Coffee Craze

 

Hello, my name is Kate, I’m a coffee-addicted freshman Musical Theater major.

 

First off, moving from Texas to Manhattan proved to be an easier transition than I expected. (Yes, there are cities in Texas. It is not a giant empty prairie with cows and a tumbleweed, like my friends from Jersey and Long Island believe.)

 

What do my suburban hometown and NYC have in common? A Starbucks or Dunkin’ Donuts beckons from nearly every corner.

 

Granted, these big-business coffee places got the way they are today with good coffee. (And yes, even I give in sometimes and get the occasional pumpkin spice latte.) Back in Texas I fell in love with a little independently owned coffee shop near my house. If you haven’t experienced the joy of small-business, self-roasting coffee shops, you should! These unique places are always can be found tucked away in various neighborhoods in Manhattan and Brooklyn. Often you’ll find they have different—and delicious—tasting coffee and a friendlier, less corporate atmosphere.

 

My current favorite indie coffeeshop is Jack’s Stir Brew, because it’s so close to the school. Jack’s is right next to the Seaport (and who doesn’t love a trip to that good ol’ gaudy, touristy mall-on-the-shore?) on Front Street near the Bodies exhibit. It’s a little pricey, but worth it, and it’s a great cozy getaway from the bustle of the Seaport and the financial district in general. There’s another in Greenwich Village as well.

 

Second, there’s Abraço, on 86 E 7th St (between 1st & 2nd avenues). It’s supposedly the best coffee around, with only rave reviews online. There’s no seating because the store itself is so small, but I definitely suggest giving this place a try.

 

So if you want to support a local business, or just want to feel adventurous with your morning caffeine fix, go out and find a local coffee place. You’ll never know if there really is something better than your four-dollar tall macchiato unless you try something new!