (free/trade): dj shakey's thrift on at botanica on mondays every couple of months
diners: buffa's coffee shop (well, it's being renovated, but hope it stays true to its character!)
readings: poetry project @ st. mark's--it is so wonderful to go to readings here--so spacious, quiet, and non commercial; 192 books; housing works; proteus gowanus; lungful @ zinc; cue art foundation; public libraries; kgb; (many of the latter of these are free or donation...)
public libraries: people here seem to forget they can check books out; as much as i love st. mark's and the rest, whenever i go to the library--esp. the good main checkout branch near the famed reading room, it strikes me that there are no "hipsters, scenesters, upper east/west wealthy'ers" -- just very regular people. libraries are the essence of "not starbucks" -- support your libraries, people!
Mudd Truck all the way
For coffee, The Coffee Pot, on 49th & 9th. They have big, comfy sofas, boardgames, weird art and a student hang-out look.
Since I learned that CVS and Walgreens give a lot of money to the Republicans, I'd rather put up with Duane Reade.
i love new london pharmacy on 8th ave in chelsea-- they have the greatest products and knowledgeable, helpful staff, both up front and in the pharmacy
I second the recommendations for:
Outpost (Fulton & Downing)
&
Choice Market (Lafayette & Grand)
If you live in Clinton Hill, then you probably already know about these gems...if you live in Fort Green and you haven't made the trip over yet, then shame on you!
Instead of trying to cram one more cafe into oversaturated areas, how about bringing some of those 14k espressos up to washington heights, where the lone starbucks is always crowded with people who would gladly pay for non-corporate coffe and atmosphere. Joe would go over like a house on fire, up here.
Full City Coffee on Grand Street; 88 Orchard on Orchard Street.
I can count the number of times I've had Starbucks coffee in my life on one hand - I think their coffee sucks, to be honest.
I'm a fan of Full City and Lotus Lounge too. Personally I think Aroma has pretty good and consitent cappuccino.
I've built a website that lets people review independent coffee shops and rate the drinks there. Check it out at Cup of NYC.
And fear not, I'm not including any Starbucks locations! :-)
B CUP CAFE ITS COOL PLACE THAT HAVE BEST COFFEE AND FOOD.YOU MUST GO AND SEE IT 212 AVE B
ALL THE BEST