((4.75 stars)) if…read moreyou'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.

Some really solid coffee in New York. It's a great spot for a pick-me-up…read more I got an iced Kyoto Latte and my friend got a hot Americano. My palette isn't delicate enough to pick apart the tasting notes of the beans, but it went down smooth and it wasn't too sweet either. The interior was lively, service was quick. Drinks came out in a reasonable time, despite it being quite busy when we went. I've been recommended this place by friends in the past, and I will continue to recco this place to more friends in the future,

Warm, minimalist, with a touch of Asian-inspired design. Great coffee overall. I ordered the Orange…read moreCold Brew from their specialty menu, and it was delicious. The bright orange flavor paired surprisingly well with the coffee without being overpowering. The matcha, however, was a bit watered down, and just a heads-up the sweetener is available upon request. Service was quick and efficient. You order at the cashier and can usually find a seat to catch up with a friend. It's a small coffee shop, so I wouldn't recommend it as a place to study. A major plus is the clean restroom. Overall, it's a solid coffee shop to check out if you're ever in Chinatown.

Service: 4.2/5 Drink: 4.1/5…read morePrice: $7-$10 pricier end for a matcha. good color + smooth taste though. flavor profile leans very grassy, so I personally would get it as a latte next time if I return. the shop definitely is more coffee-centric. ambiance is definitely a lively, younger crowd. lots of friends coming in for a quick stop or to sit + catch up. some background music that isn't too loud.

Fasan is a small coffee shop on the Lower East Side that stands out immediately when I walked in…read more The space is cottage inspired and filled with curated vintage items. The interior is tight, so when it fills up it gets cozy fast, but the atmosphere is warm enough that it does not feel like a drawback. The red bean memory is the drink to order here. It lands somewhere between a red bean milk tea and a coffee, with a subtle red bean flavor that softens the espresso without masking it. The ingredients taste fresh and the balance works in a way that is hard to explain but immediately makes sense once I started drinking it. It is the kind of drink that justifies the trip on its own. The jasmine mango green tea is on the menu as well, but it is the weaker option if I am choosing between the two. Nothing offensive about it, it just does not have the same payoff as the red bean. The cream jasmine tea is worth considering if I want something on the tea side, with the jasmine coming through clearly against the cream. Prices are in line with what I would expect from a quality independent coffee shop in the neighborhood. The care that goes into the drinks shows in the final product. If I am in the LES and want something that feels genuinely considered rather than just another coffee stop, this is the one to find.

walked in at around noon and it wasn't busy at all, turns out there's only one employee (the owner)…read moreand he was very kind and accommodating when it seemed like he was busy doing business with someone outside. he was very kind and even talked to me for a bit after other people left. keep in mind that this is a one man business, so please be patient with him ! it is obvious that he works hard, is passionate about his work, and is always willing to give recommendations (it was my first time here, and definitely not the last). i got an iced red bean memory with oat milk and the cream top, and it was delicious. the coffee itself was smooth, and you can taste the subtle red bean flavor, which i throughly enjoyed. not too sweet either, which was great. price point though was my only issue, since it was around $10 for a drink it's a tiny and narrow shop that can be hard to miss, but there's a small amount of vintage wooden chairs and tables outside to sit at. no interior seating as well, but there is cute decor and vintage clothes that you can look through. if i'm ever in nyc again, i'll definitely swing by and say hello and try a new drink !

Came into Derby Cup Coffee looking for a quick place to warm up and grab a cup of coffee. The staff…read morewere friendly and attentive, but not the most helpful--when I asked for their most popular drink, I got more of a full menu rundown than a clear recommendation. I ended up going with the pistachio latte, which was actually delightful and left me wishing I could have ordered a larger size. Definitely the highlight of the visit. That said, the atmosphere left a lot to be desired. Seating is extremely limited, with only a handful of small tables inside and a couple outside. It even seemed like a few of the indoor tables were being occupied by staff or owners, which made it harder to find a spot. I ended up sitting outside... only to get pooped on by a bird sitting in their awning. Not exactly the café experience I had in mind--though obviously not entirely their fault. Overall, great coffee, but my past visits here have consistently left me underwhelmed when it comes to the space and overall ambiance.

Absolutely loved the ambiance. Service was pretty good as well. I liked the coffee a lot. The…read morebiscuit was yummy and had a good texture. The s'mores cookie was good. Overall would say the pastries were over salted.

Delicious drinks, great service and unique cafe ambience. We…read moreordered the peach cream top matcha, coconut matcha and a sourdough cookie. We loved our drinks. Matcha quality and taste were both great and I'm excited to try other items off the menu! I don't think I've been to another cafe with a similar darker lighting vibe, it was definitely different but super cool and I was pleased to be able to find a cafe with seats available in the area!

As the name suggests, this spot specializes in some sweeter drinks which aren't bitter. Friendly…read moreservice! Cozy ambiance with the darker interior. Exterior is very minimalistic but clean. I snagged a matcha for comparison sake but I do wish I tried their other specialty drinks instead. Cream Top Salty Black Sugar Matcha - matcha was pretty good with earthy undertones but I've had more rich, savory, and umami. The cream top was delicious. Though the salt may be a bit of a surprise to the taste buds, it does add a stark contrast to highlight the sweet yet savory cream. Overall the cream top was delicious and carried the matcha a bit.

4.5 stars and rounded up! Dropped by on a freezing morning…read moreto try their matcha pandan latte and pandan honeycomb cake, was super impressed! From the outside you can tell this is a tiny cafe, two seats in the window with about seating for 10 people, 12 if you really squeeze. Walk in and order at the counter, they have menu of Vietnamese-and-Asian-inspired coffee and tea drinks, I've been seeing them posted everywhere and have been wanting to try everything! Notably they're most well known for their pandan latte (both espresso and matcha versions), though I'm also curious to try their black sesame latte, black matcha with ginger, jasmine matcha with pandan, calamansi latte, and Phin honey oat latte (or PHO lol). For those not familiar with pandan it's a fragrant leaf that imparts a light florally flavor and scent. It's particularly used in Southeast Asian desserts and what I predict will be the next new trend as Vietnamese coffee culture influences start popping up stateside. I got the pandan matcha $6.55 + $0.90 for oatmilk, and the pandan honeycomb cake $6.95, another staple they're known for. The pandan matcha was FIRE. Perfection in a cup to me, I've been on the hunt for pandan drinks now that they're starting to trend in NYC and I'm 100% here for Le Phin's version. The amount of pandan flavor and sweetness (not too sweet) balanced with the grass light bitterness of the matcha was what I was hoping for. Their honeycomb cake was bouncy, chewy and delicious with plenty of pandan flavor as well. A little on the sweeter side for me though no complaints other than the price felt a little high though I get inflation and it's really quite a novelty item. I'll definitely be back to try some other drinks!

Cute little spot where many others were working on their laptops like I was. It's tiny but there's…read moreabout 8 seats inside along with some benches outside. They do have wifi and outlets, which is nice. I ordered the Pandan Matcha Latte ($7) and they even brought it to my table. The drink had just a hint of pandan, but mostly just your typical cup of matcha. Not bad, not great.

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.

Very cute coffee shop in the lower east side, with limited seating and cozy ambiance. There were…read morequite a few coffee and tea options, and I opted for the sweet vanilla cold foam cold brew. It was good, but there was something a little different about it that I couldn't put my finger on. But it was great for a hot summer day pick-me-up! Service is pretty speedy, and the staff are very friendly!

Loved the lavender matcha latte (I got mine with almond milk). Balanced and not too sweet. Service…read morewas quick and everything about the cafe was lovely.