City Hall Joe

After a brief break needed to settle into a new job, I am back to write about coffee.

I take my coffee without sugar and dark; and I mean very little milk. The folks at Empire Coffee and Tea Company on Ninth Avenue in Hell's Kitchen know my order exactly: medium, dark, no sugar, flat-top and a couple of napkins; hot beverage sleeve, not necessary.

The folks and the coffee at Empire are a couple of things I miss about my old job. There are other things, like the 10-minute walk to work door-to-door, but coffee is an important part of my life, so I was quite anxious to find someplace good on my way to the new work place.

Good coffee spots in the northern environs of City Hall are scarce. But after about a week of Starbucks, Dunkin' Donuts, and the guy-in-the-cart, I opened my eyes and found Blue Spoon Coffee Company at 76 Chambers Street, between Broadway and Church. I know I am late to the game yet again, but Blue Spoon is worth writing about -- nice staff, H&H bagels and excellent brew. At $1.75, a medium cup costs a bit more than the same size at Empire ($1.35), but still cheaper than Starucks. Eventually, Blue Spoon will work out the few kinks that remain (like moving some tables during the morning rush hour).