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Category: Coffee & Tea
Neighborhood: ChelseaEvery Saturday at 2:30pm. Everyone Welcome. Free to attend.
18th St-7th Ave (1)
23rd St-8th Ave (C, E)
23rd Street (PATH)
Mon-Fri. 7:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Sat-Sun. 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
"I am utterly won over because: 1) They grind the beans for each cup, when you order it. Even iced coffee. They make every cup specially to…" read more »
Cafe Grumpy turns a frown upside down!
It's worth going a little out of the way to come get a cup of coffee/cappuccino/latte from Cafe Grumpy. You know when a business takes a gamble and sets up shop in an obscure block like this one, they are pretty confident that they can deliver the goods and probably got it goin' on. It's a fairly spacious with enough chairs and tables for you not to have to wait too long to get a seat if that's what you came for. Simple decor and setting matched with fast and efficient ordering system and purposeful complicated coffee machines that spew up delicious cups of joe makes this an easy favorite.
Let's start here: I hate polarized reviews. This place clearly deserves more than one star, but I have to counteract 160 four-star reviews to the contrary.
I walked in here, fueled by positive Yelp reviews, thinking I was about to sample the best espresso in NYC (the world, perhaps?). The atmosphere is barren, suggesting that the owner put most of his budget into the beautiful equipment, which is fine by me. I love the empty brick walls, the pretentious customers, the bathroom. I was greeted by two handsome baristas, and ordered their single origin espresso (triple ristretto is standard, damnit)
The shot was slow to come, despite approximately one customer ahead of me. What finally came disgusted me. My triple ristretto barely took up a half a shot, with a slight patchy web of black crema scummed across the top. I garnished with some sugar and reluctantly tossed it back - extremely sour.
It's a shame, because I know exactly what happened (an experienced barista myself). Handsome barista #2 packed the shot too tightly, and the water became clogged as it tried to pass through the basket. This resulted in a pool of high-pressure water, over-extracting the espresso and getting that sour leakage, with none of the so-desired crema. The thoughtless barista stopped pulling the shot after it finally eeked out a few drops of black coffee piss. He should have known better; should have thrown away $.20 of espresso and given me a decent drink.
Sorry to be so harsh, Grumpy, but you present yourself as something better. Perhaps you are, and I caught you at a bad moment. But in the world of New York cafes, one chance to impress may be all you have. And i'm never going back.
This is not coffee the way I usually think of coffee. I actually love that watery oversweet muck that is served out of carts and in delis, it is in fact one of the top ten things I like about living in New York, not that I have a running list or anything.
This coffee is the kind of thing that you could run jets on. It is so crazy insane strong, but also has levels of taste I'd ordinarily associate with French cheeses or fever-induced hallucinations. I had a Panamanian coffee the other day, and it would not have surprised me to find out that it was flavoured with angel droppings and chardonnay (which now that I think of it would make a good name for a drama series starring Posh Spice).
It isn't so much that I love the coffee here than that it is like riding a coffee roller coaster inside a coffee love canal while speaking to coffee dolphins in their native coffee language. It is a lot of taste for a Saturday morning, and I must limit my exposure to its wonders.
Finally, the people-watching tends to be good if mildly touristic, and the place is always packed.
Even in New York, It's good to know that there is more then one place to get an awesome espresso. Hidden in the West village on 20th Street between 1st and 2nd lies Grumpy Coffee. My first time there was meant to be. Standing on the corner of 1st and 20th with my friend, Jeff, I told him "It's called Grumpy coffee, keep a look out." Without a pause a lady on the corner directed me to go between 1st and 2nd on 20th.
Walking inside I could smell, hear, and see the ingredients to awesome coffee. Like many coffee houses Grumpy was equipped with hipster baristas, but these baristas didn't have the NY edge like the rest. Instead a polite, attractive, short haired female barista greeted me. With two blends of espresso I couldn't choose. "Which one is better I asked her?" "The Heart Breaker Espresso" she replied back. "I'll take that one."
The coffee shop had a homely ambiance to it. It was the type of place that I could see an open mike night for local 1-3 person bands play. If I lived in NY I would have sat for hours writing and watching the people that flowed in and out of this place. The coffee wasn't the only thing unique, the chocolate was also hand made probably by a friend of the owner, or one of the baristas. There was a welcoming feel, which gave the name "Grumpy" a sense of irony. Grumpy when you go in happy when you come out is what they were going for.
Having a partner in crime allowed me to have a sip of the regular espresso in comparison to the Heart Breaker. Both espressos pulled to perfection, with a thick black richness that every espresso lover searches for. Tasting the heart breaker I could taste peaches and lemons, with a sour start and a very nice finish. Even the regular espresso proved a great taste of cherrie
Aww, Cafe Grumpy is so cute! I love that little grumpy face they have on all of the cups etc.
I went there briefly for a coffee before class yesterday and had a latte and cookie. I could have done with a bit more milk, but overall it was really good. I like the set up they have and the people that worked there were friendly.
I noticed that quite a few people go to buy coffee there (no pun intended); I can't remember if it was in bean form or grounded?? Grumpy also has one of those loyalty schemes, so after 10 coffees you get one free! yay
Pros: nice small place, loyalty scheme
Cons: location (sort of)
My review of Cafe Grumpy (11/13/2007) was the first review I wrote as a Yelp-user, and, now that I've returned from my hiatus, it only seems appropriate to begin here once more. Not only because Cafe Grumpy possesses some sentimental value for me, but also because I think my earlier self was too timid and shy to write a detailed and enthusiastic review that Grumpy deserves.
I had woken up earlier than expected, and, upon seeing the gorgeous weather outside, I decided to walk over to Cafe Grumpy for a cup of coffee before meeting a friend for lunch. It was the first Sunday of September and it was one of those perfect fall days when the skies are bright, the wind is gentle, and the air is crisp. And while walking through the busy city from my friend's apartment on 6th Avenue, I couldn't help but feel sad that this city that I called home and love for the last four years was now only reserved opportune weekends.
Although there had been a point in my life when I was an inveterate customer of Cafe Grumpy, carrying with me always my frayed frequent-buyer's punch card, by my final year in New York, I fell into a habit of going to the Hungarian Pastry Shop as my close-to-base cafe and to calling Abraço my favorite coffee shop in all of New York. But as I sat down on that recent Sunday morning and slowly sipped my perfectly foamed cappuccino, I regretted having not been a little more faithful to Grumpy and working it into my cafe balancing act.
Because, simply put, Cafe Grumpy was and still is one of the premier coffee establishments in New York. Their dedication to the art of coffee is impressive and they will always use the very best beans from different roasters across the country. The last time I visited Grumpy, I spied bags of coffee from Verve, an excellent roaster whose coffees I fell head-over-heels in love with during my three month stint in the West Coast (thanks to my favorite coffee shop in SF-- Farm Table) and Intelligentsia, a Chicago roaster worshiped by coffee nerds for their pursuit of perfection. And not only does Grumpy draw from the best roasters, but they have their own roasts too. And because of this, they're very aware and proud of from where their beans come. Yes, everyone claims to be a lover of coffee, but Grumpy is serious about its claim.
Needless to say, their drinks are perfectly crafted-- espresso with absurdly gorgeous crema, beautiful dense foam that cling to the cup, and lovely latte art. And even if you don't order an espresso drink, even the coffee is brewed by the cup. Yes, by the cup. Because Grumpy has its hands on the venerated Clover machine (and they had the machines before the Clover company got bought up by Starbucks), they are able to make specifically to your order a cup of coffee with all the delicate flavors and flourishes that get lost in traditional coffee brewed by the massive pot.
While I adore this place as a coffee lover, the sanctuary-seeker in me has always been left disappointed. Despite the warm color scheme employed, the general atmosphere of Grumpy is always a bit lacking. It might be that the floors could always use an extra sweep and the tables an additional wipe. It might be the baristas, with whom, despite their being cordial, you never interact with outside making your orders. It might be that silly no-laptop policy; although I have never been one to lug around a computer (and let the world see my browsing habits?) and although I understand it must be frustrating to have dead-weight customers who stay on for hours and take up all that table space, the draconian order strikes me as alienating. Yeah, we know you're serious about coffee, and we love that. But sometimes, we just want to sit and read.
But at the end of the day, Cafe Grumpy can be as grumpy as it wants. Because as long as the folks there keep making coffee that delicious, I'll be back.
Coffee: Absolutely delicious. I think the only cafe I'd put over Cafe Grumpy for better coffee would… Read more »
I definitely didn't feel grumpy after slurping down a meticulously prepared cappuccino at Cafe Grumpy recently. I actually felt rather chipper. Props to the Grumpy baristas - these ladies and gents are masters of their trade.
It's not crazy to say that Grumpy has arguably the best espresso drinks in New York. They also make an inspired cup of coffee via the Clover coffee maker. More importantly, Grumpy is an oasis from what seems like thousands of Starbucks locations in Manhattan. I don't recommend Grumpy for the casual coffee drinker, but I do think that New Yorkers and visitors who care about well executed coffee drinks and well sourced beans will appreciate what Grumpy has to offer.
great coffee + unpretentious baristas
I love their summer ice coffee - no one does it like grumpy
they aren't coffee snobs either!
I'll never forget my convo with one of the baristas about different kinds of coffee for different moments - and he said that he still thinks there is a time and place for the morning coffee cart on your block! I was so shocked that he said that! Yes he understood that I can't always come to grumpy for $4 coffee - but when I want amazing coffee I do!
A bit funky, a bit of a wait as they brew the coffee. Had the Panama blend not bad
"No laptops or outside food". For you squatters, that new sign posted is directed at you.Their logo stamps on sleeves is very cost effective..and clever. Not sure if the highly regarded Clover machine does anything for me, but the coffee was good. There's a punch card on their biz card for a free coffee after buying a few.
So amazing. I had a house recommendation. I think it was the nicaraguan. It was so amazing, didn't need milk or sugar. This was exactly what I needed to get over the red-eye from SFO.
Thank you Cafe Grumpy for healing me with your amazing coffee, quiet clean cafe and cool baristas.
Just a classic, little coffee shop.
went the other night... halloween night. there weren't many people and i found the cafe to be very simple, which is fine but i thought that maybe having more pastries, or books, or wifi would help.
i only brought a book and was looking forward to converse with the baristas or random ppl, but none of that happened. maybe it was because it was halloween night and everybody was thinking about partying - idk.
i don't know if i'll go again. next time i'll try the coffee, i had the white peach tea which was good.
Look at that face... it's a MEAN cup of joe! Great job guys. Excellent grounds, top choice ingedients, and perfection in cafe-arts technique. As far as coffee goes, Grumpy's got it right on. -1 for lack of munching variety and the ambiance. Their music was actually wonderful, but the interior design needs a little more warmth and character to match the phenomenal staff and coffee. The wooden chairs and artlessness let off a sense of sadness... even grumpiness if you will -_-
Yes, the hand-written "No Lap Top" sign did feel a bit "grumpy" too but it did encourage reading, relaxing, engaging discourse, and a pleasant disconnection from the wired world.
The thing about espresso drinks is:
The espresso should be at 203.5 fahrenheit. I had one at possibly 150...
The thing about croissant is:
It has to be fresh, or buy a microwave and heat that up!!
But the place is cool anyway! So if you dont give a shit about quality, go and have fun!
Grumpy is the right word. I walked in and quickly noticed all the little signs asking that laptops not be used. With that knowledge, I didn't bother to order since they clearly didn't want my business. It isn't unusual for me to spend between 10 and 25 dollars at a coffee house over the course of 2 or 3 hours, but I guess I'll just keep heading to places without laptop phobia.
What kind of world are these folks living in? Are they not living in the modern world? What is next? A note banning Kindles? A note banning smartphones? After all, if it is the computer you want to keep out, those objects -- computers, too -- must be banned, too. What makes reading a book to yourself or hiding behind a newspaper so much different? Nothing, really.
I hope they go out of business and fast.
i first heard of this place from one of the baristas in an espresso cafe in toronto - he thought it was stellar. i took up his recommendation and decided to give it a shot - com'n cafe grumpy, who can forget the name - but def. seriously great coffee and a good place to just catch up with buddies.
Love the coffee here, I would even venture to say that this is the best cup I've had outside the EU. They have some interesting bean varieties, which are always freshly ground, then brewed per cup. The munchies are delicious too (if a little pricey). The only drawback of this place is the lack of seating.
I was debating between 4.5 or 5.. after a while.. if I round it up.. 4.5 is a 5.
There you go, Cafe Grumpy you absolutely stole my heart.
I am a cappuccino lover.. so their cappuccino was on top of the chart..
The place is very specious, easy to find a table...you know it's a real coffee place once you walk in one..
If i am go above 14th street.. CAFE GRUMPY.. u r my new love..
Was visiting a friend in NYC when she introduced me to this amazing place! Looking to find something comparable in San Francisco!
Best coffee I have ever had!
I go for the coffee.
I'm antsy for their coffee when I'm waiting to order. I'm happy when I sip it. I'm sad when it's gone.
Yes it's in the middle of chelsea, so queue soundtrack of flaming gay guys talking about wardrobe, or whatnot...
But the truth is, the place deserves every bit of the reputation it's gotten. We're talking top notch espresso shot here, no watery bullsh*t... The place is also very spacious, and I didn't find it difficult to grab a table, which I can't say about Joe on 13th street, at which finding a table is oftentimes a kiasu moment...
Anyway, if you're in chelsea, definitely stop by this place. It is perfection of the espresso form...
Great coffee, perfect location, and an atmosphere that makes me want to cut my throat. The clientele is typical Chelsea/Village folk stopping by for a cup, but from the NO LAPTOPS NO OUTSIDE FOOD signs more prominent than the varietal menu (the Greenpoint location puts it up on a big board!) to the morose staff, I can't say I want to linger here.
The chant of "stirring, stirring; boring, boring" while my cup was made one day was the ultimate turn-off for someone that wants the staff to be happy to make my $4 cup of coffee, no matter how many times they've done it before.
Still worth it for the amazing coffee and dedication - usually - put into it.
Absolutely nothing else like it. Have you ever heard of a cafe having exotic blends as specials?! No, you have not.
And they have New York City's first Clover. What's a Clover? It's like a french press that runs on super high power.
Coffee is always excellent. This is American espresso and it's damn good.
As of 9/16/2009 Cafe Grumpy does NOT have free wifi
Let it be said that you enjoy this neighborhood outpost the way it was intended when you're wearing your own Grumpy shirt....Disney's frozen head would thaw with warmth at the thought.
The queues may get long, but the wait time doesn't. These baristas are heigh-ho'ing your lattes down the diamond mine-line at a rate that would make even Cinderella's mice jealous.
Bibbidi bobbidi boo-yah.
I love grumpy cafe. This is my kind of Cafe.
What I love:
Quality of Coffee, of course! Both Espresso and regular are good.
Location is nice. I love the fact that entrance is descreet and kinda hidden even the employee of Barney's co-op I spoke with did not know this cafe.
The employees of Grumpy Cafe are nicer than the employees of 9th street Espresso who are sometimes obnoxious.
What I don't love:
Hard to find the table. Whenever I go, it is always crowded.
I feel terrible about giving an independent coffee shop, that has invested in a PAIR of Clovers, 2 stars --- but let's call it a 2.5.
First, let me say, you SHOULD visit Grumpy. Why? As I mentioned above, they have not one, but TWO Clovers. What is the Clover, you say? It's an amazing and rare one cup at a time drip coffee machine. I read about it, never experienced it, until Grumpy - and it was good. This machine really gets the flavor of the bean to sing, and you won't be disappointed that you spent nearly $4 on exotic beans (looks like Grumpy also takes the time to scour the world for some amazing flavors as well - which further highlights the Clover's magic). So 5 stars to the coffee itself, and 3 cheers to the owners for making this investment.
But what's not so great? Well, biggest gripe - the environs! You're a coffee shop, NAY, a CAFE! Where are your couches? Where is your comfort? Where is your cuteness?? Instead of having any of those, there is, as Sam put it, a narrow thin hallway with some high and tiny tables accompanied by backless plastic stools (not eye pleasing), and in the front and back of this small hallway squeeze are a few hard and cold tables, with little space.
The music was OK, but pretty testosterific (not really "coffeehouse music"), and the staff, while really knowledgeable and nice to me as I chose my beans, were indeed grumpy!
So amazing coffee on the one hand, countered with zero comfort? That is not a cafe I can fully endorse. But again - come for some amazing (and expensive) coffee (you just might have to take it to go).
Cafe Grumpy still gets 5 stars from me even though it was probably the lowest of the 5 stars that I've given for my NYC espresso locations. The crema was nice, the latte was served a bit too hot and the flavor lacked some depth. It was still quite good and I'd be pretty happy to have it whenever.
I think it's hilarious that this place serves "get it yourself" water in shot glasses! It looks like everyone is taking shots along with their coffee.
Besides being a bit difficult to find (the address is off... just be aware that it's not exactly where the address is placed) I did enjoy the place, overall. But... it was just OK.
Their coffee was pretty good, but nothing mind blowing. I'm pretty picky about coffee and now that I think about it, I don't really remember anything special about it. The place was really crowded on a Saturday afternoon and it was very difficult to find a place for me and three girlfriends to sit down. I don't remember anything being TERRIBLE, but I really want to save my 4-5 stars for the amazing coffee places!
I had a chocolate croissant and my friends got a regular scone--- both mediocre. I love it when places have delicious pastries to go along with their delicious coffee.
Busy, tiny atmosphere, friendly staff, free water, teeny booths, very loud. A lot of people were reading and studying (???) I don't know how they did it unless they were faking because it was loud in there!
Oh Grumpy, how I wanted to give you that 5th star! You did just about everything I asked for - wi-fi (YAY!), a bathroom (YAY!!!!), and even added more seating, but the layout of the place is still just tragically flawed. It's cramped, always brutally overheated and there are still not enough tables to meet the demand. If you want to sit down you'll have to shimmy your way through the narrow area by the bar and fight for a table.
It's still the best coffee on the West Side and the best coffee shop in Chelsea, but it's still not a place you want to linger, unfortunately. Still love ya, Grumpy, but I wish you would take over, say, S'nice's space. Then all would be right with the world.
This place has been on my must-try-coffee-places list for quite sometime, and I finally found myself… Read more »
I've been searching for an adequate Blue Bottle alternative since I left San Francisco - lucky for me there's one around the corner. While it's not _exactly_ Blue Bottle (they don't roast their own, for example, but are apparently in the process), it comes pretty damn close. Suffice it to say, if you're in Chelsea (or anywhere in Manhattan, for that matter), and want a truly tasty latte, head over to Cafe Grumpy!
Perhaps I've just been spoiled by Cha-an. The service at this place really didn't impress me. I don't drink coffee so asked them what I should get and the person I asked just said "then order a tea!"... well, I knew that, but I was hoping for a suggestion for which tea?
I had one of their white teas and it was ok. Nothing super special. The space is really cute and the crowd generally pleasant. My friend had the coffee and said that didn't think it was ultra special. There was nothing wrong, but unfortunately nothing that will drive me back there again... except their ultra cute logo.
This place is perfectly flawed. Yes, you'll think it's eponymously named for its staff, and the layout is cumbersome when it's crowded. However, I love the inconspicuous sign, the no laptop policy (no cell-phones would be even better), and they have two, yes two mythical Clover coffee makers. Best of all, that same not-so-cheery staff know what they're doing when it comes to what count.
Their coffee is probably the best in the city, and only 9th St. gives them a run for the title for Cappuccino. But 9th St. doesn't have two outside benches where you can watch NY's finest "load up a perp and take him downtown".
Oh yeah, skip any and all of the food items here - not so good. Walk straight down 20th to 9th Ave and get anything at La Bergamote. Now that's a good Sunday morning.
This place has amazing coffee....probably one of the best places in town! I had their mocha: full-bodied deliciousness without being too sweet. Staff was pretty friendly and the cafe had a warm vibe. I loved the "no-laptops rule" and as a result was able to find a seat and savor my coffee in a ceramic cup instead of a paper one.
One of best place if you wanna get real gooood cafe, great people and leaf foam on latte/cap. :)
People's attitude and vibes are always surprising me every time I go there. You know Manhattan... many tough time to get this opportunities.
If add one thing, space design can go better to fit with their great services.
Oh, I like outside benches best. :)
For my 600th review I've chosen to review this little joint. One thing about moving from a total coffee city like Vancouver is you start looking for great independent coffee shops every where you go.
Unfortunately the options for dedicated coffee joints that aren't too corporate are spaced surprisingly far apart. This normally isn't too bad, but when you're used to having the option to caffeinate on any block without having to step foot into a Starbucks you truly start to value a place like Cafe Grumpy.
Thank goodness it's close to my work, the atmosphere of this place is quaint and is a cute place to meet with friends and kick back with a good cup.
The staff here are super friendly and it is very visible the amount of care they take into making your order. They offer a solid selection of blends for any palate here. Due to the size of the place you may not always get a seat, but the neighborhood has enough interesting things for you to just walk and drink.
I'd easily recommend this place to any coffee lover. Kudos to Cafe Grumpy for perfectly executing that balance of quality with ambiance to create a winning coffee shop.
Clover Clover Clover. Search google for "wired magazine clover" if you don't know what the hoopla is all about. I read all my fellow Yelp reviews and felt obliged to make a pilgrimage here. So worth it, a cup of coffee that I've never tasted before. The flavors are so clear and fragrant.
Look, there are only 250 Clover machines in the world that are owned by independent coffee shops. After Starbucks bought the manufacturer, these machines are no longer available to indie shops. Only one thing for you to do, right? Go out, get Grumpy and enjoy a cup.
For serious coffee drinkers!
Among others, Cafe Grumpy brews Intelligentsia and Verve. That is a sure sign they know good coffee when they see it. Moreover, these folks have two Clovers (and unlike Starbucks, they know how to use it). Yes, the prices are pretty steep for a cup o' joe but this isn't the place to go if you JUST want to get caffeinated. Looking to get into coffee tasting. This is a good place to start.
I came here after yoga class the other night, and initially stopped in because the place looked so cute, even on the outside. The inside is much like any casual, cozy coffee shop, with a few chairs and an exposed brick wall. The name itself is even a bit cute (though I dont want to overuse that word).
Because I was so thristy, I tried the white peach tea - and loved it. Light and warm with a hint of natural sweetness. What gives this place five stars is that I got to bring home yummy baked goods at the end of the night when the shop was near closing.
I will be back if I'm in the area and in need of a quick snack!
WiFi and 10% Student Discount!
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