New York City has a lot to offer everyone who moves here. There are incredible restaurants, amazing shopping, and fantastic people. The one thing that has been consistently hard to find is a good cup of coffee. For some reason New York and New Yorkers have been slow to embrace the coffeeklatsch culture that has been percolating (heh) on the West Coast for years. The introduction of Starbucks to New York was actually a boon to the coffee culture here. Despite it’s bitter semi-burnt taste, overpriced frou-frou drinks, and nonsensical lingo, it was a step-up (albeit a small, sad step) from the deli coffee that dominated the New York market. But a new day is dawning in New York and it is well caffeinated. A few coffee shops (founded in Brooklyn, of course!) have been slowly introducing New Yorkers to the strong complicated flavors of a well-brewed, well-roasted, cup of coffee. Café Grumpy, Oslo, Gorilla, and Café 1980 all make an excellent cup. But none of them can compete with Stumptown. In my humble opinion, anyway.
Stumptown Coffee is a Portland, Oregon phenomenon. It has literally taken over the already caffeine-addicted burg with its own crowded shops and by selling its dark blends to almost every restaurant in town. And its reputation is well deserved. The coffee is delicately flavored, but strong. Typically roasted no darker than medium, it is full bodied, robust, and complex in flavor. It’s not over-powering or burnt. The Hairbender blend is just about perfect. The Stumptown coffee shops have a lot to offer the coffee fanatic—the fabled Clover machines for espresso, French press for the coffee, perfect ferns or hearts formed in foam atop every latte. Needless to say there is always a line. Which is as good a reason as any to brew at home. Family and friends visiting from the West Coast know that they can sleep on my couch for a week if they come bearing a pound of Stumptown’s finest. And no matter how uncomfortable the couch, at least they know they will wake up to a great cup of coffee.
I just moved to Brooklyn from Portland, and Stumptown is easily what I miss most. Nothing in NYC even remotely compares.
I just polished off my third "christmas gift bag," now I'm debating trying more of the local dreck or just buckling down and mail-ordering from Stump.
Posted by: Eric J | February 02, 2008 at 01:01 AM
Totally.... Yo simply cannot get a bad cup of coffee in Portland... and this is in large part due to Stumptown.
Posted by: Enzo | February 02, 2008 at 04:27 AM
Oh, you make me miss home!! I live in DC now and a few friends from Oregon and I are on the constant search for good coffee. I think I need to take an extra bag next time I'm home and just bring back coffee.
Posted by: JG | February 02, 2008 at 10:05 AM
Finding good coffee in New York is much easier than in DC. Cafe 1980 is owned by a West Coaster who spent a good amount of time working at Vivace in Seattle. He used to get his beans flown in from there, but I'm not sure if he still does. Still an excellent cup. In DC you are definitely better off brewing at home. While there are some coffeeshops in Adams Morgan and Logan's Circle that are alright for sitting in and writing crap poetry, no one serves anything noteworthy.
Posted by: Melissa | February 02, 2008 at 11:23 AM
Gah, it's so weird to see a Portland thing on Tastespotting! It's like we're on the map now or something. We do have the very best coffee. :)
Posted by: Heather | February 02, 2008 at 05:52 PM
I stayed at the Ace Hotel above Stumptown this past summer and was incredibly impressed and appreciative of the whole vibe. Stumptown's coffee and their selection of pastries were divine!
Posted by: helen | February 02, 2008 at 09:37 PM
'Tis true...nothing beats Stumptown! So glad to see an East Coaster appreciating this West Coast gem! Every time I visit friends in Portland (I live in Eugene), I make them go to Stumptown with me so I can stock up.
Posted by: Jen | February 03, 2008 at 10:16 PM
I would give my dog's front legs for a Stumptown location in NYC. They opened a couple spots in Seattle late last year and are converting some of the hardcore Vivace/Vita/Victrola/Lighthouse/etc. crowd to their fabulous brews. My husband and I are moving back there this summer and good coffee in every neighborhood is one of the things I'm most excited about.
Posted by: Lisa | February 04, 2008 at 09:03 PM
No need to hurt your dog. This place by Chelsea market is serving Stumptown Coffee
http://www.ninthstreetespresso.com/
Posted by: fioriantih | April 15, 2008 at 01:21 PM
...and they're in Brooklyn now too! I hear they're actually roasting here. And you can buy it at Frankie's in Carrol Gardens.
Posted by: Victor | July 18, 2008 at 12:13 PM