Apparently this store got really popular on TikTok, but I genuinely didn't hear about it until my friend introduced it to me. The inside has lots of study space and is designed in a minimalist fashion. They have giant cookies generously salted sitting at the entrance, and very nice workers. - Hawthorne tree (5/5): both me and my friend got this. If you don't like bitter coffee (hence the store name), then this is it. It basically tasted like Hawthorne juice. A bit tart initially, followed by a slightly sweet, tangy aftertaste. The last note was a deeper espresso flavor which paired surprisingly well with Hawthorne. This drink also has 0 milk in it, so a good option for milk averse folks. Interesting concept of a drink! read more

Not As Bitter - Hawthorn Tree - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

I came on a Saturday afternoon and the line was out the door. But it's because the counter where you order faces the door and the space is limited. So don't be alarmed if the line extends outside, it's due to the design of the coffee shop. I love the black and white (mostly black) aesthetic. However I wouldn't stay to do work here because oh how dark the interior is. I got the durian latte ($9) and I can say I really enjoyed it!! I don't dislike durian but I'm not craving it either. I got the latte with the regular recipe. They made my drink pretty fast. I liked the chunks of durian inside. The coffee was quality too. 10/10 I would come back for this drink! read more

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Just as the name says, the drinks are "Not As Bitter!". I knew I had to stop by when I saw they had a durian latte. Of course, durian has a very particular taste that is not for everyone, but they have other fruit lattes that include strawberry, banana split, pineapple and even persimmon. Along with the fruit lattes, they also have specialty coffees, matcha and traditional coffees you find at other coffee shops. If you walk by too fast, you will miss the entrance as there isn't a big sign pointing to it and the logo isn't too big. The wall along with entire store and entrance door is black so I can see it being missed. The dark interior made the store feel cozy. Though limited, they have seating available with a few tables along a big bench and individual chairs. The durian latte is delicious! Again, due to the particular durian taste, it may not be for everyone. If you like durian, then I highly recommend it! The durian is on the bottom of the cup, the flavor is not too strong and there are even small pieces of it you get in almost every 3 sips. The espresso is placed on top of the durian and the combination of the two is so good. It is smooth, rich in their respective flavors and you savor eat sip! Definitely worth a try if you like durian or want to try something new! After trying this fruit latte, I'm sure their other fruit lattes are just as good! Give them a sip! read more

Not As Bitter - Delicious Freshly Durian latte! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

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I heard about Not as Bitter after seeing their banana split latte but it wasn't there so I tried their double pistachio instead. The employees were friendly and explained their specialty menu is in order from no milk to the milkiest options. I went with double pistachio because it was towards the bottom of the menu and I was looking for a sweeter option. It still wasn't as sweet as I'd like, even after mixing it well. They change their drinks often so I'd come back if anything caught my eye. read more

Not As Bitter - Inside - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

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Went to try the Taro red bean latte and it was so good!!! Not too sweet and strong coffee flavor... just perfect for me!! read more

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Got bagels across the street and wanted some coffee so came here and ordered a vanilla latte. Really cool esthetics with a minimalistic interior. Didn't like my drink at all my latte at first was overly sweet and then ironically very bitter because it wasn't mixed well. I didn't realize also that their specialty was fruit lattes so maybe those drinks are better. Barista was also rude and I had sat down a little bit while waiting for my drink and the area kind of smelled like old mop water. read more

Not As Bitter - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

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So many cool specialty lattes! Banana split is incredible - definitely recommend. I've also tried the Persimmon paradise, which was good, but the banana is where it's at. 4.5 stars. read more

Not As Bitter - Banana split - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

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Their seasonal Fresh Persimmon Fruit Latte is finally back! Run there if you missed it last time!! This is my fourth visit to Not As Bitter, which says a lot about how much I love their drinks. My go-to drinks here are Banana Split coffee and Strawberry Fields coffee. If you're into fruity, floral, and creative takes on coffee or matcha, you might have a hard time choosing just one. ＊Osmanthus Coco- $7.50 *** OMG this might be my new favorite drink. The osmanthus flavor is super fragrant. I could taste the floral notes in every sip. ＊Persimmon Paradise - $8.50 ** Made with fresh persimmon purée and real mashed persimmon. So refreshing and naturally sweet. ＊Matcha Coconut - $7.50 A matcha latte topped with coconut foam. It usually comes with both espresso and matcha, but I had it with just matcha. Super creamy, coconutty, and literally not too bitter. ＊72% Cacao Espresso Cookie - $5 * Their bestselling cookie for good reason! It's a less sweet take on the classic chocolate chip: espresso-flavored, studded with dark chocolate chips, and sprinkled with sea salt. ＊Pistachio Orange Blossom Cookie - $5 It kinda tasted almond-y? The almond flavor was overpowering in this one. read more

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A super inconspicuous coffee & tea spot on the East Village - I don't know why I haven't been before! The menu is fairly robust - I had to ask a few questions and the staff were very patient with me and others as well. The coffee is strong, I was NOT ready. My friend tried the cloud top matcha with peach and I got the osmanthus tea - this comes with the tea, Americano, coconut water, and a splash of coconut milk. This was so strong, honestly maybe it's just me but wow. My friend really liked the cloud top matcha with peach flavor - he finished it super fast. The matcha is strong as well, I overheard the staff letting a customer know they do 3 scoops. Both drinks came to about $20 so you get what you're paying for! There's actually plenty of seating and it's relatively quiet - people had laptops and also were just casually chilling. I think I'd come back because it's so quiet to work, and try a fruity tea for myself! read more

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A cute and cool place to get your caffeine fix in the east village. The drinks are unique and are handcrafted so it takes a little time to get your order. There are seasonal drinks and they allow you adjust the sugar level and have oat and coconut milk alternatives. The black sesame latte was amazing on a cold day. I ordered it with no sugar and liked how strong the black sesame smelled and tasted. There are a few chairs and tables to sit and relax. The customer service was good and efficient. read more

Not As Bitter - Black sesame latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

This place turned out to be just what we needed -why? Because we had gone across the street to get a specialty bagel - and since it was freezing outside, we couldn't sit outside! I asked y college daughter what she wanted to do. - and she said this is perfect - because she wanted a specialty latte and I wanted a skim cappuccino! It's a no frills place and it was perfect to have our drinks while munching on our bagels (which they didn't mind)! You can blink and you would miss this place, but either thanks to Tik Tok or the college trends, we knew all about it! Around me sat other college age kids like my daughter, so I felt like I was surrounded by her buddies! read more

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Came here on a Friday morning in a friend and waited for 10 minutes in line and another 10 minutes to find seats during this busy day. I love the darker aesthetic of the cafe, including dim lights most of the place being covered in black shades. I also loved the variety of unique drinks found on the menu. We tried their Banana Split Coffee and Double Pistachio Latte. I loved the coffee for its creamy banana taste, and it was indulgent without being too heavy. While the pistachio latte was a bit heavier, it was quite delicious and my faovrite drink! The pistachio flavor was strong, and the nuttiness of it was balanced out by the latte base. Loved the cozy and welcoming vibe of the cafe, along with nice staff. Both our items were thoughtfull made in front of us. read more

Not As Bitter - Double Pistachio Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

Small coffee shop with about 5 tables. Unique thing was they had durian latte which if you're a durian lover you'll like because the durian taste is pretty strong here. I got the strawberry latte and I liked it but if you're looking for a more espresso kind of vibe I'd prob check out a different spot. The drinks are also not too sweet and they use fruits in the strawberry latte! read more

Not As Bitter - Durian latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

None of the drinks were sweet at all tbh. But most tasted very creamy and milky. I feel like they could've had more flavor in the coffee/matcha/fruit but overall good. Out of all the drinks the black sesame peanut was most notable I think just because of the unique flavor. Super nutty and intense flavor. Also we got it hot so maybe that made a difference. pistachio latte it just didn't taste like much besides pure cream. Least favorite was probably the Papaya matcha it was less creamy than pistachio (it was matcha) and didn't taste very strongly of papaya at all. Actually both cookies were highlights. The caramel cookie is really good, chocolate too but caramel has better flavor and texture. Both cookies had lots of salt which made it a great combo and every bite so yummy! Second time tried strawberry matcha was good and coconut cloud was decent minus the sips that had sooooo much coconut flakes. The shop inside is very cute and there's some seating but is decently busy so can be hard to get seating. Outside there's also a bench to sit on. Honestly for those that care ++ points for how aesthetic the cafe is (black themed) and how ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL the drinks are. And the cookies tbh. Just look at the beautiful photos I took. read more

Not As Bitter - Pistachio latte, black sesame peanut, papaya matcha, caramel cookie, chocolate chip cookie - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

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This coffee shop is perfect for catching up with a friend or WFH. They have a couple tables (but they're all 2-seaters), wi-fi, and a bathroom. The staff here are very kind, attentive, and knowledgable about their menu. This cafe is known for their innovative latte and coffee combinations, so, of course, I had to give one of them a try when I went. They have fruit lattes ranging from coconut and strawberry to durian and papaya. I got their strawberry fields and was pleasantly surprised. I would love to come back here to try their matcha. read more

Not As Bitter - Strawberry fields - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

Make sure you mix super well! My first sip was all banana which I love banana but that was a little weird. After mixing like crazy, the coffee was delicious. Subtle banana chunks, smooth coffee and the coconut added a nice richness that you couldn't taste. Overall super impressed. Service moves as fast as they can. Interior is small. read more

Not As Bitter - Banana Split - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

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This coffee shop is very true to it's name - all of their drinks are NOT AS BITTER! As someone who doesn't like the taste of coffee, I never thought I'd love DURIAN in coffee but I was sold. It had a strong durian profile but so so smooth - perfect blend of fruit and expresso. Would highly recommend if you're feeling adventurous! Of course I'm a matcha girlie, so I had to try their coconut matcha. The coconut in the matcha was prominent, but it had the right amount of sweetness. Fair warning though, this drink has a LOT of caffeine (2 shots expresso + 2 shots matcha), so I ordered mine without the expresso. For context, Not as bitter is a coffee shop specializing in cocktail coffee and fresh fruit lattes. Think fresh fruit, expresso, and milk - I honestly love their concept, and the baristas were superr friendly too. I had so many questions since I'm caffeine sensitive, and they patiently explained each drink. It's a very laid back atmosphere inside, dark moody and also cutesy inside. There was a line when I went, but it moved fast. The space inside is relatively small but has seating. read more

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I'm giving four stars. The customer service was great. The guy that took my order explained to me that I could check the website for all the options they had available. He gave me information about the bakery treats they have available daily. He was very nice. The place inside was giving a speak easy kind of vibe. It was very dark inside but with good lighting. Very relaxing and cozy. I decided to get myself a banana split latte and a mango matcha for my coworker. So here is my thoughts. She found her matcha to be very tasty but she would have liked more mango flavor. I personally could have done without the banana, but coffee itself was delicious. I give five stars for the coffee. It was really the best iced coffee latte I've had, and I had plenty. If I could I would visit them every morning for that coffee. If you're in the area try them out. I also got me an espresso cookie, good but more nothing special like I thought. Next time I'll try the pistachio cookie they had. Thumbs up for now, maybe on the next visit it will get two. Happy Yelping! read more

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This was a dark and laid back spot, and there was still some seating available on the weekend at noon. It also wasn't too loud, so it was a decent place for conversation. It didn't take too long for the orders to be ready. However, I think the staff forgot about one of the drinks because they didn't realize they had to make it when we asked. They were apologetic and had it ready shortly after, so it wasn't a problem. The Banana Split was sweeter than I hoped it'd be because I was looking for more of a flavored latte than a coffee-flavored dessert. It was just a tad bit too sweet for me, but the latte was creamy. read more

Not As Bitter - Banana Split Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

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I've been here a couple times. Because of all the specialty drinks combined with the limited number of employees -- usually just one behind the counter -- it's very slow. This morning, there were hardly any patrons, but I still waited for 10 minutes and hadn't gotten my Americano. I had somewhere to go, so I left without it. read more

Waited in line for about 15 minutes, but it went pretty fast. We got the under the pineapple and it was so tasty. It had the perfect amount of sweetness and creaminess. They ran out of matcha by the time we went (around 3:30 pm on a Sunday), but would definitely go back to try one! read more

Not As Bitter - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

Super cute hidden coffee cafe. They have really unique drinks and make them relatively fast without compromising on taste. I went with two others and we all got 3 different drinks. The coffees and tea all came out really well which you don't always get from all places. You should go with a small group of friends, saw some people studying as well. Not ideal for a large group hang out. Would recommend to anyone and would go there again. read more

Not As Bitter - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

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I gave Not as Bitter a 4/5 since it lived up to its name. Their beverages do not have a strong coffee taste or presence, but rather focus on florals and fruits. My boyfriend does not enjoy the taste of coffee but he really enjoyed the drinks since it masks any bitterness. I visited several times over the summer. As a black coffee lover, I probably wouldn't visit again unless I'm really craving a sugary drink/refresher with little caffeine or until summer comes around again. I've tried the Hawthorne Tree, Americano, No Sour Grapes Here, and two other seasonal drinks (Mango Fruit Latte and Lychee Rose Cold Brew). The Hawthorne Tree Cold Brew was my favorite out of the five. I felt like there wasn't enough cold brew in the Lychee Rose Cold Brew. Most of their specialty drinks are above $7 which is more on the expensive side, but they are quite aesthetic. Their coffee forward products are around $5 to $7, although I personally did not love their espresso beans used when making the Americano. The baristas were kind. Unfortunately the indoor space is a little small, so I felt like I was standing really close to other customers' tables when I was waiting for my drink. Fortunately, the baristas were quick with our drinks so we didn't need to wait for very long. read more

Not As Bitter - Seasonal Mango Fruit Latte and Lychee Rose Cold Brew - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

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True to the name not bitter at all. First time around I had the durian latte, which was amazing, but only for durian lovers. This time I got the double pistachio and this one is for everyone. 2 for 2. If I could give a 4.9 star I would just because of one thing only that has nothing to do with their drinks. That is the heat, it could just be me, but its one of the very few stores where I have to wait outside while my partner gets the drink. read more

Not As Bitter - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

Love that you can get any of their fruit drinks as a matcha latte. I had the mango and it was great. Line moved quick and staff was nice. Ambience was so cutesy and I'd definitely come back to work here again. read more

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Ambiance - super small space, offers tables for guests, would not recommend if you're going as a big group planning to stay/chat Service - baristas were speedy, got my coffee within 5 min Food - the coconut matcha + shot of espresso had the right amount of sweetness read more

Not As Bitter - Coconut Matcha - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

Their mango matcha latte with coconut milk was so delicious that I immediately ordered it again the next day. I also tried the durian latte skeptical at first, but it was AMAZING. The best part? They can transform any drink into a matcha latte or americano--even their teas! If you love creative, high-quality matcha, this place is a hidden gem and a must-try when in the area. read more

Not As Bitter - White Peach Oolong Americano and mango matcha latte sub coconut milk - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

You come here for one thing. Two words - Durian Latte. Oh my god. This was the best coffee drink I had on my NY trip. I am Vietnamese and I grew up eating durian. I have never had a latte like this before. The latte stopped me in my tracks as I walked out the shop. The durian complimented the creamy coffee perfectly. The whole durian chunks and puree made my heart sing. It was indeed a good day. I highly recommend trying Not As Bitter. read more

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The drinks consisted of very inventive and well thought-out flavor combinations. The staff there were very informed and great at suggesting which drinks on the menu bested suited my and my friends' tastes while also suggesting tweaks for dietary restrictions. Awesome service all around. It's situated in a cozy part of East Village, and the interior has a strong identity with comfortable seats for working. read more

Not As Bitter - double pistachio LFGGGG - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

One of those coffee shops where I'm never going to be quite cool enough to hang out there... but the cold brew was decent, as was the peach lychee cold brew refresher. read more

I love a coffee shop that has a bunch of specialty coffees - something that makes it stand out against other coffee shops. I also love coconut flavored coffees.... which is why I got the coconut cloud latte. I liked that it was sweet but not too sweet, if you order online you can even decide what level of sweetness you want. My only complaint and I think this was a personal preference but there were too many coconut chunks. My partner got the Butter Beer Foam that was inspired by a trip to Universal in 2022 which was so cute that they added that on the cup. My partner went it while I was waiting in line for Apollos (iykyk) but he said the staff was super nice and that it didn't take long at all to order and get his drink. read more

Not As Bitter - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

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(Overall: B) - Not as Bitter is a very catchy concept for foodies, specializing in fruit flavored coffee. I tried the papaya coffee which felt like there was slight misalignment there in terms of flavor, but was nevertheless intrigued by the rest of the menu for a future return. The staff are knowledgable and kind which is an added bonus as well. (Papaya Latte: B) - I was intrigued by this drink as papaya is not a common flavor found in drinks; the concept is interesting and I think it could work much better with more mild teas as espresso is a very dominant flavor that overpowers the subtleness of the papaya. -- Food: E Presentation: +1 Price: E Atmosphere: E Service: +1 Menu: +1 Overall: +3 B Insta/Beli/TikTok: @amei_eats read more

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Stopped here for a midday pick me up and wow is this coffee strong! The inside is dark, which is different from a normal coffee shop but it has a cool vibe. The baristas were nice. We got the iced strawberry fields latte with one espresso shot and the white peach oolong cofftea. The strawberry fields was delicious! The white peach was actually kind of bitter and I don't know if its because the tea was really strong or two shots of espresso was too many. I'd come back again to try it with one shot and I've heard good things about their coconut coffee! read more

Not As Bitter - Strawberry Fields, White Peach Oolong Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

I really enjoyed the fruit lattes! Very interesting concept, and a flavor combination I haven't had before. I had the Strawberry Fields drink, and I loved the sweet strawberry puree with my latte. The interior is dark, with many seats quite close together, giving a very intimate vibe. The service was quite fast, and the staff are friendly. The one thing for me is that the fruit lattes are on the pricier side, but the regular drinks are a decent price. read more

Not As Bitter - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

This is a coffee shop that is kinda hidden. You walk through a curtain and the outside of it is not like your regular coffee shop. I did have to wait a few min before someone acknowledged me that I was waiting to place my order. There were three people working there. Anyway, I ordered the not beer americano which is: Americano, seltzer and a syrup that gives it like a beer taste to it. I know it sounds gross but, It was actually pretty good and refreshing on this hot day. Alot of people on the street that saw me with it said how good it looked too. They have many flavors and some use fruit. Odd mixtures but interesting as well. I did not have the cookies or anything to eat here. This shop is on the smaller side and they have indoor seating and also a bench outside. Cool place to go. I will be back to either try another speciality drink or just a regular coffee drink. read more

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This place was so famous online and was super busy inside too. there's not much but still a decent amount of seating across the walls and with small tables but they were all completely packed. I was really excited to try this place because i definitely like my coffee "not as bitter" but actually didn't like the flavors. I do like the design and vibe of the café and the worker was friendly and was happy to tell us which drinks was most popular. strawberry fields latte - I love strawberries and I love lattes. this mixed together just tasted off to me even though its their most popular drink. the coffee does still taste a bit bitter and its nice they use fresh strawberries. when mixed together the water from the strawberries makes the whole drink taste kind of watery and the flavors just didn't seem to combine together well. 1/5 banana split latte - This was better than the strawberry latte. The creaminess of the banana helped pull it together a bit more but still had issues with tasting not that sweet, a little watery and just not meshing the flavors together well. 1.5/5 pistachio rose cookie - this was actually good. very nice strong pistachio and rose flavors that did actually blend together well! Really good amount of soft to chewy ratio too. 4/5 read more

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Innovative coffee spot in Manhattan. My husband and I stopped by around 2pm on Sunday and there was no wait! There is a good amount of seating inside but be warned, it can get packed. We ordered the durian latte and banana split. The staffs were able to make the banana split dairy free (my husband is lactose) and my husband loved his drink. I'm a big durian fan and thoroughly enjoyed my durian latte. All the drinks were inspired trips, which was pretty interesting. I did enjoyed reading about the trips that inspired the drinks. Can't wait to go back to try their other drinks! read more

Not As Bitter - Freshly durian and banana split - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

I'm an actual certified sucker for a cafe with specialty drinks, especially ones with Asian flavors, so when I saw this floating around socials, I knew I'd have to stop by. The inside is trendy, but, and this doesn't actually matter in regard to the actual drinks, I found the decor somewhat offputting. You're surrounded by black surfaces, and I just like something a little more bright, especially at a cafe. I ended up trying the iced coconut matcha. It was my first time having a shot of espresso in a matcha drink, and I don't actually think I like it? There's something about expecting a regular matcha drink then getting hit with a bit of the bitterness of the coffee that I didn't quite enjoy. I thought they did a good job blending the flavors together, and I can see how matcha and coffee lovers might enjoy it, but it didn't work for my personal taste. My cousin had their osmanthus latte, which she thought could have also used a stronger osmanthus flavor. read more

Not As Bitter - Coconut Matcha, Osmanthus Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

Loved it! Very cute, and different. I had the strawberry fields and it was really good. My mom got the matcha without the the coffee (that is usually added) and it was also really good. Coming back!! read more

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I got a Strawberry Fields with a matcha shot instead of the espresso ($10). Honestly, I thought this place was overhyped. The drink wasn't that sweet and I was able to taste the bitterness of the matcha. The coconut milk and half and half give it a rich texture. They also have several seats and tables, but it gets pretty crowded. read more

Not As Bitter - Strawberry Fields with a shot of matcha ($10) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York