According to the National Coffee Association, about 71% of adults in the Northeast drink coffee daily, which is higher than anywhere else in the US. Luckily, there seems to be a new coffee shop opening up on every New York corner. And with the rising popularity of trendy drinks like caramel macchiatos and the flat white, there is no excuse not try out new coffee flavors.
With thousands of cafes throughout the city, it can be difficult for the caffeinated explorer to know where to begin. But in this list, you can enjoy a variety of coffee beans, roast levels, and blends these shops offer. You can also select your roast level. A light roast will provide subtle flavors, whereas a dark roast decaf coffee will provide rich and bold coffee flavors. Here are a few of our favorite coffee shops that are perfect for the caffeinated explorer looking to spice up their life with some quirky coffee flavors!
Get ready for spring with a Rose Latte
Coffee Rx has a constantly changing specialty drink menu, offering a variety of flavors like the floral-bodied Rose latte or the chocolate-based Nutella latte. With spring coming up, a rose latte just might be the thing to put you in the mood for warmer weather.
Get there: Take the R to Bay Ridge Ave Station.
Cold brew with a sweet twist
Photo courtesy of Sweetleaf
Sweetleaf is a gothic-styled coffee shop with dark decor accentuated by brick walls and dramatic, old-timey chandeliers. With two locations in Brooklyn and Queens, Sweetleaf is a convenient place to grab a quick coffee or stay and get some work done. Try the Rocket Fuel, which consists of cold brew coffee, chicory, Vermont maple syrup and milk, or the Voodoo Child, which is made of cold brew coffee, condensed milk and sweet cream. With creative drinks like these, this place is a must for the adventurous coffee drinker.
Get there: Take the G to Greenpoint Ave for the Brooklyn location. Take the 7 to Vernon Blvd- Jackson Ave for the Queens location.
Relax with a Lavender Latte
Try out a simple yet soothing Lavender Latte at Upright Coffee. This latte is made with homemade simple syrup mixed with French lavender, giving it a sweet floral flavor. You may not notice this hole-in-the-wall shop at first glance, but once inside you’ll be struck by vibrant red walls and smiling baristas.
Get there: Take the G to Greenpoint Ave.
Sweet satisfaction: Mocha Truffle Coffee
Even though Gloria Jean’s Coffee is a chain, it’s a great backup when you need to satisfy your sweet tooth. They have latte flavors like Mocha Truffle, Irish Nut Creme and White Chocolate Caramel Mocha. Plus, and if you’re looking for a fun flavor to take home, they have Red Velvet and Amaretto flavored coffee beans.
Get there: Take the F, M or R to Woodhaven Blvd.
Get your daily dose of veggies with a Unicorn Latte
The End Brooklyn, located in the heart of Williamsburg, has both a normal coffee bar with floral flavored coffee drinks like Rose Lattes and a special Plant Alchemy bar that aims to give its customers energizing drinks that are alternatives to coffee. For example they have a instagram-worthy Unicorn Latte which is vibrant green, confetti-topped and made with live blue-green algae and other nutrients that are meant to fight inflammation, clear brain fog and balance mood. They also have other specialized drinks like The Merbabe and the Amethyst Latte, which are meant fight fatigue, improve digestion and help with anti-aging.
Get there: Take the G to Metropolitan Ave or the L to Lorimer Street Station.
Read more about where to buy the best coffee beans in NYC on Coffee-Channel.
Header photo courtesy of Upright Coffee.
Casey studies Comparative Literature and Mathematics at NYU. In her free time, she is typically figure skating, hiking, trying new eclectic NYC foods, hanging out with her roommates or snuggling with her cat Aya.
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Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
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