more coffee shop reviews on Instagram @coffeehonglics !…read more Hot matcha latte - 7/10 first couple of sips were good! matcha was a bit grainy and a lot of it settled after a couple of minutes otherwise, matcha flavor was light loved the little heart latte art Overall - 7/10 This was the first cafe we hit up on our NY trip and we loved the interior and the atmosphere! We stumbled on this cafe after deciding not to wait 2 hours for Golden Diner , which was only a couple minutes away by foot . The stone interior and big windows were so aesthetic. We got hot matcha lattes that were a bit grainy but otherwise not bad. We didn't do any work this time but it seems like a chill place to get some stuff done. There's a big table and a couple smaller tables that may be a little small depending on your set up. We think we might have seen some outlets(?) Overall, we loved the vibes of this little cafe and we might come back during our next NY trip

Great place to sit and sip if you're waiting for a table at Golden Diner but also a great place to…read morechill or to grab coffee to go. There's not a lot of space, but the tables are pretty and the booths are comfy, perfect for escaping the summer heat or winter cold. We got the Guava Matcha and Salted Miso Caramel Latte, both of which are delicious and superbly balanced. We didn't get to stay long, but I remember this place very well. Would definitely come back for coffee!

My friend very highly recommended this spot and made sure we came here. I got an americano and she…read moregot an oat vanilla latte but they accidentally made it with whole milk first so they remade it but gave us the whole milk one for free (so I got two drinks!). Both the americano and whole milk vanilla latte were delicious! Very cute spot, nice barista, great place to study but no bathroom!

Small little coffee house in the LES. Seating inside with a few small tables. They also have baked…read moregoods on the counter.

Hidden down an alley, this spot serves some great specialty drinks! The workers are friendly and…read morethe drinks are all tasty - I've had the black camo and the green one too and both are solid. Not too sweet and great flavor. Don't come here if you're trying to work because there's not much sitting space and it's kinda busy since it's a shared space.

Sawada Coffee shop is located inside Au Cheval restaurant for shared retail space that sits on a…read morevery obscurity alley in Chinatown, Manhattan, NYC. After reading this coffee shop that was mention in "Eater New York" on June 13, 2019, it lured me for a visit. https://ny.eater.com/2019/6/13/18677588/sawada-au-cheval-nyc-coffee-review Indeed, both Sawada Coffee and Au Cheval originated in Chicago, IL and now have a NYC location. I do not drink coffee in any form. However, I am intrigued with the military latte artisan craftsmanship creation and wish there was a military pastry or baked good in honor of my beloved family member who was a service member. I came to Sawada on a business day morning in the passage of time during my professional duties. My desiderium for a cold cup of tea to continue battling NYC's summer plaguing heat and humidity by staying hydrated prior to my professional duties and to battle the excessive poor air quality index (AQI) of horrible air pollution for consequence of Canada's wildfire smoke amid wearing a face mask. Customer service is very attentive welcoming and friendly whom my male server/cashier took the time to make suggestion with understanding of my needs and requests. This male server was not curt, but assisted me with respect, patience and perspective as I matter. He permitted me to take photos without question which are posted to this review. My eyes were affixed with captivation for the pastries/ baked goods particularly the gargantuan chocolate chip cookie $4.99. Oh! There are several limited seating with actual tables. The decor is dark intimate and cozy of wooden wall panels, and warm lighting. Sawada Coffee features a stylized, half-face half-skull caricature of founder and world-champion barista Hiroshi Sawada. The self-serve condiment station is abundant comprehensive well stocked including honey, brown sugar, coffee sweeteners, syrups, coffee lids and cold cup lids. Sustainable paper straws are available which tasted disgusting for an undesirable cardboard-like flavor totally impair enjoyment of my drink. Oh! Sawada's post cards and stickers are available for grabs. Au Cheval restaurant business card is also available for grabs. I would surely return for this coveted chocolate chip cookie. Jasmine cold brew, $5.95 I always have a strong predilection for Jasmine tea. I love the pleasant aromatic scent. Jasmine green tea (hot) is stocked in my home. It surely awaken my soul filling with renewed hope and optimism. There were abundant large block square ice cubes which amazingly sustained my drink's coldness the entire sipping time while I was in the vicinity. My cup was finally sweating with condensation from the ice. At long last! I always drink slowly for full immerse enjoyment especially wine. The tea was refreshing for taste and to intake antioxidants for health benefits. It is then I was able to achieve equanimity state of being.

Came here on a sunday afternoon. It was lively, but we were able to quickly get drinks and find a…read moretable. I really liked the plant decor and the amount of natural lighting, and how they had games like chess and uno that you could play for free. The drinks themselves were just ok. The matcha latte had ok flavor, but the freddo cappuccino had a bit of a metallic aftertaste. However, I would come back again for the ambiance.

What a cute coffee shop in the middle of NOHO that serves yummy drinks and feels very peaceful?!…read moreHeard about it a while and decided to stop by since I was in the area. Got myself a Cafe Lyria which is their Greek espresso with honey and oatmilk. I typically get my lattes with less ice but I actually would not recommend it for this drink because it does help dilute the espresso and the sweetness. It was strong and tasty overall. The decor was very cute and aesthetic with the high ceilings, giant floor to ceiling windows, greenery, brick walls and wooden furniture. Good amount of seating indoor and outdoor - perfect for a chill hangout or to get some work done. Staff were polite. Drinks came out quick despite a long line on a weekend morning.

very pretty interior and delicious matcha. matcha is of kagoshima origin, one of the most umami and…read morevegetal grades I've tasted. slight floral too. they use 6g in the large cup (upgrade)!

I've walked by this place many times and finally decided to go. I like the bright, spacious, simple…read moreinterior. I was interested in multiple teas so decided to book the tea flight. I didn't know much about it going in besides that I have to book in advance and can't request it on the spot. Summary is I like their teas but the service/operations were bad. It wasn't clear on their website but turns out tea flight lets you try shot glass sizes of 6 cold teas plus a pastry from their counter. Then you can pick a full size drink of anything from their menu (doesn't have to be limited to the 6 from the flight). I've had tea tasting at other places before where there's more interaction and educational aspect from the barista, but that wasn't the experience here. Nothing wrong with that, just setting expectations. The timing of things was what went wrong. The website says it's a 30 minute experience, so I booked 1:30pm in order to make it to a 2:00pm appointment down the street. I arrived ~1:19pm, and the barista asked for me to wait until 1:30pm. I know I was early so I was fine with sitting and waiting. The barista didn't start preparing my flight until ~1:33pm which already annoyed me because I had to leave at 2:00pm. There was constantly a stream of customers coming in which is understandable she needs to address them, but I don't understand why she can't make a cup for my flight here and there since there's 6 to prepare. While she was preparing I was finally allowed to pick my pastry, and by the time it came out of the oven it was ~1:40pm. By the time I got my tea flight it was ~1:48pm. I tried to give each tea a proper sip before chugging them. By the time I ordered my full size drink to go and leave it was ~1:08pm. I ended up being 10 minutes late to my next appointment and felt rushed during my experience....unpleasant. I don't know what 1:30pm appointment lasting 30 minutes means especially if it's not meant to be a guided session. Is it 30 minutes for the barista to make my flight? I can see how the tea tasting takes more time to prepare than a typical drink, but what's the point of requiring bookings beforehand if I'm not getting my experience at the time I requested, not like they reserved a seat for me at the bar either. I also don't appreciate the lack of attention during my tea tasting which is meant to require more service from the baristas. When I first arrived, barista A was the only one there and doing everything. As she was in the middle of preparing my flight, barista B and C arrived. B started working on non-customer order tasks, and C seemed newer with less awareness of how the tea tasting is supposed to work. B served me my flight and gave a brief intro but I didn't find it any more useful than reading the printout myself. A was busy the whole time but didn't check on me even when I finished my flight and tried to make eye contact to request my full size drink. I ended up getting the attention of C for the full size drink. I know the $22 tea tasting isn't any fancy luxurious experience, but it's still meant to be a bigger offering than a typical customer ordering a pastry and drink (let's say $15 tab). I was genuinely disappointed by the service from the lack of efficiency and getting tossed around. As for the actual teas, yes I like them all and would love to drink more. I ordered a matcha latte for the full size drink since it wasn't an option in the flight and I genuinely wanted it. My ranking is: 1. matcha latte, 2. sencha, 3. black tea latte, 4. black tea, 5. cardamom rose, 6. honey lemon, 7. white tea. White tea is last due to personal preference of not liking the stone fruit taste associated with it. Honey lemon is low due to the honey and lemon having bitter and undertones, not refreshing and tart enough. Black tea latte is slightly higher than black tea itself because it reminds me a bit of Hong Kong style milk tea (not the same tea blend but similar). Black tea is actually really good. It's smooth in flavor and texture. It's not too dry or overly bitter. Sencha is my favorite from my flight because even though it's not as deep and earthy as matcha, the one they use is so bright and refreshing with seaweed notes. Matcha latte is my favorite because it's properly strong (for cafes), nice green color, smooth, creamy, naturally sweet, and has umami aftertaste.

A very lowkey spot in LES. They have chai on draft with a banger of a playlist SIGN ME UP!!!!…read more I'll definitely be back.

I've consistently gone to Hideout Chai for the past few years and always plan to stop by when I'm…read morein the area. It has been my go-to for some of the best masala chai you'll get in NYC. All of the options on the menu are dairy-free since they use organic oat milk, which complements the tea very well. What stands out with the classic chai is the consistency of the spice blend; the flavors are always well balanced and it's never too sweet. They also sell bottled chai to go, and it tastes great after reheating on the stove. The owner is always really friendly and open to answering questions. The cafe itself has a minimalist aesthetic and gives you a sense of calm. The space inside is fairly small, with one large communal table toward the center and a few chairs with smaller tables along the sides. There's usually a mix of different patrons, from people doing work to others having side conversations. Definitely recommend stopping by if you're near the LES!

A really delightful, minimalist cafe that's opened up recently with a choice between dark and light…read moreroast for all espresso based drinks. For a hot day, I really enjoy their iced summer Americano. The lemon tartness complements the coffee for an overall balanced drink. SEATING AND AMBIANCE: There was no AC on when I was there, which wasn't much of an issue with the doors open. Several 2-seat tables, more secluded elevated nook, and communal seating. The space is designed around a feeling of calm: dark woods and white break and a touch of greenery to bring life to the open space.

Stopped by this new coffee shop for a quick "pick me up" and somehow left emotionally attached to…read moretheir iced latte (Apollo/medium roast beans). It was so smooth and delicious that I considered ordering a second one before I'd even finished the first. Perfectly balanced, refreshing, and did not taste like flavored water. My wallet is already nervous because I know I'll be back. Highly recommend!

We needed a coffee between breakfast in china town and walking across the Brooklyn bridge. This was…read morea legitimate hole in the wall type place. I almost walked right past it because I didn't even see the door. But once you walk in, you are transported to a tranquil quiet coffee heaven. There are only 4 tiny tables where people were doing work and one girl working behind the counter. However, the coffee was everything coffee is intended to be. Delicious, packed a caffeine punch, and love in every sip. If my hotel was closer, I'd go back tomorrow. Make sure you stop here!

Cute cafe w/ yummy drinks!! They offer macadamia milk :O…read more Several tables inside, but overall, the space is small - Lemon matcha latte: 8/10, I liked it!! Subtle lemon flavor, and they have macadamia milk :o kinda tastes like fruit loops lol, but would get again. Matcha flavor isn't as strong - Hojicha latte: 5/10, pretty milky