Best espresso I've had in Albany, and if you order for here, they'll plate it with sparkling water. Sweet! There's a big ordering and waiting area, so even when it's busy there's plenty of space. Local art on the walls, a variety of seating options downstairs, and one relatively clean restroom. Upstairs is the computer lounge, theoretically, except that the advertised WiFi doesn't work. There is no network with that name. Friendly baristas, some food options, although not a lot for vegetarians. Great location close to the park. read more

Stacks Espresso Bar - Espresso - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Albany, New York

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New location. Bigger location just across from where it was originally. Huge upstairs to do computer work. Seasonal coffees available. There's a large seating area downstairs. I had a Seasonal latte and bagel and egg. Fair prices. They have a rewards system now so be sure to sign up. Employees were nice and explained the different Seasonal drinks. The new location is nice but I feel it might be to big and actually prefer the smaller orginal location. read more

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Wonderful place for a business meeting or meet up with friends. Convenient. Good food. Great coffee. Service is excellent. read more

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Classy and inviting cafe!! Friendly service and yummy selections. I recommend the French toast muffin!! Comfortable seating and pretty decor. Nice place to relax to start the morning right!! read more

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The reviews don't lie - the Coco Cloud is my go to drink. This place is awesome. Small food menu, variety of syrups. Entrance is hard to find though - the have a cafe sign at the entrance. read more

Stacks Espresso Bar - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Albany, New York

Our everyday go to after moving closing into Albany. Every latte is amazing, the espresso is so flavorful. Every barista is so kind. My fiancée is obsessed with the "Greg" sandwich, and calls this place the "Greg factory". The lark street location seems more low key, downtown underground vibe. Every barista is so kind and quick. read more

I love the Stacks Lark location! It's such a cute and cozy spot to chat with friends and do some work. I stopped here with my friend for a post-run coffee. We both tried their seasonal drink, the Sapsucker latte which was delicious and my friend really enjoyed her bagel with elote cream cheese as well. The baristas were also so nice and getting our drinks went very smoothly. There's a lot of cute merch and local art for purchase as well. read more

Stacks Espresso Bar - Sapsucker Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Albany, New York

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The man at the counter was pretty rude indicating they were out of several items we ordered as a little bit of an afternoon rush came in. As he was making drinks he proceeded to openly complain about the people with "corporate ass jobs" and how they are "going to have to wait for their drinks". Me and my earnings from my corporate ass job wont be going back. read more

Great espresso, cold brew, pastries and sandwiches! Also funky and relaxed atmosphere. A definite upgrade from the old Stacks across the street! read more

Stopped by Stacks Espresso Bar for some Saturday morning caffeination on a recent trip to Albany. They have a full menu of coffee house staples, an engaging seasonal menu, as well as a pastry case full with both sweet and savory options. I spied a gingerbread latte on their seasonal menu and given I was visiting in December, it sounded like just the thing. They do offer milk alternatives and so I was able to get it prepared with almond milk. It was a cozy cup of holiday deliciousness. For a breakfast bite, I saw they had a spinach feta pastry, which I ordered. It was outstanding with a buttery pastry folded around a flavorful blend of spinach, feta and spices--really lovely! The service was quite friendly. I took my order to-go, but they do have a cozy dining area where you could sit and enjoy a cup. Get to it! read more

Stacks Espresso Bar - Gingerbread latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Albany, New York

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I have been a faithful Stacks customer since I moved to Albany for school in 2020. This Albany staple has consistently served incredible coffee and pastries at fair prices at their 2 locations. They recently moved further down Lark St. to where Cafe Hollywood used to be and WOW! They have transformed this place into a beautiful space conducive to getting work done and hanging out with friends. The space is huge with both a downstairs computer free dining area and an upstairs computer lounge. Their food menu has grown to include heftier breakfast sandwiches and a weekend brunch menu. Their drink selection is better than ever. I had always stayed true to an iced brown sugar latte but today I ordered an iced honey lavender latte with 2%, it's amazing. They have a full kitchen now they can easily heat up any pastries you'd like. I ordered a warm ham and cheese croissant, delicious. If you haven't been to Stacks yet, do yourself a favor and check it out! read more

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Stacks has moved across the street to a former bar, with more space and a much more controllable access point and thus harder for panhandlers to dominate the entrance way. Very pretty interior and a wider selection of food options. Same muddy espresso, same gummy bagels, and complete mayhem on weekends: long lines, frantic staff, and crowds milling about by the counter waiting for their orders. I asked for a latte, which was mostly foam (i.e. a cappuccino). I mentioned this politely to the person who'd handed it to me (apparently a manager, as she was telling other workers what to do). She rolled her eyes, snatched it from me, dumped it out, and made me a new one, without speaking a single word to me. They also seemed to have poached baristas from the nearby (and infinitely superior) J.A. Pequeno, which is now inexplicably forced to closed on lucrative spring weekends. There is certainly is a demand in the neighborhood for a place like the new, expanded Stacks, and they'll probably catch their stride soon. But I wish they didn't have to begin by taking something away from those who want something different. read more

Really great strawberry matcha, but weak coffee which was a bit disappointing. I love coffee and matcha soooo much. This place really did the matcha justice. A lot of places don't make matcha that great but this place made it perfect. And with the strawberry, it really took it over the top. As a bigger coffee drinker, I was disappointed with the coffee. But honestly with how good the matcha was, I feel like I may have just ordered the coffee wrong. I would try it about if I was in the area! read more

Stacks Espresso Bar - Strawberry Matcha and Nitro Cold Brew - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Albany, New York

Cute little coffee shop-- very light and airy. Lots of drink options: cold brew, regular coffee, tea selection, matcha, flavors to be added... They have coffee, obviously, but also breakfast sandwiches, pastries, flatbreads, and some other food options if you're looking for a quick lunch spot. They only have a couple bagel options though so if you really want a certain kind of bagel, this probably isn't the best place.... But you should still stop by for coffee anyways! read more

Stacks Espresso Bar - Cold Brew and Matcha - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Albany, New York

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Stacks was my weekend go-to, but not since they moved to the new space. The vibes are off, it still feels like I'm stepping into Cafe Hollywood with the drab floor tiles and dirty facade. It used to be a quiet, cozy cafe and now it's the opposite and the addition of a food menu has made the ordering process so long that it's simply not worth waiting 20 minutes for a coffee to-go. Also, all of the staff from the previous location have left, the result of a restructuring effort that cut existing employee's pay and left them with a lawsuit from former baristas. These were their best staff who would remember your name, how you like your coffee, what croissant you get. All of that has been lost. read more

Not a big coffee drinker but always accompany a coffee drinker as they need their daily dose for them to function. I did taste a little and it wasn't bad comparatively to the other coffee shops. The coffee shop has 2 locations in Albany and I believe it was started by an IT guy. This place on Lark is rustic and has character. However, if you prefer modern, visit the location in downtown Albany on Broadway. They do offer training, education and have special events for coffee enthusiasts. read more

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The cozy atmosphere at Stacks has a good vibe and great sense of community feel. The thing that sets them apart from other coffee shops is that they embrace coffee in unique ways be it in their brewing techniques, experimental espresso or latte art workshops. They are also your coffee caters if your hosting an event. On my quest to trying all coffee shops in the capital region this was my stop for day... parking can be difficult if you come here on a weekday. The other good thing is that they are open till 6pm on a Sunday. I was contemplating between a cortado and espresso frizzanate ... The weather called for a extra hot cortado ...was well made. Espresso was blend of beans from Ethiopian, Brazil and Columbia ... had a tart (like a single origin) yet smooth bold taste to it. Was a good wake me up! read more

Stacks Espresso Bar - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Albany, New York

Maple flavored Cappuccino is the Bomb. You don't even need any sweetener. Smells and tastes maple like. I got a bunch of baked goodies on the side. Chocolate croissants and very generously added chocolate chunks to the cookie. Everything is yummiest. No wonder why my total was $27, plus tip and all. Loved this place. read more

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The best. If you are a newbie to Albany and looking for a strong, very pungent and thick espresso that will bounce your heart rate, it's a close 3-way tie between Motor Oil Coffee on Madison and Iron Coffee and Stacks Espresso Bar here on Lark Street. Stacks has an advantage: the nook like shop on Lark and all the tables inside that people sit and sip alongside. The vibe in Stacks is obviously at the top of the three as you can meet people, read the papers and pick cookies from jars in the back at the cash register. Stacks is very narrow. Stacks has high-caffeine espressos, but not much else to chose from: i.e. both Motor Oil and Iron Coffee have more bakery to choose from and more possibilities to customize. As a visitor or paper-shuffling accountant, Stacks is a prime recommendation but if you're in a group of 3-4 I strongly suggest Motor Oil Coffee on Hudson. Iron Coffee (also on Madison) is for standing only. Stacks Espresso Bar is a mainstay. They are well lit. They are friendly. Stacks has heaps of espresso grounds they crankshaft out each day! Review: love it, 5 read more

Espresso based drinks are great. They shouldn't bother with offering any breakfast pastries. Muffins are dry, scones are inedible, croissants appear as if they came out of a Costco bundle package, and cookies aren't worth the calories. read more

I tried this place on a Saturday morning. It's so cute! It reminds me of my favorite coffee shop in Kent, Ohio-Scribbles. I love that people bring their dogs in, even though I no longer have one it made my day. I got a mocha and a bagel with lox cream cheese. It came out fast considering only one person was working. Service was super friendly too. The cream cheese was bright pink which was kind of strange but it wasn't bad! The bagel itself was good and so was the mocha. read more

It was a wonderful experience. Attentive and professional service. Cool, swanky cafe vibe. Exceptional coffee and delicious pastries and healthy options like overnight oats. Please open a Stacks near SUNY Albany uptown. read more

Great coffee asset in Albany! Great service and place to chill! Great espresso made with care and extended hours 7-5! read more

Stacks Espresso Bar - Cortado - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Albany, New York

Stopped by here on our way through Albany and so glad we did! Their coffee is high quality and delicious. The French toast flavor is a mix of cinnamon and maple and the perfect addition to an iced latte. Grabbed a spinach and feta croissant for a quick breakfast and it was absolute buttery goodness. Regretting not purchasing their espresso beans to take home! read more

Roasted: visiting Albany and found this place downtown. Cute little shop in a walkable neighborhood. Has decent seating and a comfy vibe. They roast their own coffee and have a nice selection of flavors and bakery items. Only sugar free option is vanilla but they have unique flavors like French toast and brown sugar vanilla. Barista was very nice and engaging and made sure I had all my questions answered. They have us our lattes in for here mugs which is a huge win! And we got pretty latte art on both lattes even the one with oat milk. Milk temperature and creaminess was spot on, the only downfall is the espresso was slightly bitter and had an acidic bite that sat in my mouth. It's definitely worth a visit here but it wasn't my favorite cup of coffee. Unroasted: great location for a coffee shop with a super friendly barista. She was helpful with our questions and offered a mug. Ordered the usual and got great latte art. My latte was perfect temperature but it was a bit bitter. I still enjoyed it. I recommend if you are in ALB. read more

Stacks Espresso Bar - two cups of coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Albany, New York

Cortado Easily my favorite coffee shop in Albany. Great selection of coffees and food. Staff is always super friendly. Location on Broadway is also amazing. read more

Stacks Espresso Bar - Cortado - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Albany, New York

The coffee shop that was there before had better coffee all around. This place never has dark roast just usually a house and if you want some flavor you gotta add a shot of espresso so now you're spending five dollars for coffee and forget if you want to get a wrap now you're spending $20 very overpriced. Not great quality. The atmosphere is mediocre And the staff is hit or miss whether you get a friendly girl or a grumpy girl read more

Just swinging by the ol' review farms to share my new Top Stacks Tip: if you happen to be here in the summer and they're offering their seasonal ube coconut iced latte, and you're thinking, "that sounds like it could be either delicious or weird, should I try it?" the answer is that you should definitely try it. It's sweet for Stacks but not cloying, and the flavor combo is subtle but delicious. Treat yourself!! (If you want something more refreshing, the cold brew shandy is also great). read more

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Excellent little coffee shop. Found it on Yelp and it did not disappoint. I had the Golden milk latte with espresso shot and plain bagel with cream cheese. They are generous with their cream cheese. Place is charming and people are nice. Loved my latte read more

Stacks Espresso Bar - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Albany, New York

Food and coffee tasted good. Although order was wrong, and service was weird. Not acknowledged at all, stood waiting to take my order until someone else came in and tried to go in front and I just mentioned I hadn't ordered yet...strange. Cute coffee shop though, so would give another shot. read more

ordered two 12 oz hot chocolates and got one full cup and one half full cup with enough whipped cream to make it look full. I guess they were too lazy to heat more milk. Total waste of money. read more

Stacks Espresso Bar - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Albany, New York

Very cute lil coffee bar on the popular Lark st in Albany. I was worried about parking over the weekend. To my surprise, there were plenty of free street parkings by the Washington park 1-2 blocks from the cafe. A lot of locals come by the espresso bar to grab coffee, a bite, catch up with old friends or even do work there. It's a very small cafe, there were a few tables and chairs available. Some booth seats as well. There are outdoor seats and tables available if you want to catch some sunshine and bring your pooch out. Pet-friendly cafe, I saw 2-3 dogs went into the cafe which was very nice. WHAT I ORDERED Ice Strawberry matcha $5.45 It was very smooth earthy matcha. A bit of strawberry flavoring, not very overwhelming at all. It was the perfect summer drink to start your morning energized. read more

Loved the coffee and loved the service. I went to stacks twice and everyone was extremely friendly and the drinks were perfect. Pastry selection was simple but awesome. Croissants, almond pastries a few meat and cheese rolls and a couple of other assortments were stocked in the small deli case. Highly recommended! read more

Came here on a Sunday morning looking for a kickstart to the day and Stacks delivered. We got the macchiato, cortado and a regular coffee and the drinks were just -magnifique- We had to go back and get the Honey & Black Salt latte and the Lavender Sage Latte and both were amazing. The Lavender Sage latte is a bit subtle but lovely. read more

Stacks Espresso Bar - Honey & Black Salt Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Albany, New York

Stacks is on the Source app. which finds the best espresso places around the world. True, my latte was smooth and delicious and my husband's espresso was outstanding. However, I took off one star because my latte was luke warm, could've been hotter. As I've said before, I'm feeling bad about supply chain issues and inability to hire enough employees. I suspect that was the cause of no pastries being available, we were there shortly before opening, and having just one employee holding down the fort. That being said, I was impressed how they managed it all and I was appreciative that they listened to me and made my latte before making my husband's espresso. There is street parking. It's a rather small place but enough indoor seating and 2 tables outside. There is also a little artwork. read more

On our visit to Albany, we stopped by this local Coffee joint. The coffee is on point! Smooth iced latte with a balanced flavour. The almond croissant was so -so. I'm sure this was just my preference to have more of an airy, and a balance of chewy and flaky. So, having said that, it's still worth a try. The pastry selection was slim that day so the choices might be limited. There is indoor seating at this time that can comfortably fit 1-4 persons comfortably. read more

This was such a cute and delicious coffee shop! The pumpkin spice latte was made with puréed pumpkin made on-site and it was great. Definitely high quality coffee and also some nice tea offerings. read more

Stacks Espresso Bar - Pumpkin Spice Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Albany, New York

The perfect coffee shop within walking distance of the Hilton Hotel and the State Capitol. We really enjoyed a quiet morning drinking well crafted lattes with oat milk before a busy day of sightseeing around the city. The barista was very friendly and there was a steady stream of customers. It's right on the corner of Broadway with beautiful big windows with tables and high top seating. If you are in Albany skip Dunkin and visit Stacks Expresso Bar. You will not be disappointed. read more

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Fast, reasonably priced, so so tasty. My husband and I get coffee here every morning we can before work.

Great selection of teas (both iced and hot) and good coffee as well! Their bagels are suuuper fresh and delicious. It's a nice quiet coffee shop to get some work done or just relax and read! Also seems dog friendly. read more

Stacks Espresso Bar - Front window seats - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Albany, New York