Well, I was wrong. There are A LOT of better places to get your daily coffee. In fact, I am sitting in Think Coffee, my new top choice, as I write this. I have been to a few of their stores (although the one on Mercer St. is my fav.) and each offers a great vibe and relaxing yet cool atmosphere. Prices are good- $2.25 for a medium cup of coffee- and the taste is even better. Think offers a decent variety of baked goods (the 7-grain muffin is a must try), granola, oatmeal and bagels for breakfast and soup, grilled cheese and other sandwiches and salads for lunch. Tea, coffee and espresso drinks also come in multiple varieties. I love that, unlike at Starbucks, soy milk is out on the counter and not extra when added to coffee. My favorite thing about Think is its commitment to the environment- they encourage patrons to only take napkins if necessary and the cups are made from plants instead of plastic- and the community. Ten percent of proceeds go to community organizations, which makes me feel that much better about spending money on coffee that I could probably make at home for 25 cents.
The staff is always friendly, the music is always good and the reliability might just rival Starbucks. If you like a good coffee shop atmosphere and are in the mood to sit and enjoy free Wi-Fi, you should definitely give Think a shot.
Another favorite place to grab coffee is Local on Sullivan St. (btwn. Prince & Houston). It may be tiny, but it has a lot to offer. It's a great place to run in and get something to go, but if you have a chance, squeeze into a spot at the tables along the wall. It's a nice place to sit and people watch and you will probably find yourself in the midst of some interesting conversations- just don't make it too obvious that you are listening in! Local offers great pastries (popovers!) and sandwiches at pretty reasonable prices. I think it is a perfect place to bring a book and cozy up for an hour or so on rainy weekend days.
