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Latest Best of NY

Ten NYC Alternatives To Starbucks

January 20, 2010 10:00 AM

Café Grumpy’s Chelsea location. (credit: cafegrumpy.com)

A Starbucks shop in New York City.

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with the beverages Starbucks has to offer and surely the coffee retailer is very much loved by many New Yorkers, but in a place as diverse and culturally rich as New York City, there must be other, tasty options — and less expensive ones as well — for java junkies or tea enthusiasts looking to get their fix. Here’s a list of ten such places and a sample of their prices.
– By Nicola A. Menzie

Joe The Art Of Coffee

Several locations (see website)
joetheartofcoffee.com/

Reviews & more info

Buzz: the cappuccino is to die for

Prices: $2.12 espresso, $3.24 cappuccino, $2.31 hot tea

Patrons at Sublte Tea (credit: subtleteastore.com)

Subtle Tea

121 Madison Avenue
(212) 481-4713
subtleteastore.com/

Reviews & more info

Buzz: ask the staff for a recommendation

Prices: $1.75 hot tea, $2 iced coffee, $4.10 green tea frappe

Jack’s Stir Brew Coffee

138th West 10th Street
(212) 929-0821
jacksstirbrew.com/

Buzz: coffee is great, but prices are kind of iffy

Prices: $2.15 coffee, $2 espresso, $2.65 tea

Café Grumpy's Chelsea location. (credit: cafegrumpy.com)

Café Grumpy

224 West 20th Street
(212) 255-5511

2 Brooklyn locations, (see website)
cafegrumpy.com/

Buzz: the staff is kind of grumpy, but the coffee is great

Prices: $2.50 espresso, tea, coffee

RBC Coffee

71 Worth Street
(212) 226-1111
rbcnyc.com/

Buzz: iced coffee is highly recommended

Prices: $2 espresso, $3 cappuccino, $2.50 iced coffee

Mud Coffee's mud truck. (credit: mudnyc.com)

The Mudspot

307 East 9th Street
(212) 529-8766
themudtruck.com/

Reviews & more info

Buzz: good coffee and chai latte

Prices: $2 coffee (or mud), $1.50 espresso, $3.50 latte

Sweetleaf

10-93 Jackson Avenue, Queens
(917) 832-6726
sweetleaflic.com/

Buzz: the Stumptown blend is highly recommended

Prices: $2.50 espresso, $2 coffee, 2.25 tea

Tai Pan Bakery

37-25 Main Street, Queens
(718) 888-1111
taipan-bakery.com

Reviews & more info

Buzz: variety of beverages, but it’s really all about the pastries

Prices: $2.50 iced coffee, iced tea

Gimme! Coffee barista Sheena Heise (credit: gimmecoffee.com)

Gimme! Coffee

495 Lorimer Street, Brooklyn
(718) 388-7771

228 Mott Street, Manhattan
(212) 226-4011
gimmecoffee.com/

Reviews & more info

Buzz: the iced coffee and espresso are very popular

Prices: $2 espresso, $1.45 brewed coffee, $1.90 hot tea

Indian Road Cafe

600 W. 218th Street
(212) 942-7451
indianroadcafe.com/

Buzz: excellent coffee

Prices: $.175 coffee, $2 espresso, $3.25 cappuccino

Alex

I don’t see the incredible Cocoa Bar on this list. They are located in Manhattan and Brooklyn, and go way beyond other coffee bars in the city by offering scrumptious chocolates and wine.
Al

Under researched list, folks, do your homework, please.
Jon Land

How could you leave Oren’s Daily Roast off this list?
George Wilson

MY FRIENDS AND I STOPPED GOING TO STARBUCKS ABOUT A YEAR AGO, WITH THE DIRE ECONOMY OUR COUNTRY IS HAVING ,WE ARE ALL GOING NOW TO A NEIGHBORHOOD PLACE IN WHICH PRICES ARE VERY,VERY INEXPENSIVE. . WE ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES DROPPING STARBUCKS, THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE ALL OVER NYC DOING THE SAME THING AND SAVING MONEY