Cute hipster coffee/study spot! I ordered an 8 oz latte (dine in) and was pleasantly surprised when my drink was served on a wooden plank with an additional glass of seltzer water! No extra cost for the cute decoration or water! Both were delicious and well worth it for 2 drinks in 1. Atmosphere: Very young and hip crowd stop by for drinks. Lots of people studying but it's a nice space to catch up. Unfortunately there's not too much seating so you might want to come early to get a good spot if you plan to stay for awhile. read more

Stacks Espresso Bar - 8oz latte with seltzer water - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Albany, New York

The coffee here is great but some of the baristas have terrible customer service skills. One barista in particular (emiline) wouldn't let me use the bathroom before closing. (It was almost 5 pm). The other baristas have no problem with me using the bathroom. The next day i went into stacks and the barista said that the bathroom was working fine. read more

This is THE place for espresso based drinks in Albany. Period. They have the tools. They have the beans. They have the know how. What they don't have is parking. And seating can be limited too. The last time I went there, it was only one woman running the whole place, and she was doing admirably. However, I'd really like to see two... at a minimum. There is also a pour over rig for delicious ground-to-order brewed coffee. The pricing for this seems a little steep, but it's not a feature offered at many shops. And having not yet tried it, it may indeed be a fair value for the beans they're serving. It's not Caffe Vero. This shop comes to coffee from another angle. While I loved Vero, I may love Stacks just a wee little bit more. My drink is the cortado. It's halfway between a macchiato and a cappuccino. It makes me happy. The thing that makes me sad is that I'm not at Stacks nearly as much as I would like to be. Maybe I'll find a way to fix that in the future. But dealing with Lark Street parking just to run in for a quick coffee--regardless how good that coffee may be--has always been a dealbreaker. Perhaps the solution is to combine it with trips to Brew and Sam's Home Cooking. If I lived or worked anywhere near the neighborhood, I'd be in Stacks all the time. read more

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

I really enjoyed the few hours I spent at Stacks Espresso Bar. Coffee-wise, this place does really well. They make incredible espresso drinks and very nice pour overs. I also had a scone, which I personally would have liked to see heated up or have a little touch of butter, but it was decent. This place really shined at the Cortado. It was my very first Cortado and I am a huge fan. In fact, I've been ordering them left and right back home. I was never for any fancy drinks because I dislike sugar in my coffee, but Cortado was the perfect blend and I'll remain forever grateful to Daniel and Stacks for introducing me to my first one :). All in all -- this is a neat place to hang out, do some work and drink some incredible coffee! read more

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

While staying in the area for a conference I sought out a true cup of coffee. This is the result. My cappuccino was perfection. Thanks! read more

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

A small and cozy coffee house with delicious local bagels, croissants, scones and possibly some other treats occasionally...is really an espresso lover's dream come true! Having tried the cortado, drip coffee, and latte with Crisan's (oh so missed storefront) plain and almond croissants, and No Scone Unturned's pecan ginger scone- I am in love. With only a few tables it can get quite crowded throughout the day but I have been able to grab a spot within minutes as people come and go. The patio is also an option if it's nice out. The interior no longer reminds me of its past as Caffe Vero but what I did notice was that there were Caffe Vero packaged coffee for sale placed on a rack near the cash register. The service was quick and friendly as I noticed it was only a one man band. During the busier hours it may pose an issue..but luckily so far so good for me! I hope they keep up the great work as an espresso bar and continue to offer the delicious goodies from the local scene. read more

Stacks Espresso Bar - Almond croissant + drip coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Albany, New York

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Be aware that you are only paying for water when you order a large tea or coffee drink here. It is the same amount of espresso in a large as in a small Americano, capuccino, latte, etc Same for the tea. So if you want flavor, it will be the best with a small. I don't know any other coffee location that does this. It's cheap and disrespectful of customers spending hard earned money. read more

This is a terrific coffee shop near city center Albany. We were visiting our son and he took us to this place. It is one of his regular haunts now as he lives nearby. He really enjoys the pour-overs and I always like a good dark roast brew. The shop is located in a historic part of Albany just outside of downtown proper. The storefront is attractive and fits in with the nostalgic look of the block on which it is located. The interior is crisp and nicely done. It is a bit larger than one might think from the outside appearance. The coffee options on the menu are rather complete. I was ecstatic to find a Red Eye option, which is a regular coffee with a shot of espresso. My other three companions had a Cappucino and two Americanos. With tax and a small tip, our total was $14 USD, or about $3.50 each. I was happy enough with this deal considering the quality of the product. As such, I would not hesitate to recommend this spot if you are in central Albany and are looking for a place that serves hot beverages. read more

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

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Very enjoyable! Great cup of coffee in a mug!! Great croissant! Excellent service, nice ambience! Thumbs up!!

One of the few spots in the area that has well right made lattes and chocolate croissants (from Bread Alone). At first the service was okay ( since last 5 months) but they have definitely improved and gotten friendlier! I get the maple mocha latte --yup I combined the flavors and it's Deliciosoooo! it's a small cute spot with sections of open brick walls-luvvvv! They have gorgeous dish ware and will purchase and the customer made boards are sweet! Glad to have a good reliable spot in our new home area. read more

Excellent cappuccino and macchiato. Pastries just so-so but go there for the coffee! Nice cozy spot. Definitely worth a return visit.

I love this place. Are they probably some of the most expensive cups of coffee I've had in life? Sure. But the French toast latte is bomb, and a croissant on the side is bomb too. I may not be able to grab coffee here daily but when I'm in the area and feeling up to treating myself this is my go to. read more

I was just in Albany from out of town--Stacks was recommended by a local friend! It did not disappoint! My sister & I each ordered one of their specials, an iced sage & lavender latte and a honey salted latte. Both were unique and delicious! The barista wore a mask and was helpful & friendly--offering dairy-free options for my sister who steers clear of dairy. We had indoor & outdoor seating options to enjoy our drinks before we began the next leg of our trip! read more

Stacks Espresso Bar - Honey Salted Latte 8oz. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Albany, New York

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I got coffee here a couple times during a trip to Albany. They poured a good cappuccino, and the flavor of their cold brew was excellent, strong yet completely smooth, with no off-notes of any kind. I was so impressed I bought a couple bags of their beans. If they do their own roasting, they're doing a great job! read more

We stopped in for two drinks . I ordered the iced chai and we also got an iced caramel latte. We both ordered 12 oz and for some reason my cup was much smaller than the second drink. My iced chai honestly tasted like milk with some cinnamon added . Not the best experience but they were clean inside . read more

so, a few times I've been in to get food and I gotta say they're not doing well in that department. waited 15 minutes for a breakfast sandwich last time I was in, and today order a bagel with cream cheese and when I opened the bagel, maybe 1/2 a teaspoon worth on the whole bagel. it's getting to the point I dummy want to go there, even though the coffee is great. read more

Coffe is not organic. When asked, staff had difficultly answering the question about their coffe.

Stacks is decent. The Lark street location is a no-frills, neighborhood type spot that welcomes your furry friends as well as humans. I find it's a good place to come to get work done; it's easy to find a table even mid/late morning to get some work done. Their food options could use improvement. I usually make breakfast before coming here to camp out and get work done, because their options really leave me wanting more. That said, their coffee is great. I always like their lattes the best of any of my walk-able study spots on/around Lark st, and love that they serve espresso drinks with sparkling water to cleanse the palate prior to drinking it. They also have a "bucket of iced coffee" for $6; I kid you not, it is an actual bucket and even a hardened caffeine addict like yours truly struggles to finish it in a day. Drip coffee for $2? That's my kind of spot. Staff is always knowledgeable and helpful without any of the condescension that many barista seem to think necessary. Thanks stacks! read more

I love this place! I've taken to go and I've worked from inside, both offer delightful experiences. I love their iced coffee and their tea selection. Baristas are always friendly and the vibes are always good. read more

Just love both locations. Each with their own flavor but same amazing coffee. It's a must visit on any trip to or nearby Albany!! read more

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

Really good espresso drinks-a rarity in the area!

Woke up today with the need to fill my belly with some bagels. Turning to Yelp, I discovered this wonderful coffee shop has bagels. I've come here on multiple occasions to study & get coffee. My fiance and I arrived around 9am on memorial day to a relatively empty store, with two patrons sitting and working. There were 2 employees. While one took our order, the other deftly prepared it. This morning, they had plain, everything, and raisen bagels. We order two everything bagels, toasted with cream cheese. Both of our bagels we're toasted to perfection, just enough to add that crispy crunch to every bite. No creme cheese was skimped on our bagels. The bagel had ample toppings, and we were even surprised to find sunflower seeds in the mix. The only downfall was that I couldn't find any pretzel salt. That said, the bagel was still delicious. Although we didn't order any coffee today, from previous experiences, we can attest to the vanilla late being good. All in all, my fiance and I would both definitely come back to stacks for some bagels. read more

This place is quickly becoming a favorite of mine to treat myself during a workday. I purely come here for my caffeine fix and have loved the iced lattes and cold brews that I've purchased. It's a place where you might pay a little more for quality and it's well worth it. The iced mocha latte is divine. read more

LOVEEEEEE the vibe outside was just as cool as inside. The barista was warm & welcoming & knows her coffees. I got 2 cortados, & 1 cappuccino + not to mention; this place has all the milk options... and I got a cortado for my boyfriend (his first one) & he loved it. Top 3 fave coffee shops in Albany. Thanks team!!! read more

Coffee was okay, just about what I expected. Limited food offerings, nothing allergy friendly. My experience with the barista (grey cat mom hat, brown curly hair) was far from pleasant. I felt rushed in my ordering, and that I was an unbelievable annoyance. I certainly didn't feel welcome, and would choose a different coffee shop in the future. read more

Great coffee shop in downtown Albany! I had the mocha latte and it couldn't have been better! I'll definitely be stopping by again next time i'm in Albany! read more

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

Ohhhhhhh coffee art on point! Nice, spacious, chic, cafe with everything an espresso bar should offer! Our friendly Barista made us a pretty looking chai latte with cinnamon dusting on top .. would have loved it even more if it tasted a bit stronger but overall it definitely hit the spot! Definitely coming back when I'm in town! opens till 8pm! read more

The coffee here is delicious but the service especially from certain baristas is not good and is unprofessional. Writing about certain customers in an employee communication book when the barista was in the wrong is not acceptable. Laughing at/glaring/stating at something that you don't like is unprofessional. Some if the baristas here should be fired for how they treat customers. read more

I've come here a few times to study within the last couple months and really enjoy this spot. I usually only get either drip coffee. The last time I was here I had their Americano and their bagel with cream cheese. The bagel was fresh and the drink was excellent. I got there around 8:30 am during the week and there was a decent line. But it went quickly and I was able to snag a table with a friend. This is a great place to work or study if you like to be somewhere where there is a lot of activity. I like it because it is a great change of scenery compared to the library cubicles I am used to. The place is dog friendly and many people in the neighborhood seem to be regulars here. The staff are friendly and helpful and the atmosphere is comfortable and casual. I had a great time studying here. However early in the morning while I was trying to stream video from a lecture on their wifi I was having some buffering problems. An hour in, the internet was fast enough though and I didn't have any other problems. I will definitely be coming back. read more

They know what they are doing, they know about coffee and they have recommendations. Coffee snobs welcome. read more

Really nice place! Great coffee and dog friendly. We could not have asked for a better spot to hang out with our pup while drinking coffee. read more

Stacks Espresso Bar - Coffee and Cooper the pup - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Albany, New York

I've come here several times and it's consistently been good. Nice atmosphere and the people working the counter are friendly. I only do the drinks though--I don't feel they have a great selection of baked goods or food, but it is an espresso bar. read more

Good things come to those who wait. For me, I waited about year to find out that coffee can taste like something other than bitter slop. So, there's your warning, folks: I am far from a coffee aficionado, and my coffee of choice usually comes from a green mermaid. I order my coffee iced. Often with caramel or chocolate syrup. However, I do know one thing now: the coffee at Stacks just tastes good, better than I have ever thought it could taste. Why did I wait a year? I'll admit, I was intimidated by some of the other reviews. I figured I'd be judged for not immediately ordering a pour-over coffee (or knowing what it was), or possibly ordering a cappuccino after noon (though it seems that's ok here! http://alloveralbany.com/archive/2015/04/02/in-search-of-a-proper-cappuccino). However, on one particularly warm spring morning, after tentatively creeping inside past the incredibly busy, cool-looking college kids, and a pair of friendly bichon frises tied up at the door step, I quickly learned the error of my ways. First: the people behind the counter are so nice! Not forced-nice, but genuinely nice. I don't think they'd judge you for your order (at least not publicly). Second: as I've said, the coffee is tasty! Sure, I ordered an iced coffee with caramel (judge if you must), but it was wonderful nonetheless -- and not just because it was candy-drizzled. Third: they have Crisan croissants! If you've missed these as I have, fear no more! They have cider belly doughnuts/donuts! Bagels from psychedelicatessen in Troy (which I had been meaning to try, but was always too full by the time I got there -- usually after nomming my way through the farmers' market). Finally: their large iced coffee is bucket-sized. Truly. I envision my childhood-self using this cup as a Barbie hot tub. Fear no more, self: I'll definitely be back to Stacks! read more

Stacks Espresso Bar - Large coffee and Crisan croissant! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Albany, New York

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Definitely a place to stop when in Albany! The staff as well as the environment was super welcoming and the coffee delicious!!

This is an amazing place to stop in and grab a coffee. The workers were super nice and let me use the bathroom even though it was out of order. My coffee was made to perfection and it's just an overall good stop to come and hangout. super welcoming! definitely will be coming again! read more

In the past month we've probably been here every single Saturday and Sunday. When the old Cafe Vero closed I was disappointed that Lark St had lost a solid espresso shop. Fortunately, the replacement more than makes up for the loss. They have a respectable assortment of coffee and espresso drinks. My favorite is the cortado- as it's the closest I'll get to my hometown fave the Cortadito from the Miami Cuban cafeterias. My husband loves the pour over option. I had the cold brew after it dawned on me that it was 80 deg outside and I was drinking a cafe au lait and both were great. Their assortment of pastries is legit and sourced from several local bakers. The croissants are from Crisan's and the donuts from Cider Belly. They also carry scones and other pastries. I was wary about the donuts at first (questioning how fresh they were) but not to worry, they were soft and delicious. When Crisan on Lark St closed their storefront we were devastated, particularly because their croissants were amazing (they even had a French man's seal of approval!). Enter Stacks to save the day- we were ecstatic when we learned they served the same flaky, buttery croissants and all was well with the world. We've had nice weather and have been sitting outside- which is nice for the fresh air and that's about it considering the (lack of) sights to be seen on Lark St. Nevertheless, it's nice to sip some coffee in the sunlight. The people watching is entertaining to say the least. The atmosphere inside is nice and casual and there's rotating art available for purchase which is always fun to look at. read more

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mid, workers rude... not a warm environment especially for not being busy :/ wouldn't try again

After a brief exchange with Stacks staff in which they expressed that they seriously heard the compaint about being gassed with amonia spray, I believe they haved changed their ways. I'm back and enjoying their terrific coffee and their sweet teensy cafe again. They partner with local bakers to offer sweet and savory pastries too. The next stage of delight is their cold brew which is examplary. I'm so glad for the warm weather! read more

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Clearly I am late to this particular party. I spent a delightful couple of hours at Stacks on a Sunday morning. There weren't many people in the shop, so the vibe was incredibly laid back. I ordered a latte and it ended up being one of the best I've ever had. It packed a serious punch - the latte was rich and smokey, contrasting brilliantly against a vaguely sweet and delicate foam. I sat at the window seat and enjoyed every second of the experience. A quick scan of the menu reveals Stacks is regularly collaborating with other local shops including Crisan, Cider Belly, The Placid Baker, and Psychedelicatessen. It's really wonderful to see such excellent area businesses working together in promoting and improving our local culture. I look forward to returning, sampling more of their offerings, and updating this review with an additional star. read more

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Cool space with some of the best coffee in the Capital Region. With the summer heat I've been really into cold brew lately and Stacks' does not disappoint with it's strong and distinct flavor. It's also about 50% cheaper for a 16oz cup than a nearby competitor so that's definitely a plus! read more