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Cafe One
Category: Food Coffee & Tea Coffee & Tea [Edit]
1619 Amsterdam Ave(between 139th St & 140th St)
New York, NY 10031
Neighborhood: Harlem
(212) 690-0060
- Nearest Transit:
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137 St - City College (1)
145 St (1)
135 St (A, B, C)
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 7:30 am - 8 pm
Sat-Sun 8 am - 6 pm
- Price Range:
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$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
25 reviews for Cafe One
Review Highlights
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"Awesome staff, really good BLT and Iced Tea." In 4 reviews -
"This spot is right by City College." In 4 reviews -
"Really great place for the neighborhood." In 4 reviews
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25 reviews in English
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Review from Kristel S.
Manhattan, NY
Updated - 3/25/2012 8 Check-ins Here
This update is long over due, and i'm sorry Cafe One.
Your two dollar medium coffees, as much as they spill on me when I walk, keeps me truckin til the late afternoon. Staff is still friendly as can be, and although the line gets pretty long, I haven't waited more than a few minutes to get my coffee. That's mainly why it went from 2 stars to 4 stars for me. They've learned how to handle a crowd.. so yay!
The panini sandwiches are great--my favorites being the chicken pesto and the chicken chipotle. It comes with a small side of salad. Not the most exciting salad, but it does the trick. They've also added yogurt muffins next to their regular muffins, and they're tasty!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/9/2011
I've been coming to Cafe One since it first opened as Java's Brewin'.. and through the years, I've… Read more »
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Review from Carol B.
5/12/2012 1 Check-in Here
Exploring my 'hood can be fun. Granted most of the time you run into hustlers, undercover cops and Jehovah's Witnesses...but this time I was pleasantly surprised by Cafe One!
Conveniently located near the City College of New York, this is a cozy little cafe with plenty of seating. They serve deserts (banana bread was delicious), sandwiches and plenty of coffee drinks.
While I was there, a jazz trio was playing (kind of annoying in a small space while I am trying to read---but hey, I am kind of a quiet person..so ignore that).
Oh! You also get a discount if you check in on Yelp!
Another cool perk, they serve soups from Hale and Hearty! -
Review from Irm M.
3/5/2012 4 Check-ins Here
My local coffee shop, which knocks the pants off Starbucks any day. They have the usual selection of coffees and teas. Their vanilla chai latte is simply amazing. I have never had a better one in my life I believe. The only down side is that when certain baristas are behind the counter, they do not prepare it the same way. It's always best for me when the older Asian man (the owner I believe) makes them.
They also have a nice selection of soups, paninis, sandwiches, muffins, etc. If you order it to stay, they will bring it out to your table when it's ready. Everyone who works there is polite and helpful. They have a frequent customer card and lunch specials as well.
The area is lacking quality stores and shops like this one. Cafe One gets a lot of business from City College and the street and definitely gives new life to the neighborhood.Listed in: Harlem Ain't So Bad
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Review from Irene V.
New York, NY
4/11/2012
It's okay but not great. I go there seldom despite it being near where I live. Pastries can be stale and selection is sparse. I am not in love with their coffee, but I'm kind of a coffee snob. If you are a City College prof, student, or staff, it's certainly convenient, but Tanto on Broadway is far superior.
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Review from jax B.
New York, NY
1/3/2012
Best (real) vanilla latte in West Harlem - cheaper than Starbucks & really wonderful service.
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Review from Jacob C.
Portland, OR
2/13/2012 1 Check-in Here
They make their own muffins.. But I honestly don't remember anything else about this place... felt like it could have been in a smaller city, which was a nice escape.
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Review from Aaron E.
Boone, NC
1/19/2012 1 Check-in Here
This is a solid coffee shop. I've read through these reviews, there seems to be a lot of self-entitled whiners. Of course the place is going to be crowded since there aren't more than 6 coffee shops to serve 12k students. The place is small, but this is Manhattan - I'm a decent size guy and I felt comfortable. They serve food, but they are mainly a coffee shop, so don't set the bar too high.
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Review from Jessie A.
New York, NY
8/25/2011
::sigh::
...we have to do better. This area just has to do better. I honestly can't wrap my mind around why businesses can't get their act together. I mean...you're literally down the street from a college and in a neighborhood that would 100% support good service. Assess your surroundings! ...that's Business 101.
Anyway, the iced chai is decent, but like everything else in this place, overpriced. Check yourself, you're not Starbucks.
The pesto chicken melt has been prepared 3 different ways and every time was sub par. (Why I gave it 3 tries, the world may never know). The tomato soup is horrid. The pastries are pretty good, but again over priced.
Here's the thing: if I have a heavy hankering for a muffin, cookie, cupcake or warm sandwich, why would I pay these ridiculous prices for something sooo sub-par, when I can waltz over to subsconcious 2 doors down for something more affordable and satisfying?
Why would I pay for your pretentious chai, when I can just walk to Dunkins for a better cup for a buck and some change?
I want so badly to support. This community needs a good cafe. But give me a reason to stay!
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Edit:
This place seems to have improved tremendously. I gave it another chance and have become a regular, to a point where they know my order as soon as I walk in. I wish the chai latte wasn't so expensive but its the most deliccccccccccious chai I have ever had. I think they realized their previous formula was seriously sub-par, and they decided to use a new mix.
They were carrying this ridiculously amazing tomato, mozzarella & pesto on brioche sandwich for a while, but stopped because it was too expensive to carry. I understand business-wise...but damn I miss that sandwich. wish i never got hooked, lol. All in all, its a decent neighborhood cafe with a friendly staff. I do wish they stayed open a tad bit longer, but I get it.
So yea, thumbs up. :) -
Review from Serjiy M.
Brooklyn, NY
5/31/2011
This cafe has an alright atmosphere. The furniture is too small and in the end the place is cramped anyway, requiring people to move every few minutes or so.
The variety of food is limited and could be expanded, but the food they offer is overpriced. A dollar or two off the price would be great.
The service is spotty, they do forget about your order sometimes and leave you waiting until you go personally ask them about it. This situation is rare but it has happened to me a couple of times.
I would recommend a chicken Cesare wrap or a BLT sandwich and would recommend for people to stay away from tuna salad or chicken salad or any kind of salad wrap or sandwich because it will be cold out of their fridge.
The drinks are good. The coffee is watered down, but the espresso is pulled correctly. The only problem i notice is that their menu is out of date because they do not carry certain chai's or coffee powders. No green tea for them.
Overall, this place isn't bad. I eat here a few times a week and have grown acquainted with the friendly staff. -
Review from Ginny L.
New York, NY
2/23/2011
Meeting my friend at City College..and i didnt have breakfast yet....so i decided to stop by to pick up something to eat...i had a BEC...and it was pretty good....
Service is slow, and the price for my BEC was kind of pricey...oh oh! they have free Wi-Fi...=)
Note: They have a stamp card, if you get 10 stamps or checks on the card, you can get a free medium size coffee....weeeeeee...... -
Review from David G.
New York, NY
11/17/2007
Unfortunately, this cafe is mediocre at best. I don't know if it was a bad day, but the service was terrible, the BLT that I got was sloppy and boring, and the cup of coffee was WAY too sweet. The credit card machine was also out of order (probably not anyone's fault), but the ATM in the corner still worked...?
It would be great if this cafe was comfortable enough to be a regular spot, because the neighborhood really needs good places to sit and spend money, but I can't imagine ever being excited about coming here.
Also, the wireless didn't work on the first or second try, so I'm writing this on the wireless service offered at another nearby cafe. Maybe I'll go there next time I want some coffee.
One more thing: I am particularly forgiving when it comes to mistakes made behind the counter; I've worked in cafes for years and I know that even really smart people forget your order, or over-sweeten your coffee, etc, etc. But this is ridiculous. Were these guys even trained to do this job? And could they move any slower?
EDIT: Apparently, the wifi connection that I picked up still featured the old name of the cafe (which recently changed hands, or maybe just brands). So there is actually no hope for that neighborhood. -
Review from Dee B.
New York, NY
Updated - 8/16/2011 1 photo
I still owe these guys another try. No longer connected to Hue-Man bookstore. Hope to have a better experience.
Listed in: Harlem's Cafe Society, Where to get free wi-fi in…
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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11/9/2008
Cafe One could be a gem in a neighborhood that is severely lacking a nice cafe. They were… Read more »
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Review from Tempest B.
New York, NY
1/27/2008
My first impression of cafe One is that it looked very corporate/chain. It's not, I know -- perhaps they took over the space from something that WAS a chain, thus accounting for the look. At any rate, it didn't inspire me to like it much.
The space is smallish and it didn't look like a place I'd want to spend time in. It had a Dunkin Donuts vibe. Granted, I am looking for specific things when I assess a space. I want a place where I can go write. This is not that place, but it doesn't mean everyone should stay away. The food prices are decent, the coffee I had was fine, and the place is clean and well-lit. Oh, and free wifi! So there ya go.Listed in: Free WiFi Manhattan
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Review from Dan S.
New York, NY
9/29/2009
I'm really conflicted here. There's really slim pickings in this neighborhood, and this place should easily catapult itself beyond the 15 cookie cutter bodegas. A near miss though.
The Good:
Tasty Muffins
Good Soup
The Bad:
Everything is too expensive by about 15%.
The drip coffee is weak
The espresso is miserable
If I'm going to pay 6 bucks for a soup in Harlem it should damn well not come in a coffee cup. I don't care how big the coffee cup is, get some bowls!
Everything's in place to have a real standout in Hamilton Heights, but it's not there yet. They're trying hard, and the staff is genuinely sweet, but they need to raise it all to get the fan rating. -
Review from Abhinav g.
New York, NY
3/28/2010
I actually had to ask them to re-heat my latte because it was too cold. You can imagine what kind of place this is. The taste of the latte depends upon who is making it.
It's hard to imagine that they wouldn't have a standard procedure for making one. I haven't tried the rest of the menu so wouldn't comment about it. -
Review from Christopher T.
Manhattan, NY
9/17/2008
I was trapped and looking for a brownie or some cake and this was the only place within miles!
The brownie had to have been about 1-2 days old but still somehow managed to be ok..sure it was great when it was fresh! The staff are fairly unfriendly too. I'd only come back again if I was craving something stale. -
Review from Lucy M.
Manhattan, NY
8/16/2011
Awesome staff, really good BLT and Iced Tea! And now they have sushi swagg!
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Review from Steven K.
New York, NY
Updated - 5/15/2011
I like this place - it's clean, the service is good and the pastries and drinks are yummy. Plus free wifi - what more could you ask from a nice little local cafe?
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/21/2009
Delicious pastries - free wifi - nice people! What more can you ask for in a cafe? Perfect place… Read more »
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Review from Kyri K.
Brooklyn, NY
2/23/2011
Cute little cafe close to city college. There was a band playing in there which was nice. They have a bunch of pastries, sandwiches, clif bars, etc in addition to a whole coffee and tea bar. I got a whole wheat bagel which I probably wouldn't get again but its not a bagel shop so I didn't mind. They didn't have honey or jam though which was surprising because they looked like they would.
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Review from Krishna K.
Sunnyside, NY
2/23/2007
This spot is right by City College. The muffins and croissants are good and the service is friendly, albeit really, really slow. It's a good place to study during the week or read the Times on a Sunday morning. It's not too far from the 1 train at 137th, so it's also convenient for grabbing an egg and cheese and a coffee on your way to work. More expensive than a cart but cheaper than any comparable coffee place south of 125th.
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Review from Jennifer N.
New York, NY
3/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
I got to school at City College so it's only reasonable that I stop by to grab some coffee before heading to my 8am morning class. I like the cashier who worked there, she was nice and I liked the ice coffee- not too sweet and not too bitter. Their sandwiches aren't bad either. Prices are decent. But I wish they would make the panini faster when I order it. Oh yeah- free wifi also.
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Review from Latice W.
Bronx, NY
12/19/2010
Jeez, it's not Starbucks; they are pricey. The food/drinks could be better if you're paying that much for it. I've had better hot chocolate, BLT and ice coffee at cheaper places. The seating is limited but cozy. The thing that makes me mad about this place is the food and maybe the service, I haven't been here recently, hopefully it has changed for the better.
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Review from Yue D.
Elmhurst, NY
11/9/2010 6 Check-ins Here
Nice and clean place to hang out. The staffs are nice and friendly. The drinks and food are good but kinda pricey.
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Review from Austin H.
New York, NY
7/11/2010
Really great place for the neighborhood. Good coffee and really lovely people.
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Review from G J.
New York, NY
11/7/2008
It's slim pickings in this part of town to sit and relax in, so Cafe One provides this much-needed service. I wish I could say I love the place because its the type of place you want to love. First the good: excellent soups, ownership is always present and always have a friendly word for people who come thru the door. The bad is the service. After going there for about everyday for a month, it would've been nice for the woman behind the counter to say hello or at least know the drink I ordered everyday for a month. I mean, how hard can remembering a cup of tea be?
