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Top 10 Coffee Shops In Chelsea
A guide to the best coffee shops in Chelsea, NYC
Published March 17, 2022
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Jennie Backteman
Coffee experts@The Coffee Lab
There are 27 districts in New York, all with something different to offer locals and tourists alike. The Big Apple is constantly busy, which can make it feel overwhelming at times. Fortunately, there are plenty of cute coffee shops to sit back, escape the chaos and enjoy a fresh cup of coffee. Whether you’re looking for a quick coffee to go to or a comfy coffee shop in NYC to spend an afternoon, there is something for everyone. If you have time to spend exploring the artsy side of New York, in Chelsea, you will find a neighborhood strewn with art galleries and class, and to go with that you will find some of the best cafes in New York. Below, we will tell you what we think the 10 best coffee shops in NYC are.
Seven Grams Caffe
Getting great coffee right alongside fabulous food is a difficult task, but Seven Grams Caffe has managed to nail them both. All of the sweet snacks on offer here, which includes mouth-watering brownies, are baked on-site. As well as this, they have the roast only finest coffee beans on-site, which means you’re in for a true NYC experience. You can grab a treat bag and a coffee to go, or you can spend an afternoon being productive in one of the best coffee shops to work in NYC.
When it comes to the coffee and snacks, Seven Grams is faultless. However, if you’re visiting New York on a budget, you will be best off visiting another Chelsea cafe on this list. That being said, we believe the price is justified.
Bean & Bean
All you need to do is look at the name Bean & Bean and it’s enough to put a smile on your face. Fortunately, their quality coffee Chelsea will give you a smile as well. If a powerful shot of espresso is more your beat, Bean & Bean are the places to be. To go with your morning coffee, you should grab one of their delicious baked goods. When it comes to cafes in Chelsea NYC, this cafe has plenty of seating making it a fantastic choice for getting a spot of work done.
Intelligentsia Coffee Highline Coffeebar
You can find an Intelligentsia Coffee Highline Coffeebar in many different locations, but that doesn't mean it doesn’t deserve a spot on this best of Chelsea list. Intelligentsia sources only the best roast from around the world and can give any specialty roaster a run for their money. Although you can find Intelligentsia Coffee in many different places, the Highline Coffeebar is worlds apart because of its incredible outdoor area full of stunning greenery for you to get lost in. If cozy coffee shops NYC are your style, this is the perfect destination to escape the concrete jungle.
Cafe Grumpy Manhattan West
This entry is for all you people looking for a true home-from-home experience. Although this chain cafe closed the doors on Chelsea, the journey to Cafe Grumpy, arguably one of the best cute cafes in Manhattan, is well worth it. Located just 3 miles away from the art district, Cafe Grumpy Chelsea are still serving up some of the best coffee you’ve ever tasted. You will never get bored visiting this cafe because they are constantly shaking up the menu, and they have an assortment of tasty treats to compliment your brew.
Cafe Grumpy originally started in Brooklyn, but soon expanded throughout New York. Seeing as they’ve done it once, we hope that this Chelsea best chain will be reopening its doors in the art district in the near future.
Variety Coffee Roasters
If you’re looking for a Chelsea coffee with plenty of breathing room to relax in, you can rely on Variety Coffee Roasters. Their seating area is enormous, which is a difficult feat to accomplish in this neighborhood. Beyond that, their shop is welcoming, and you can easily vanish for a couple of hours after fighting through the busy streets. These specialty coffee masters provide flawless drinks while keeping the prices reasonable, which is one of the reasons we keep going back. The accompanying snacks may not be award-winning, but there really is nothing to complain about with this quality Chelsea coffee house.
Joe Coffee Company
Opened in 2007, the Joe Coffee Company Chelsea is one of the newest on this list. The location is unique because it’s tucked away inside a historic London Terrace. They take their coffee seriously, but their baristas will always find the time to have a chat with you, which is refreshing in a city so busy. No matter what time of day you head down, they will be able to seat you because there is generous seating on offer. If you enjoy specialty coffee, you will be glad to know that Joe Coffee Company pour up some of the best coffee Chelsea.
If you love a delicious cup of joe from Joe Coffee Company as much as we do, then you can support the business by heading to their online store. You can buy branded mugs so you can feel like you’re right there, even when you’re at home. If you need to kit out your kitchen with coffee-making equipment, you can find everything you need through their online store.
Terremoto Coffee
If you’re looking for something traditional and cozy, Terremoto Coffee is one of the best cafes in Manhattan, and definitely among the best cafes in NYC. The baristas at Terremoto are all highly skilled in their craft, with their specialty being pour-over coffee. If you enjoy a dark-roasted coffee you may be disappointed by your visit because they lean towards a lighter roast. However, this doesn't make a difference to us because their coffee gets us going for a busy day in New York. Apart from a lack of dark-roast coffee, and the fact you may struggle to get a seat, there isn’t anything to fault Terremoto Coffee over.
Day Drinks Chelsea Market
If you’re looking for something niche and quirky, then Day Drinks is easily one the coolest cafes in NYC. Their menu is relatively small, with their focus being on iced coffee and chilled nitro espresso. Alongside delicious cold coffee, they do flavorsome dry-hopped tea, which feels like an IPA. All of their coffee is kegged onsite, which reduces their carbon footprint and increases control. If Chelsea market coffee is what you’re looking for, you can’t go wrong with Day Drinks. If you don’t like what’s on the menu, the bartender will work with you to create the drink of your choice - everyone's a winner here.
St Kilda Coffee
One of the best coffee shops near Chelsea market, St Kilda Coffee prides itself on delivering only the finest quality coffee worldwide. Coming over from Australia, this small roaster knows perfectly how to do morning coffee. If you haven’t had time for food in the morning, they even serve the best breakfast Chelsea NYC that caters to vegans as well. Just like the majority of other cute cafes in NYC, you will struggle to find a seat here because the building is so small, so make sure you leave plenty of time. If you’re a coffee nerd, you will be happy to know that St Kilda Coffee takes care to ensure that their total dissolved solids (TDS) rate is over 1.35% for every single cup.
Blue Bottle Coffee
Blue Bottle Coffee is similar to its Intelligentsia competition because it isn’t a New York-only coffee shop; you can find their coffee in Tokyo, Boston, and Los Angeles. With coffee in all of these places, it proves that they’re doing something right, which is why they’ve made it onto this list of best coffee shops in Chelsea. You will find plenty of seating at Blue Bottle, and the coffee isn’t overpowering because they roast on the light side. This coffee shop is welcoming, has tasty java, and ample seating, which is why it’s one of the really good places to write in NYC.
If you take time to read their story, you will find that they are truly passionate about coffee, being created by a Californian musician edging on the side of lunacy. Although Blue Bottle has only been around since 2000, they’ve done well to cement itself as one of the greatest Chelsea coffee shops.
New York is a busy city where there is always something going on, even in the art neighborhood of Chelsea. Thankfully, the area is home to the best coffee spot in NYC. Whether you’re looking to get some work done, grab a coffee on the way to work, or have an entirely different coffee experience, there is something in Chelsea for everyone. You will find different types of people at all of these coffee shops, so it’s worth putting the time aside to explore them all. If you find a coffee shop you like, head to their website to see if they have a branch in other states of America, it’s important to support your local coffee shops.
About the author
Jennie Backteman
I´m a ultramarathon runner, landscape designer and a coffee lover.
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