Sometimes we really overlook just how vital coffee is to our daily functioning. It is that gentle nudge in the morning that keeps us going and makes our workday bearable. Whether it is the stressful commute, the ever-complaining boss, or your neighbor’s dog that won’t shut up, there is something magical about a steaming cup of Joe that makes all our woes disappear. Good coffee is like the grease to our rusty bolts, the fizz in our soda, the propellers to our plane, and the butter to our popcorn. As a good friend once told me, “it is God-like.”
Krups USA, a world leader in coffee machines and kitchen appliances, really understands that sometimes an ordinary cup is not enough. When the day gets tough, it’s the quality, taste, and blend of the coffee that really kicks you into third gear. Krups USA has scoured the New York City boroughs in order to find the winners to their National “Cup O’ Joe Awards.” They polled over 250 New York coffee fanatics from each borough to discover their picks for the city’s best sips. After countless hours of deliberation and testing, the verdict is finally in.
The Winners are…
Manhattan’s MUDTruck – Talk about coffee on the go, this bright orange vehicle is known as the city’s first gourmet coffee truck. Famous for its explosive coffee flavors and smell, this is one coffee truck that will have dogs and New Yorkers alike chasing it at the heels. (307 east, 9th street)
Brooklyn’s Gimme! Coffee – From its opening in 2003, this young coffee chain has blown customers away with their wide variety of triple ristretto espresso shots and daily blends. All thanks to the talent of Master Roaster John Gant who came down to Brooklyn to make sure everyone will get a taste of his famous freshly roasted coffee beans straight from Gimme’s upstate facility. (495 Lorimer St., Williamsburg)
The Bronx’s Beans and Berries – It is one of the few local coffee joints in the Bronx, but well worth the trip. The sweet smell of French press coffee that saturates the air you breathe will satisfy even the most java-deprived locals. With a taste and price that is hard to beat, Beans and Berries definitely come up as one of our favorites. (2038 Eastchester Rd, Bronx)
Staten Island’s Java Den – CAUTION: Contents Extremely Delicious! Run by a husband and wife team, prepare yourself for some heavenly cups of coffee. This quaint local shop offers an atmosphere and blend that will leave asking for seconds, thirds, and fourths… (3135 Victory Blvd, Staten Island)
Queens’ Sweetleaf – The only place in Queens where you can find some Stumptown beans, the independent Portland roasters that “revolutionized the coffee business.” Queen’s Sweetleaf is known for churning out quality fair-trade coffee and espresso drinks. These foamy delights got the whole town buzzing and even you won’t be able to resist its charm. (10-93 Jackson Avenue, Long Island City, Queens)