Today is the first of a mini-series highlighting a welcome addition in the last few years to New York :

Artisanal Cafés

These are places where the espresso comes first. And customers would agree, it really is a treat to have an espresso at these cafés.

Personally, I thought coffee was coffee. Some I like, some I do not. But once visiting these cafés and trying their espresso, the distinction became rather clear. Some espressos - WOW!

Over the past few months my son (the little guy is over 8 months now - time is flying!) and I have been through a quasi-crash course in artisanal coffee on our afternoon ventures through the city.

They are made with high-quality beans from varying locales across the world. But just the beans are not enough.

An appropriate machine is also required; often times costing 5 digits in US dollars. Any Londoners looking to start an artisanal café in New York? Half-price

And not to be forgotten is the love.

An espresso is an art. Thus, the baristas need to be properly trained, over the course of a couple months initially. And as one barista told me, the art of making espresso is just that - an art - thus the training never ends.

So enjoy the following posts on NYCs Top Artisanal Cafés. They have excellent coffee and all provide the ambience to enjoy your café, your style.

We are proud to release our eighth children’s T design, Mama & Kind, designed by Sengthe from Tours, France.

Now available in our boutique.

Here’s another view of today’s parent, acting as a companion to Papa & Kind.

Drawing from a more fantasy/manga influence.

Still SohoKind style.

About the Artist

Sengthe is a visual artist from Tours, France, with projects in New York and throughout Europe. He mixes painting, film, poetry and performance art to create his unique style.

Currently, he is working on his next film Magnetic Ability, which he wrote, produced and directed in New York. You can check out the trailer as well as the storyboard sketches and more info at :

http://magneticability.canalblog.com/ 

For more insight into his style and work, please check out his website www.sengthe.net.

After many cafés and many espressos, I can safely say, New York has some great café options.

Going into 2008, here is a full guide and summary to the best cafés in the city.

SohoKind Café Guide 2008

Here you will find :

- our recommendations by neighborhood

- a map of our favourites

- our favourites highlighted

- coming one-by-one over the next couple of weeks, the best espressos in Manhattan

SohoKind’s Favorites

What are my criteria for a favourite?

These are the cafés that if given just one afternoon to show a good friend around town to see the best of what New York has to offer, I would include one of these cafés in the visit depending on the neighborhood we were visiting. And personally, these are the cafés that, in and of themselves, would get me excited about being in the neighborhood. They are consistent in their quality. Each offering something a bit different.

La Colombe in Tribeca

La Colombe is a pure treat. Well-designed café. Designed from minimalist on up, including just what is necessary to make it feel cozy and comfortable. Great open loft-space feel. Excellent espresso.

Great to stop in with the stroller and my son. For a bit of reading. Conversation with friends. Or, just for a quick espresso.

Tartine in the West Village

Ah, Tartine and summer! Excellent food in New York is not hard to find. It is actually harder to find bad food than good food here.

However, finding a pleasant outdoor café in New York is a challenge. We love our sidewalk cafés and restaurants. But let’s be honest with ourselves; who could honestly recommend a sidewalk experience that would make a European acknowledge our self-professed love of outdoor dining without smirking?

There are some scattered through the city.

One such place is Tartine. On a summer day, you can recharge your whole battery with a café here. Amazing location, tucked away on West 4th. Excellent people watching. Good espresso. And very good food.

Zibetto in Midtown

Simple elegance and style.

That’s Zibetto.

Excellent espresso. Prepared and served with care. Professional and friendly service.

Zibetto is another example of excellent design. It is an espresso bar in its essence. No chairs. Just the bar and the espresso.

Each time we walk in, Zibetto has the presence of doing New York a favour by being here. That is the impression left by the stylish yet simple design of the bar. It is accentuated by the sharply dressed yet always friendly baristas. And it is confirmed by the quality of the espresso.

Abraço in the East Village

Looking for a neighborhood-y feel, where you are bound to strike up conversation with the other patrons and the barista/proprietor?

Plus an excellent espresso?

Abraço is the place.

A tiny espresso bar, it is almost packed to the walls like a rush-hour subway car each time we visit. And people do not seem to mind. It actually adds to the atmosphere and facilitates the socializing that makes this such a comfortable café.

When you enjoy a café here, you feel like you have found something special.