((4.75 stars))
if you're in NoLita, have time, and in need of well-made coffee, then stop by % Arabica. i have been here a few times in the past and more often recently...it really depends on if i have things to do that involve traversing Prince Street. the airy coffee shop lets in a lot of natural light and has good lighting inside to keep the interior vibe bright, energetic, but not frenetic. the space exudes a clean modern aesthetic--off-white plus warm woods. a really good amount of seating in the forms of a large sofa area as well as the stools at the front windows. while the Arabica is often busy, the interior has that neat organized energy even with people milling about waiting for their coffee. while they do serve a small variety of baked items like croissants and brownies....the star is the menu of finely crafted coffee drinks. if you enjoy the flavor of coffee, order an espresso or Americano--the coffee doesn't miss. i believe it's a medium roast of Brazilian and Ethiopian coffee beans, but i think they have different bean choices or two if you prefer a different roast/blend. the Americanos, iced Americanos and espressos have a really satisfying flavorful coffee --kinda dark chocolatey, somewhat nutty, a low acidity, and almost a natural sweetness. really good stuff. the baristas here do not rush coffee drinks and that is a big reason why the drinks are consistently well-made beyond the talent of the staff. even when there is no line to the order counter, you'll often have a little wait because typically people sitting or standing around are all waiting for their orders. but the wait is worth it. trust. i will say the the folks typically taking orders feel a bit frosty and not authentic in interactions--just my read on the vibe. it's always a friendly veneer not a deep warmth especially if you have questions about the coffee roast or blend...maybe it's because lack of knowledge but often times it feels like they're distracted. but in their defense, everyone behind the counter seems to be doing 8 million things beyond a singular role which is a great and all, but I feel like this is why when i order let's say an "iced Americano"--the order will be inputted as a "hot Americano" as this happened the last time i was here. when i pointed this out, it still took a bit of time for my order to get corrected mainly because the counter person seemed to be doing too much or is tasked with doing too much. again, not a big deal but this is not the first time this happened. nonetheless, eventually i got my iced Americano and all was good. another snag ate % Arabica is the coffee condiment area. it's small and neatly arranged, but it ends up getting too crowded with people taking an exorbitant amount of time lallygagging while adding simple syrup or a lid to their coffees or the area is just too cramped because often the line to order snakes across this area which is only a couple of feet away. it's not the greatest placement for the condiments or lids imo. this can be (not always) be fairly frustrating when the shop is busy and you've already waited for you coffee and now you have to wait for someone to lacksadaisically pout a lid on their coffee, add sugar, their drink, etc. these are not reasons to avoid % Arabica, but to temper expectations when it comes to when it's busy or you want some down-to-earth hospitality along with your coffee. all that said, this is must for your morning or afternoon caffeine fix when you want a drink that is carefully made and represents that in the pleasant flavor of their coffee. read more