First off, some pop-ups happening either today or soon:
Pop-ups
Saturday — there is so much happening saturday I figured I’d just link directly to CK’s site to not reinvent the wheel: coffeeklats.ch/events/2024-06-22
Villager, Crown Heights, Nano-Roaster Anomalous Coffee
Secret Coffee, Bushwick: Connecticut’s Neat Coffee Bar Takeover
Drip Coffee, SoHo: Philadelphia’s Thank You Twice + Toronto’s Subtext Coffee Roasters Bar Takeover
Block Apps (The Wandering Barman), East Williamsburg: NY Coffee Summertime Event (no affiliation with this New York Coffee)
If you have to choose one, this is probably it
There is more on Sunday and the rest of the week, but I’ll save it until later in the newsletter.
How to know if a place is good
I’ve lived in New York City for four years now, and coming here my whole life. I, like many of you, care about good food.
In NYC, Good Food™ is not just tasty food; a good experience, etc. It’s a good price. A price that makes you say:
“Wow, that was almost worth the money”.
This is the highest reasonable compliment a New Yorker can give a place.
So, to the end where
I don’t need to spend money to know if it’s going to be good,
I’ve tested all the caveats a place can have at a glance, and correlated it with how good the place is.
If a place has more of these, it will likely be better. Coffee shops, restaurants, whatever.
THE LIST
Diverse Clientele
The most important one, a place must have many different demographics, different classes [rich/poor/etc.], different cultures, all eating in there together.
Good, diverse menu
A menu that looks good and caters to different dietary restrictions is likely created by a better chef.
String lights/cool lighting
Your definition of “cool” lighting is good; you’re more likely to like what you think is cool lighting than what I do.
Flowers/Plants
Fake plants done tastefully is OK, real plants done tastefully is the best.
Smells good from the outside
Cool/great logo
Paraphernalia
Political and human rights are things that are hard to be proud of as a restaurant.
With this list, you can saunter in to any NYC establishment and get within 2 points of how good it is.
There is a lot more variation in the coffee industry because of how pigeonholed people’s tastes can get. With food, it’s a lot more difficult to keep a hyper-focused taste profile.
You can use this list to gauge pop-ups, events, apartment buildings, people, PIGEONS, WEATHER, SIDEWALKS!!!! okay maybe not all of those things, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the weather in NYC could be predicted by this list.
Add me on @nycoffeenewsletter on Instagram and hit me up if you try it!
This week’s coffee shop spotlight!
A pretty known brand in NYC, I went to their cobble hill location and was pleasantly surprised. With a wonderful and cozy design, interesting drinks, and hand-picked art, I had a great afternoon.
Poetica Coffee
I had a drink with brown sugar and possibly chocolate…or maybe vanilla. I’m not sure, and I can’t be sure, because their website doesn’t have item descriptions. I think it was the Poetica Coffee [it is the name of a menu item]. I can be sure about how good it is, though. It tasted like a campfire with a nice touch of home.
The photographs around the café reminded me of impressionists and Monet, and in the corner there was a print of a Monet. Little things make the coffee taste good.
The barista was also excellent, and had a great relationship with his customers. Everyone there felt at home.
Some more awesome pictures. I don’t have much more to say.
What’s new, Jude?
Pop-ups
SUNDAY
Principles BK’s Birthday cupping #2 — $20, but you get to try very expensive [Gesha] coffees and other interesting varieties. You also get freebies :)
Drip Coffee, SoHo — Obscure Coffee takeover
WEDNESDAY
This isn’t a pop-up, it’s a weekly meeting that Coffee Klastch runs, which is also where most of the pop-up information comes from (thanks!). I don’t usually recommend these to this newsletter, but this one seems particularly cool.
Cafecito Social, Gowanus — Coffe Klastch 9:30–11:00a.m.
Coffee Klatsch is a wonderfully inviting meeting of people, and the group changes every week. It’s a great excuse to go somewhere you don’t go often and try amazing coffee. The café is new—from their website:
Cafecito Social Is one Chapina's dream to share the vibrant beauty of Guatemala with the world. It's a community of coffee lovers who never stop exploring the rich and diverse flavors the country has to offer.
THURSDAY
Coffee Summer Camp Week 5, with Rachel Keen and Henry Sloth. This class is about ethical coffee bag labels. It takes place at Lattente in Williamsburg.
Break time!
I had a friend say that happy and comfortable customers is a good sign, as well. It seems like it’s correct but I am unconvinced.
Also, I recently did a collab with @lookingforgoodbaguettes! Follow his page to get updated and see our collab.
And now…
Coffee news!
Luckin Coffee surpassed Starbucks as China’s biggest coffee retailer.
Luckin also got a $500M contract with the Brazillian gov, while Brazil coffee prices are expected to increase.
Folgers, Café Bustelo, and Dunkin’ coffee may raise in price as J.M. Smucker [the manufacturer] says higher costs will drive up coffee price.
New updates between genetics and environmental effect on coffee taste.
Detroit Coffee Week is now a thing! July 22–27.
Sodexo acquires ‘Capitol Vending and Coffee’ and adds them to their InReach family in Texas.
Lavazza is now going to be served at the Lamborghini Museum and at all global Lamborghini events.
Grounds for Health is having their coffee auction again, the main part was June 19/20 and any bids at this point immediately buy it at that price.
The first academic coffee certificate is announced at Texas A&M
Caravan Coffee Roasters is now certified as a B Corp
Sustainability
Everything you need to know about the EU Deforestation Legislation
This very in-depth article about where the cost goes with your cup of coffee. Why if you pay more it might not mean farmers get paid more.
New Gizmos
Cayo released their automatic espresso machine
Rancilio espresso equipment company created the “Bond”, an automatic grinder which grinds by weight and creates a steady flow rate.
Thanks for tuning in!
Enjoy your coffee!