dialydose wrote:My only knock is the prices are a little high, even for NYC.

The same Counter Culture espresso is elsewhere in the city for $2-$3, whereas it's $5 here. Still the best espresso in the area, so in a pinch you're stuck with it.

dialydose wrote:It also has the best burger in NYC, called Burger Joint.

Yes, it's delicious.

Hi—long time reader, first time writer... Anyway, I thought I'd weigh in on this because I am a barista at Knave and had a customer come in who said he heard about our espresso bar on Home Barista. I happened to be behind the bar that day and we talked espresso and home equipment for quite awhile, and I pulled him a double and then a latte. Turns out that lucky man has a La Mar GS3 in his kitchen; imagine my jealousy, considering my home machine is a non-PID'd Silvia. Let's just say I much prefer pulling shots on our La Mar at Knave.

Anyways, to the point of this post: Yes, our prices are a tad steep for what I prefer to pay for my espresso. I heard from a fellow coffee lover who works at our hotel that the Ace Stumptown location was charging 9 bucks for a latte or a macchiato, I can't remember (however, this is unsubstantiated because I still haven't been). Anyhow... We have some pretty talented baristas (baristi) behind the counter who are very serious about the coffee we serve. I don't know if we're the best coffee shop in the entire city, but definitely and unquestionably the best within roughly 40 street blocks in either direction. But, I have some serious respect for the following shops: Cafe Grumpy (several locations, they roast at the one by my apt. in Brooklyn and they always have a "guest espresso" roasted by another company), Ninth Street (they use Counter Culture as well, but have their own blend, the Alphabet City Blend), Abraco, Gimme Coffee, Third Rail (Intelligentsia), Think, and Everyman. Honorable mention also goes to Brooklyn Label, serving Stumptown.

Cheers.

Chris -

I am sure you pulled a shot or two (or ten) for me during my stay there last month. I can tell you that the $9 rumor is absurd. I think I paid $4 or $4.50 for a cappuccino. I really did enjoy the espresso at your shop. Since I was staying at the hotel, the extra dollar or so was not a big deal because it was so convenient.

CFB wrote: But, I have some serious respect for the following shops: Cafe Grumpy (several locations, they roast at the one by my apt. in Brooklyn and they always have a "guest espresso" roasted by another company), Ninth Street (they use Counter Culture as well, but have their own blend, the Alphabet City Blend), Abraco, Gimme Coffee, Third Rail (Intelligentsia), Think, and Everyman. Honorable mention also goes to Brooklyn Label, serving Stumptown.

One quick correction (and one question)...

Correction: Ninth St uses Intelligentsia, not Counter Culture.
Question: so it sounds like you don't have respect for Stumptown. Out of curiosity, why?

CFB wrote: I heard from a fellow coffee lover who works at our hotel that the Ace Stumptown location was charging 9 bucks for a latte or a macchiato, I can't remember (however, this is unsubstantiated because I still haven't been).

I can provide a substantiated first person account. I visited the Stumptown bar at the Ace Hotel this past weekend. Although I don't recall the specific price breakdown my total bill was about $11 including tax for: one espresso, one machiatto, one mocha with whipped cream and one delicious small braided bread with poppy seeds and butter.

The espresso was $2.50, the mocha perhaps $4.25 and the machiatto in the neighborhood of $3. Cappas are around $3.50 IIRC.

Excellent shots... very good service... great visual design. My sole negative observation - which I think they could easily overcome with some small strategic signs: it's not self evident where/how to queue up to order and wait for drinks. During our time there people seemed to figure it out eventually but it would be nice if it was easier to figure out.

Now if someone would just bring great coffee and espresso to the Upper West Side.....

CFB wrote:I thought I'd weigh in on this because I am a barista at Knave and had a customer come in who said he heard about our espresso bar on Home Barista.

Ah, that was me, Chris, and I'm glad to finally know your name (I should have asked that day.)

I posted my favorable review of Knave in another NYC thread in Knockbox. As I said there, you pull an excellent shot, Chris, and pour fantastic latte art. I would have come back for more Sunday morning, but had to get out of town.

(BTW, for those looking for a hotel in Midtown, I, my wife and kids were staying at the Hilton NY, a short walk away, which is probably a tad less expensive than Le Parker Meridien.)

As for price, I found it acceptable for the quality of the product, quality of the conversation , and especially the neighborhood. 57th between 6th and 7th isn't exactly bargain alley.

I definitely recommend Knave to anyone near Midtown. AFAIK, Chris is right that there's nothing comparable anywhere near that area.

As for my GS/3 versus your Silvia, with your experience I'm sure you can pull as good or better a shot on your machine, but it takes quite a bit more doing. There's much to be said about what goes on at the handle end of the protafilter.

Back to the OP's question:
Had a glass of wine yesterday at the newly opened Crosby Hotel. Splendid little spot on a scurrilous, cobblestone, uber-trendy block across the street from the SoHo Bloomindales and no more than a couple of short blocks from Gimme's. I think the rooms start at around $500 per.

So that raises some interesting questions:
Got money?
What do you want to do in NYC besides drink coffee?
Who are you (sorry for getting all existential)?

I wouldn't care if there were a dozen excellent cafe's within a block of a midtown, upper east, or west side hotel, these are not locations I'd recommend to a tourist unless they had a convention to attend, an elderly aunt to visit, or insisted on high-end flagship stores (think Tiffany's, Burberry's, etc.)

Stay at a place downtown because of the neighborhoods--each as distinctive as different cities and maybe some countries (for example, Des Moines and, say, Canada); but for the coffee?

Or find the best hotel deal, where it's cheapest, and learn the subways. That will take a couple of adventuresome days, but worth the trouble. Then, the city (and the coffee) is yours.

or you can stay in Brooklyn
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/23/nyreg ... .html?_r=2

Non NYers may not understand, but Crown Heights in Bklyn, if there are hotels, is not a place you want to stay.

Marvin

Martin wrote: I wouldn't care if there were a dozen excellent cafe's within a block of a midtown, upper east, or west side hotel, these are not locations I'd recommend to a tourist unless they had a convention to attend, an elderly aunt to visit, or insisted on high-end flagship stores (think Tiffany's, Burberry's, etc.)

I know this is a bit off topic again, but why would you steer visitors away from mid-town? We stayed there (at the Meridian) and easliy walked to several museums, shows, restaurants, bars, times square, and central park. Easy subway ride to the yankees game. You know, all the reasons people go to NYC. Mid-town is a great place for visitors to stay. As for price, there are also plenty of bargain hotels in mid-town. Hell, I pay more when I travel to Houston than I do in mid-town.