Ninth Street Espresso
Category: Coffee & Tea [Edit]
Neighborhood: Manhattan/East Village700 E 9th St
(between Avenue C & Avenue D)
New York, NY 10009 (212) 358-9225
- Price Range: $
- Accepts Credit Cards: No
- Parking: Street
- Wheelchair Accessible: No
- Wi-Fi: Free
40 Reviews for Ninth Street Espresso
I found both the service and coffee to be excellent here. The first time I went with friends and they ordered to go. Yesterday when I went my friend and I hung out and had our coffee at the bar. I haven't spent a ton of time here, but Chelsea Market can clearly get pretty hectic and busy. However, the way the bar is built we could still stand and have our coffee and conversation comfortably.
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the coffee is soooo thick!!!! OMg i am in love with this place!!! There are no subways in the area so you will probably have to walk if you don't live close to it. But for such great coffee it is def worth the walk!
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A pure coffee bar/cafe with a very small selection of pastries in the morning. The coffee is great and they really do care about customer feedback since they are constantly adjusting their pricing to suit the East Village crowd.
The baristas are so nice and friendly. You can chat them up about anything. Friendly and cozy little place, perfect for those wonderful afternoons where you just want to sit and read a book. They have these little benches outside that are great for the spring.
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The expresso, lattes, and french press are all excellent. There's a small, but nice variety of scones, croissants, etc. to gnosh on. Even on a Sunday a.m. in the "alphabet soup" of bridge-and-tunnel stragglers, gentrifying wahoos, the hipsters of yester-year, and other types of riff-raff...there's a common respect/love for this coffee establishment and its staff who's quick, friendly, and professional service on even the most hung-over of weekend morning/afternoons/evenings...make the java that much more strong, soothing, and awakening. Plus for such a small place, it never seems to get crowded...though people tend to anchor and table surf all day instead of going home...
I'm not crazy about the area, the place is kind of sparse, but uh... holy delicious foam.
One of the best cappuccinos I've ever had. I make sure to get them wherever I go just so I can become a connoisseur and this place is definitely awesome. HOW DO THEY MAKE THAT CRAZY DESIGN? Mind boggling and mind blowing.. both at the same time.
My foam mustache thanks you, Ninth St Espresso.
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The froth on my cappuccino was so thick (and delicious, btw), I think it could've been used for home insulation. Yum. The espresso underneath was also quite delicious.
Best cappuccino I've had in NYC!
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There is not much left unsaid about 9th St Espresso! All I know is that I love the foamy cappuccino they serve. The baristas are friendly and always have a smile of their face. One reviwer here said 9th St Espresso is best if you sit down and drink it and I totally agree with it.
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Best cappuccino I've ever had the pleasure of drinking.
I have had some undeniably amazing lattes at Ninth Street Espresso. And I have also come to realize (because of my constant visits here), that the barista on the line can make a huuuuge difference.
Either way, when it isn't great and amazing, it is still damn good. Any of the Ninth Street locations are places I suggest to people, and I always tell them to get their latte to stay. It's a work of art and you should sit and admire it.
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As one snarky Yelper said: "FOAM"
As a point of elaboration: I observed carefully the espresso maker as he plied his craft. Each time he made a drink with steamed milk, he scooped the foam into the cup first and then poured the hot milk on top, and as the cup filled, he'd wag the milk pitcher so that it created this "squiggle" on the top of the foam. It's a freakin' t'ing of beauty, I tell ya. Dude. Seriously.
FOAM.
Oh, and the espresso is really good too. And those chocolate cookies. They also have a bottle of simple syrup there that you can use INSTEAD of sugar, obviating the whole sugar-pouring/stirring/dissolving equation. BRILLIANT.
Oh yeah, and one more thing:
FOAM.
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FOAM! QUALITY FOAM! VELVETY, RICH, SWEET FOAM!
To those who think the quality of a cappuccino is exclusively based on the quality of the espresso, I say NAY - milk foam is a crucial component and precious few places get it right.
Until yesterday, Joe on Waverly had been my favorite cappuccino. From the first sip, before even tasting the espresso lurking beneath, the 9th street foam made me happy. It is part art/part science but steaming milk can either make dry and bitter foam, wet and milky foam or rich and sweet foam. Ok, I just decided to find out how many times I can write the word foam into this review. Anyway, this foam is so sweet I could have a cup of their foam and find it satisfying.
Now onto the coffee:
Very deep and earthy with a touch of tartness and very slight bitterness. This is fabulous espresso! Beautifully balanced flavors that must be at least partially the result of their shot pulling technique of using triple ristretto shots (about half of the pull time as a standard shot). The longer the pull, the higher the bitterness quotient.
My only gripe, but not enough to deduct a star from this review, is that the interior could be a bit more interesting. I don't think I'd want to hang out here with the cappuccino as I would at Joe or Grumpy. But that's ok - walking down the street with one's favorite people and a cup of 9th street cappuccino is sweet. Almost as sweet as the FOAM.
FOAM
FOAM
FOAM
FOAM
FOAM
FOAM
FOAM
OK - I'M DONE.
FOAM.
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I'm a Seattle transplant that is happy to live close to 9th st. espresso!
Manhattan has an unfathomable amount of bad coffee, 9th street espresso is a gem. Thank you for making a good cup of coffee (with a lovely serving of surly attitude on the side). Me likey.
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i literally had a dream about 9th street once and woke up to the disappointment that it was 2am and I had to sleep through 7 more hours before i'd get a cup. that's gotta say somethin. go try it already. it's legit johnny-stamp of approval.
I love the coffee here. All of it - cappuccinos, lattes, etc. They are delicious and made with care. Plus, it's right around the corner from my abode. Add to that the fact that it's NOT a chain and I figured I'd found coffee heaven.
So why only 2 stars? It's not the wait that did it, and there is usually a wait especially on Saturday and Sunday mornings, but rather the $3.75 they charged me for a cappuccino. Having just returned from 10 days in Italy and 10 morning cappuccinos that averaged 1 Euro a pop (in Rome and Florence too), I don't want to spend 4 bucks on my coffee. I mean, I would rather drop $4 here than at Starbucks any day, and am happy to know that they have become successful, but it's just too $$ for me for a regular place.
Now, as a monthly treat - GREAT!
PS - Pastries are nothing special. Go for the coffee.
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I'm a chemically sensitive, delicate flower, and too much caffeine leaves me slap-happy far, far into the good night.
Decaf latte was really good here. Cookies were sparse, but fresh. Num.
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I've been trying to quit coffee for a few weeks (and I've been mostly successful, which is not to say that my productivity at work hasn't been plummeting!), but when my friends took me to Ninth Street Espresso after brunch in the East Village, I couldn't resist and had to order an espresso myself. All the espresso drinks are served triple ristretto (and I learned something, since I had not clue what that meant!). My espresso was quite good, and possibly the best I've had in a long time, but also very strong. The coffee shop is pretty bare inside, but there's seating and they have newspapers. There's also a nice (small) seating area out front, which is great for sitting down and enjoying your coffee on a nice sunny day. Unless I start drinking coffee again, I may not be back too often, but you never know...
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I can't believe there are actually criticisms regarding the wait staff here!? (@the 9th st location)....it's the one place I've always been greeted w a smile in NYC and always tip a 1$ on my 1$ coffee...the line is usually long but the coffee is ALWAYS delish!!!! Smooth rich and creamy and I actually get excited when it's time to go to bed because I know I get to wake up and go get another dose! It's the closest I've come to a good cup of Italian joe EVER!!!
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best cappuccino in new york. i only wish it were a bit more centrally located.
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This is one of the best places to go for espresso drinks. It's a little out there in Alphabet City but worth it. If you live in the EV, definitely give 9th St. Espresso a shot. The baristas are well-trained at concocting the best coffee drinks out there. I recommend the mocha
They create cool designs in the steamed foam... Go for the foam alone!
Thank you Atif for yelping about this place.
9th St Espresso will always have a special place in my heart. This is where I completed my final chapters of Harry Potter.
The cappuccino was fabulously smooth and not bitter at all. It had a beautiful leaf design on the foam but that lasted a whole 10 seconds. I sprinkled my sugar on top and started eating the foam immediately.
The ambiance inside was pleasant. They were playing some old Elvis and there was loud chucking of the espresso grinds. But what made the place feel so cozy and comfortable for me was the guy in the corner in his Cal shirt working away on his laptop.
I can't wait to bring my macaroons from masion du chocolat there tomorrow morning.
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Dearest 9th street, you are why I adore cappuccino.
I am a self professed coffee snob (read: I'd rather drink pee than dunkin donuts).
Thanks to Atif I. and the rest of you yelpers for helping me get right to the jugular of the NYC coffee scene : )
I am so spoiled, knowing this place exists. Wish I could have one everyday....oh the longing.
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I had a deelish iced americano, and I was impressed with the style of the place. It was overall a very good experience, but my only qualm was that I was totally in the mood for a snack with my drink and their selection was very limited. If I lived in the area, this would be my go-to place for a caffeinated beverage on the way to work.
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I had a Ninth Street Espresso after a work week that allowed about 14 hours of sleep over 5 days. I didn't even drink the whole thing, and was wired for another 12 hours. I don't know what they put in there, but it's potent.
The ambiance isn't a warm and cozy, "stay for a day"-type of place. But the espresso is good and you could easily spend a few hours enjoying it and a good book.
I must also give credit to the people who waited on my group (they can't be baristas if they aren't starbucks, can they?). My friend totally messed up - grabbed the wrong drink off the bar. The guy was very cool and remade our drinks.
I'm always looking for an alternative to Starbucks, and this place really hit the spot!
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i love this place. it helps that it's about a 45 second walk from my apartment. i used to work at a coffee shop back in the day, so i like to think that i know my way around a cup of joe. for years i was a black coffee, straight up kind of guy, and i still enjoy my cup of hot, dark bitterness.
but this place made me fall in love with espresso drinks again. i love the soy cappuccino here - like the other reviewers before me, it's all about how they froth the milk. they even do the nice swirly design thing on top when they pour in the espresso (mine always looks like a heart).
yes the cups are smallish and the prices are not the cheapest, but they do use triple-shots of espresso in all their drinks, and at least your money is going to a local business and not some massive international earth-raping corporation, right?
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Ninth Street Espresso hardly ever disappoints. It is a cozy little shop in a tree lined neighborhood --- tables, chairs and a sit-down bar. I've been pleasantly surprised to see this Alphabet City coffee titan generally bustling, at different hours of the day.
They have a small menu of 7 coffee drinks which is complemented by breakfast pastries (croissants, scones, etc.) from Balthazar. Either they do a conservative estimate of demand for breakfast items, or the locals just swamp the place but come afternoon time and the baked goods display is inevitably empty.
It takes courage and conviction to pay Manhattan rents from a coffee menu of 7 items. The owners deserve applause for their focus on the exquisite coffee experience.
But, truly, theirs is one of the best espressos I've tasted --- great body, floral, delicate hint of chocolate, no bitterness whatsoever. Made from an excellent blend of beans to balance the acidity.
Their latte art is one of the most dazzling I've seen in the city --- with the foam expertly weaved in the shape of hearts and elaborate leaf patterns.
Word of Advice: In order to avoid suffering the same fate as that of Bond adversaries sitting in the ejector seat of the Aston Martin, do NOT make the mistake of using Tall, Grande or Venti to describe your order. You will land straight in the dog park at Tompkins Square!
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I was excited to try a new coffee shop in the EV.. I always have a hard time thinking of a non-franchise coffee place to enjoy a cup around here.
Unfortunately, when I went in, there was only one barista and by the time I got up to the front of the line, there were at least five people behind me.
Maybe the line freaked him out, because when I tried to ask him about the pastries in the case that had no description, he shrugged his shoulders and said "I have no idea", without any apology or desire to sell them to me. Then he took the order of the person in line behind me. I found that really offputting. I mean, I know he's a "barista", but he can't answer a question about the pastries?
Slightly disgruntled, I sat down at one of the several tables. It was a dreary day, and the minimal decor at 9th st did little to brighten things up. I did really enjoy my cup of coffee and my mystery pastry. I like good coffee as much as the next person, but I like good service even better.
2 stars for service, 2.5 stars for ambience, 4 stars for coffee = 3 stars
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phenomenal. better than joe's coffee.
Consistently amazing cappuccinos. Nice benches outdoors with a view of a weeping willow. Solid service. Newspapers strewn on the tables, dogs and their owners enjoying nice weather outside.
Wonderful.
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The only espresso that rivals this joint is the Italian store in the chelsea market, which is the most authentic cup I've found. These guys make more drinks and those lovely lattes.
This place is serious about their espresso. A no frills cafe in the east village that has just opened a second location in the lobby of a theater on e. 13th st (near union sq). The staff takes particular care when making their coffee drinks, but the real star is the quality ingredient coffee beans and machines used. The union sq location has a small assortment of cookies and the like available as well.
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As a former (dare i say "lifestyle") barista, I can assure you that Ninth Street has earned its coffee chops. If you are interested in fine espresso, pulled by a well-trained barista with attention to detail and care for their craft, you should definitely make the trip over to this joint. They understand the elegance of the triple-ristretto shot. The espresso roast is not exactly to my liking but, when you catch the right person behind the bar, there is not much other than personal taste to complain about.
My only gripe is the consistency factor: while a couple of the baristas at Ninth Street clearly stand out as some of the best in the city, others are passable. Mind you, passable at Ninth Street is leaps beyond most places in this city....
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Where the hell in New York can one find a full-bodied, perfectly brewed espresso with beautiful speckled crema? Where can one go to find a machiatto that truly means espresso with a little bit of foam and steamed milk? And, somewhere where it won't cost four dollars, plus tips, making it closer to five dollars?
This place makes a mean cup. The baristas have always been extremely nice, and the best part is, their customers are equally nice. I have had several conversations with random people sitting outside, drinking coffee, smoking cigarettes, on a wide range of subjects.
Are you kidding me? This place is God-sent.
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I've only been once, so take this review with a grain of salt. But after seeing this place listed with the likes of Gimme Coffee and Cafe Grumpy, I was expecting great things. Instead, after a grueling walk uphill both ways, I was greeted with a pretty standard macchiato. Nothing about it was bad, but nothing about it was all that good, either. It's worth a try, but I wouldn't go out of my way.
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The coffee snob I love says, "they make the thickest, most delicious espresso around. And beautiful latte art in your foam."
Worth the long walk we often take to get there due to lack of subway service in the East Village.
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one of the most highly regarded spots in NYC for espresso and for good reason. it all starts with the bean which they currently source from Counter Culture Coffee. recently, they've also added French pressed coffee to the menu. earlier in the year, they replaced their workhorse Faema with a 2-group Synesso espresso machine. The baristas are well-trained (quite a few hailing from notable shops in the Northwest) and pull consistent shots and are likely to also feature some nicely poured latte art. the shop has recently undergone a facelift. my only complaint...location! but i always enjoy walking past the dog run in Tompkins Square Park.
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Best cappuccino in NYC!
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I have been into this coffee shop on several occasions. The lattes are luscious. That said, the service is horrendous. The angry hipster barristas are condescending and sometimes downright angsty towards patrons. Walking through the door on a Friday morning I feel as though I have unwittingly entered into some twisted sadomasochistic roleplay. The espresso is bitter enough, doesn't need anything extra offered by the staff. I'd prefer mediocre coffee and save me the grief.
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