There’s a new spot for my son and I to add to our list of favorites, giving us some (maybe too many options) on our gallery visit days.

Joe just opened up a Chelsea location. The same great espresso (wonderful taste with lots of TLC)that you can find at their Village, NYU and SoHo locations. And this cafe offers a new and welcomed vibe. Fresh and modern atmosphere; offering table seating, sofa/hair salon seating and window-side people watching seating.

As long as Joe keeps up the quality of the espresso in addition to offering fresh vibes in their cafes, I would love to see them keep opening up more espresso bars in the city. Next up Grand Central towards late Spring.

Maybe at some point an Upper West or Upper East Side location? Something to accompany those spring and summer visits to Central Park?

Address

Joe - 405 West 23rd Street, New York between 9th and 10th Avenues. 1, CE Trains at 23rd Street.

Other Locations

West Village - 141 Waverly Place. SohoKind Visit.

East Village/NYU - 9 East 13th Street. SohoKind Visit.

SoHo (In the Alessi Store) - 130 Greene Street. SohoKind Visit.

My son and I have continued going to cafés, visiting our favorites.

There’s a newcomer to the scene and in a premium area for an artisanal café.

Gimme! Coffee

And a sweet spot of location amongst the laid back, almost hidden boutiques of the Lower East Side just on the ‘other side’ of Broadway from SoHo. Comfortable atmosphere, matching the neighborhood.

The espresso bar-only makes for a narrow shop front, so don’t miss it when you walk by.

It’s a real treat.

Address

Gimme! Coffee - 228 Mott Street, New York between Prince and Spring Streets.

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Ah, Zibetto.

The espresso bar that actually introduced me to artisanal espresso. And we keep going back and back and back again…

A tiny espresso bar. Wonderfully designed. Just the espresso within an ambience expressing style from the baristas’ ties to the understated off-white of the bar to the minimalist selection of biscotti.

When zipping through your day in Midtown, drop into Zibetto for a touch of style and one of NYCs best espressos.

Decisions, decisions.

With three Joe locations, which one to visit?

Each one offering a unique and truly enjoyable experience.

The tucked-away neighborhood-y café in the West Village packed with locals.

The always buzzing and popping East Village/NYU loft location.

And the chic espresso bar in the Alessi store down in SoHo.

Plus, the espresso at each is top class.

Joe has you covered for one of the best espressos in NYC, and probably a café mood to match what you’re up to for the day. Just take a look at the videos for a look at all 3.

You have your choice. With Joe you can not go wrong.

Want an amazing espresso? Casual service that is almost so casual it is too cool?

Ninth Street Espresso is then a place to go.

For a laid back café, visit Ninth Street Espresso in the far East Village, where you’ll have a park view, great espresso and a chill café environment.

For a bit more action, visit their espresso bar in the Chelsea Market. Same great espresso. Two very cool scenes on opposite sides of the island.

A true pleasure in NYC.

Abraço.

Fantastic espresso, prepared with care.

Actually, all of the menu items are attended to individually down to the ingredients. And the menu is developing each day.

Want to know what’s on the menu for the day? Just ask Jamie, who has created a friendly spot, where people come back, day-after-day to get the same great espresso, and a new dish prepared fresh.

Wonderful espresso. Eclectic and tasty pastries & dishes.

A tiny, bar-seating only lay-out for the café also makes for a friendly environment.

Just do not plan on staying for a 2-minute café, as you’re likely to get involved in a conversation and enjoy a longer visit.

Well-designed.

Each time we visit La Colombe in Tribeca, I get the feeling that each last detail was thought out with great attention. The neighborhood, the café layout, the choice of a loft space, the color of the floor, the spacing of the tables, the type of chairs, the music to be played, the single lone piece of art to display, the biscotti to offer.

And it all seems to complement each other so well.

As if La Colombe were designed around the quality of its espresso, which is excellent.

The end result being an experience to experience.

Grumpy only when they are closed.

Café Grumpy prepares a wonderful espresso. With lots of care, and very polite, friendly service that makes you feel as if you have met the barista before, even if it is your first time here.

The ambience of the café is also light, warm and modern where you can come in for a quick espresso or sit back and relax for a bit.

Did I mention the excellent espresso?

Located just a few minute walk from Union Square, Everyman Espresso has a central location.

The café also has one of the funkier spaces in NYC, acting as the lobby to a theater company, and high-stool only seating.

The baristas are quite friendly and will explain to help you understand what artisanal espresso is.

And the espresso is fantastic.

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.