Best iced coffee?

[billyeats]

Where is your favorite? My vote goes to Think Coffee and runner-up Grey Dog's. Mud Truck is too bitter for my taste. Where else?

[maxine]

Joe's, sooo good.

[Liquid Sky]

Where is Joe's? In the West Village?

And why is it so good? Just curious. Thanks!

[maxine]

There are 3 locations, Waverly just west of 6th, 13th between University and 5th and a new one but I am not sure where it is. The coffee is rich and dark, but not bitter, which is rare. They also make great lattes and the best iced mochas I have ever had.

[Liquid Sky]

Thank you!

[kathryn]

The new one is in Soho and inside the Alessi store. It's on Greene Street, between Houston and Prince.

[asg749d]

Joe's The Art of Coffee and Ninth Street Coffee are BY FAR the best iced coffee (or just coffee) in town. No more said :) You can easily Google both shops for locations.

[batterypark]

Amy's Bread on 9th AVenue.

[kathryn]

I agree about Mud Truck. Even after the addition of sugar and cream, it still tastes bitter.

Got some last weekend and they put in way too much ice or something since it was also way too watery.

[lilnugget]

for decaf i love the iced coffee at cafe gitane. it tastes extra roasted and smoky.
88 orchard is nice cause they use coffee ice cubes.
there is a tiny place on bowery below canal that has iced half coffee, half tea. delicious!

[ronoc]

Dunkin Donuts. I'm addicted. One out of 10 times it's horrible, but I'll take those odds.

[Peter Cuce]

And the other 9 times it's just bad.

[Uptownflavor]

Hey! Actually, one of the good things about Dunkin Ds is that they try to make your coffee to your specs, so once you nail down the right combo of ingredients and get the same person to make it when you come in then it usually turns out pretty good.

[daffyduck]

i 2nd dunkin donuts, their ice coffee runs through my veins. i love their flavors too, my favorite ones are with coconut. blueberry\raspberry is my 2nd favorite. and 3rd is almond.

[ConOrama]

haa, I treat myself to two 7-11 Iced Coffees a week.
Oh, the secret shame. :)

[foodmonk]

Starbucks. I get an iced triple espresso and then let the coffee melt the ice down about half-way on the way back to my office. I'm going to get one now! I know it's disgraceful, but I consider Starbucks to have the best and freshest coffee anywhere. The ambience, on the other hand ... I wish I knew of another coffee company that roasted, stored and served their beans as well. Unfortunately, all leads have turned up disappointing to my palate.

[kathryn]

Even the Roasting Plant on the Lower East Side?

[foodmonk]

Dang it ... I keep meaning to go there! Thanks for the reminder.

[billyeats]

Wow, I really didn't start this thread to hear suggestions about corporate chains like Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks. I didn't think I had to be specific, I thought it was implied by the nature (and original purpose) of this website, but I'm looking for privately owned coffee shops. Thanks.

[eznice]

verb in williamsburg has cold brewed iced coffee. it's good. i would not go to grumpy for iced coffee. their hot coffee is fine, but their hot brewed iced coffee is bitter and tannic in a cloying way.
as for the corporations, i don't personally support them. but that's not to say they aren't capable of producing a decent product. one of my cooks bought me a dunkin donuts iced latte today. what can i say, it was good.

[PAL]

*$s doesn't roast, store and serve their coffee at the same location. They roast them in, oh, Kansas, store them in a warehouse in, oh, Manalapan, and serve them in 75 different locations between 34th and 57th Street. They don't even grind their beans on the premises for their drip coffee. Watch them!

Joe's, Think, Cafe Collage, Grumpy, 9th Street, Casa Cupcake, these are just a few options that come to mind. Does anyone know where you can get cold-brewed iced coffee in Manhattan? I know of a few places in Williamsburg (Oslo has my favorite iced coffee in NY).

As for Starbucks, while I disagree with your blanket love of the place, Foodmonk, I am also a big fan of their iced americanos, they taste great, they're less filling, and they usually use enough ice to keep them cold. And basically, outside of my top 15 local coffeehouses, Starbucks is much less likely to TOTALLY mess up my drink than most other unknown coffeehouses and restaurants in NYC. I mean, really, if you've got a $6000 espresso machine and a $700 grinder, why can't you make me an espresso that is, well, an espresso? I can do it better at home with garage-sale equipment and 6 month old freezer burned beans.

[billyeats]

Think Coffee cold brews their iced coffee. That's why it's so dern good. Another place that does this is Mojo Coffee, a new place far west on Charles b/t Greenwich & Washington. They serve a very good version, but it's 3 bucks for their one size. Seems steep to me, though i do appreciate the time that goes into cold brewing.

[mrnyc]

billy i read this yesterday and marched right over there. MOJO is a very cool laid back coffee shop with bakery/pastry items and a few sandwiches.

unfortunately i did not much like the cold brew ice coffee. it was pretty bitter.

i took to the place tho -- i'll give the cold brew another try.

[moymoy]

I agree, Starbucks has the best iced coffee, very smooth roast. Most folks are anti-Starbucks for whatever reason but I have no issue with them. I like the fact that they sweeten it for you if you like. And the last time I checked $tarbucks prices for iced coffee are not that much higher than independents, maybe a differential of a quarter.

[Liquid Sky]

Starbucks coffee always gives me a stomache ache for some reason. I do not have that problem with coffee anywhere else.

[moymoy]

I think your tummy ache may be caused by Starbuck's higher caffeine level.

[Poeticalmath]

starbucks is awesome!!!

[maxine]

I also like Starbucks and although they are corporate they treet their employees well (probably better than the indies -- becuase they can) and are supportive of good causes. Most important though they do have good coffee.

[josh L]

if you are in midtown, try a triple shot over ice at pret. they use fair trade, locally roasted beans and have organic grass fed milk. overall its a better choice then starbucks.

[jdream]

Absolutely Amy's Bread, Bleecker (only because I haven't tried the others). It's smooth but still rich, no bite.

[thesu]

9th St Espresso by Ave. C makes a great iced coffee (Americano). It's very robust but not bitter or acidic. It's kind of out of the way, but they have a new location on 13 St. between 3 and 4 Ave.

If anyone cares to make cold-brew iced coffee, I posted a recipe on my blog: http://www.sugoodsweets.com/blog/2007...

[maxine]

Thanks for the recipe thesu. I attempted to make some last night and it turned out kinda bitter and kinda bland. Do you have any idea what I could have done wrong?

[thesu]

Maxine,
Did you dilute the coffee concentrate? It's very strong. I use 1/4 cup concentrate and 3/4-1 cup of milk.

[kelea]

Street cart at 165th and Broadway....he does it right but melting the sugar with hot coffee first then putting in the cold stuff...so you g4t even sweetness. none of this gross gunky sugar....

and the coffee taste bold andjust plain good...

[Uptownflavor]

Just had a fabulous one from Tisserie yesterday. Gooodddd Cofffeeee!!!

[jsmitty]

goto any lenny's deli around the city. very good iced coffee

[kathryn]

I was doing some research on Google about cold brewed ice coffee and I guess Think's is awesome because it's cold brewed.

The NY Daily news said you can get cold brewed ice coffee at:
Seattle's Best
Think
Verb
Full City Coffee
Ciao for Now

[fat parish]

Cafe Grumpy in Chelsea hands down. One in Brooklyn too.

[kayonyc]

I enjoyed my iced americano at Tasting Room wine bar.

[jennielap]

We used to love the iced coffee at Cafe Con Leche on the UWS. It's been several years, tho, haven't tried it lately. In fact, I don't even know if it is still open.

[POTsticker]

porto rico on thompson, roasting plant on orchard, panade bakery on eldridge

[subrok]

I'm casting my vote for Think. They just started putting "Cold Brewed" stickers on their cups. Before that, I thought maybe they were adding crack to the brew. Best I've tasted in the city so far...

[lucybobo]

I didn't see too many UES recs, so I'll cast my vote for Effie's Cafe on 3rd Ave, near 92nd St.

[EVchickadee]

this is sort of out of left field - but i really like McDonald's regular iced coffee. it's a similar situation to dunkin, in that if they mess it up it's terrible, but most of the time it's delish.

[pipharper]

Definitely Verb in Williamsburg.

[salty_sticky]

I'm pretty surprised that no one's mentioned City Bakery's iced coffee. Consistently delicious. Bit pricey, but a nice treat.

[megan]

Does anyone have any reccs for the Financial District area? Overall, I'm a fan of Klatch (Porto Rico coffee, indie, etc.), but I've grown a bit disenchanted with their iced coffee. Sad to say, I'm sipping a Starbucks iced coffee at my desk right now. Can anyone suggest a really awesome iced coffee without the trip to Soho/the Village?

[nycjag]

You could go to Mud Truck on Wall Street or Jack's on Front Street, just north of Beekman

[Farfalle]

Financier by stone street makes a very good iced coffee. By the way, just for the record, Starbucks coffee is horrible. Prime example of what overly roasted coffee tastes like. The only place that has worse coffee is Dunkin Donuts.

[susan robin]

i like soho park at lafayette and prince, and i'll second porto rico on thompson street, although they've been known to run out of ice towards end of the day when it is hot.

[jenniebnyc]

McDonalds now serves Newman Own Organic Iced Coffee and it's really good.

Just had a fab iced capuccino at L'Impero today at lunch.

[hoosierhyphenate]

I'm surprised by some of my go-to places missed here. If the Ice Coffee is not cold brewed its not real ice coffee IMO.

City Bakery
Doughnut Plant - Summer Only
71 Irving

I have to agree that Starbucks ice coffee is one of the best, hate on them if you want but it's always solid.

The best ice coffee in NYC was at Daco Romano in Sunnyside, Queens but unfortunately they closed out of nowhere and I have no idea what coffee they use and how they brew it but it was amazing!

I've had Think and I think its horrible. It taste like water.

[risent]

My Top 5 (all Cold Brewed):

-Gimme! Coffee in Soho (Mott St.)
-Abraço in the E.Village (E. 7th)
-RBC Coffee in Tribeca (Worth St.)
-La Colombe in Tribeca (Church St.)/Soho (Lafayette St.)
-Joe's any location (my fave is on Waverly Place)

[billyeats]

Glad to see this posting revived. 3 years later, my favorite iced coffee is now at Birch Coffee in the Gershwin Hotel.

[kathryn]

Tell me more about this Birch Coffee... I've walked past as my office is nearby but often on the way to/from Stumptown for a mocha.

[sugartoof]

I have no idea what the iced coffee at Birch tastes like, but on more than one occasion I've been served lukewarm, stale/bad coffee from them. If I think it tastes bad it must really have been old, because I've been known to really stretch my beans longer than anyone should.

Stumptown is so close, and their cold brew is one of the best. It's a little pricey but satisfying in a way few iced cups are.

[Bone Thug n Hominy]

Starbucks' iced coffee tastes like cigarette butts. Irving is a cool place, but iced coffee is not their strong suit, IMO.

My top 5 (keeping in mind that I haven't even tried the iced coffee at some of my favorite coffee shops) would be:
1) Abraco - this stuff has serious kick.
2) Kaffe 1668 - points for choice of single-origin beans.
3) Ost - up there with 1668, but no choice of origin.
----- (noticeable gap) -----
4) Jack's - maybe not brewed as strong as the above 3, but still very solid .
5) Think - I probably could have put Joe's or Luna here.

[sugartoof]

Kaffe1668 is so out of the way, but great iced coffee.
La Colombe, best for their iced coffee, the italian roast really fits. Plus the simple syrup has a little something extra going on. Vanilla maybe? My current favorite.
Joe's is no thrills but decent, and consistent. I like consistent Ice drinks!
Irving, have to agree, iced drinks aren't their strong suit, and they go heavy on the ice, which means a few sips and you're done, but it's better than most.
Gimme, the iced is weak, not their thing, but still ok.
Ost, really depends on the day. On the weak side.
Think is fine, and it's dark enough, but I wouldn't go out of my way for it.

[Bone Thug n Hominy]

Cool, thanks. I generally agree with your assessment, so I'll give La Colombe a try this week.

[sugartoof]

I've had good luck with the Lafayette location, if it's convenient for you. I also recommend the olive oil cake, or their croissants - both of which are some of the better versions in the city at the moment.

http://newyork.seriouseats.com/2010/01/sugar-rush-olive-oil-loaf-at-la-colombe.html
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/675282

[Bone Thug n Hominy]

Thanks for the rec. I was able to check it out this afternoon (one of the joys of quitting your job--but I digress), and thought it was pretty good.

It'll be a go-to for me when I'm in the area (which I often am), but I don't think it trumps Abraco or 1668. To be fair, I don't use sweeteners, so I didn't give your simple syrup recommendation a try.

[sugartoof]

Oh, yeah it's true, all my iced coffee opinions are shaded by my love of simple syrup. I'll have to try Abraco's.

Another option to mention is Caffetteria Soho, at 147 Sullivan St., which like Abraco, is another spin off from Blue Bottle, only this time with Blue Bottle's beans/menu. Their Kyoto, and New Orleans iced teas are really good and strong.

[Bone Thug n Hominy]

That sounds amazing.

As a huge Blue Bottle fan, when I'd first heard about Abraco, I figured they'd offer those options. I've been meaning to check out BB's Brooklyn outpost for some time, but perhaps this can hold me over a little longer.

[Bone Thug n Hominy]

I dropped by Caffetteria Soho this afternoon, and they were closed due to electricity issues (reopening friday). You've screwed me once again, sugartoof!

[sugartoof]

Oh darn. Such hijinx. We couldn't let you off that easy, right? I think they just opened last week, and at least you found the place, for next time.

It really is essentially a Blue Bottle outpost in Manhattan. So close, but yet so far.

[Bone Thug n Hominy]

Yup. I'm revising my list with Caffetteria Soho at the top. I'm a convert.

[sugartoof]

I had a feeling. It's like a more personalized Blue Bottle experience.

Kyoto or New Orleans style?

Have you made it over to Stumptown for their iced?
It's better when you drink it there in a real glass (find a spot in the lobby).

[Bone Thug n Hominy]

Both are phenomenal, but I prefer Kyoto. I've only had the hot coffee at Stumptown (also excellent), but I've been meaning to give the iced a shot. I just rarely find myself in that part of town. I also hate everything about the ace hotel.

[sugartoof]

In that case, I'd suggest leaning on the bar along the window, or doing the takeout and keeping in mind it's better in a glass. The chocolate milk comparison someone else made sounds absurd, but it's not too far off the mark - and knowing you like the dark purity of the Kyoto, Stumptown might not be your favorite. It's somewhere at the top of my list though.

[Peter Cuce]

If you're an Ace Hotel hater, give Cafe Pedlar on Clinton Street a try. They have all of the same savory & baked goods as Stumptown (since they make them in the first place) but with a full food menu in addition. They use Stumptown beans and generally do a good job with them. Their cold brew doesn't use the same blend as Stumptown itself uses. It's usually very good although sometimes the flavor is not deep enough.

I don't understand why the review is here twice. I can't get it to delete.

[Bone Thug n Hominy]

I don't think I mentioned Pedlar, but their coffee is pretty terrific. I don't know for sure if it cracks my top five, but it's certainly in that ballpark. Call it #5b.

[Desidero]

Here's another vote for the iced coffee at Caffetteria Soho.

[Bone Thug n Hominy]

I'd been out of town since the summer, so I was glad to see that Caffetteria Soho was pretty busy when I stopped by a few weeks ago. Still the best iced coffee I've had so far.

[Bone Thug n Hominy]

I can't believe they closed down!

[FiveDanFive]

Gotta say -- Love the coffee at Abraco, it's easily my favorite cafe in NYC, but I never get the iced coffee there. I don't mind savoring a few sips of really good hot coffee/americano, but an iced coffee's gotta quench my thirst, and the iced coffee cups at Abraco are just way too small. I wish they had a larger option. I wouldn't mind paying a little extra for it.

Joe's and Think are my two favorites so far. I still need to give Kaffe 1668, Caffeteria Soho, and La Colombe a shot.

[bookhound]

If you like Abraco you should try Blue Bird on 1st street and 1st ave. They use Counter Culture beans as well but not the same kind as Abraco. The espresso is excellent.

[FiveDanFive]

I had an Americano and the New Orleans iced coffee with chicory at Caffeteria Soho over the weekend -- went in with high expectations, and both were very, very tasty. The New Orleans had an especially strong, chocolatey flavor that I liked. Thumbs up on this spot.

[Miss Needle]

The best I've had was the Kona iced coffee at Roasting Plant. It was strong, smooth and chocolatey without a hint of bitterness. Worth every penny. As the Kona was a specialty flavor, they may not have it anymore.

[sam1]

ive drank iced coffee everywhere south of 23rd street. here are my top 5 in order:

1. la colombe...they put two shots of espresso in it...its strong but not burnt...the best
2. stumptown...chocolate-y...strong...delicious
3. jacks...not consistent but when its good, its great
4. joes...preferably from waverly...
5. gimme...used to be #2 but its been horrible lately...horrible.

havent tried rbc's iced coffee but their espresso is fantastic so i have high hopes.

[wendytexas]

Here's another vote for Joe's...the art of coffee. We stayed in an apt. on the UWS just around the corner from Joe's last week. The iced mocha was so good! It was smooth and just sweet enough after I added a couple packets of splenda.

[Jess321]

The recently opened Nut Box on 8th St. near NYU has amazing iced coffee-it tastes thick and rich, and when I asked them why it was so different from regular coffee, they said it was prepared "toddy" style. I don't know exactly what that means, but they dilute it with water before they serve it because it's very strong. Very delish!

[sugartoof]

No idea what toddy style means, but if they're diluting it, I would guess it's brewed from a coffee concentrate. Intriguing. Usually these cold brew, concentrate methods are better in theory than execution. 3rd Rail coffee nearby is also good stuff.

[Bone Thug n Hominy]

Toddy is a brand name for a cold-brew coffee maker, so you're probably right. I think that sometimes cold-brewed coffee is not that great--for example, my ill-fated attempts at homebrewing--but when a good cafe does it, it cannot be beat.

[Peter Cuce]

I think practically all cold brew is made using the Toddy system, except for places like Blue Bottle and Caffetteria that use the slow drip.

[firni]

RBC on Worth, in Tribeca - amazing cold-brewed coffee, and I believe they have a choice of brews. I also like Dunkin' Donuts as more of an everyday thing.

[consume1000]

Stumptown cold brew is hard to beat. It's like ice cold chocolate milk.

[Jess321]

It's probably been said on the board already, but I had Porto Rico's iced coffee today and it was the best I've ever had. I also like Nut Box (which I mentioned earlier) but this was better, if only by a bit. It was creamy and flavorful and strong without being bitter. Perfect on a summer day and a steal at $2.00 for a size comparable to a grande from starbucks. Soy milk is even free with it!

[sugartoof]

Which location? Porto Rico's can really vary for iced coffee in my experience. Depends when they made it, etc. I was excited to try Nutbox until you said Porto Rico beats them.

[Jess321]

The Bleecker st location (between MacDougal and 6th ave). Nutbox and Porto Rico are my fav iced coffees in the city as of right now, but I always get mine a certain way (splash of soy and I add half a packet of sweet'n'low) and they're the best for what I like. They're both incredibly creamy and flavorful and not bitter. I've gone to both in the afternoon, so I don't know how often they're brewing but they keep it going throughout the day I'm guessing. Report back if you try theirs or Nutbox's, I'd be interested to see how you like them!

[Jess321]

Updating my post to say that Porto Rico's iced coffee is as good as ever-and I recently discovered that if you bring your own cup it's only 65 cents!!! My insulated cup is probably 16 oz, so I think that's a fabulous deal!

[RachyP]

Kaffe 1668 - They actually grind and brew each cup of coffee you order. It's slightly more pricy but the cost is worth it.

You know when you hear that description "notes of chocolate....." when they describe the coffee? Their coffee actually tastes like how they describe it. SO nice and fresh!

Kaffe 1668
275 Greenwich St
(between Murray St & Warren St)
New York, NY 10007
[phone]
www.kaffe1668.com

[kathryn]

> They actually grind and brew each cup of coffee you order. It's slightly more pricy but the cost is worth it.

Even for iced coffee? This thread is about iced coffee...

[Miss Needle]

I can't speak for Kaffe 1668, but at Roasting Plant they do grind and brew each cup to order, even for iced.

[bookhound]

How do they get the coffee cold without too much dilution?

[Miss Needle]

I don't know. But my iced coffee that I got was sufficiently strong -- stronger than other iced coffees I've had in the city. DH normally hates iced coffees because he finds them weak. But he loved the Roasting Plant one. Maybe they brew it extra-strong and add ice cubes.

[bookhound]

Interesting. Thanks, I'll check it out.

[sugartoof]

They don't, in my experience. It's diluted, as they're essentially pouring hot coffee into a plastic cup of ice.

Still, they do serve it ice cold, using they're machine that grinds/brews a single fresh cup at a time using their own beans which are roasted daily. The downside to that is, some beans need to settle a while. Their equipment produces a cup with a heavy amount of creme on top, which is unique. Sometimes it tastes more pure, sometimes I miss the subtleties from brewing methods that don't involve a machine.

You pick your own bean, which could lead to some hit or misses when translated to iced coffee. It's best to pick a darker roast, but I wasn't thrilled with their Sumatra when iced.

[Bone Thug n Hominy]

You're right, kathryn. Kaffe 1668 cold brews their coffee. They always have a few choices of single origin iced coffees, though, which may have thrown RachyP off.

[iFat]

Addicted to the iced coffee at Northern Spy Food Co.lately, they do it up right.

www.immaculateinfatuation.com

[sugartoof]

What a good idea. Any idea where they get their beans from? Is it spendy?

[Polecat]

I'll just add in a little sub-category here for the hell of it. Nha Trang, on Baxter between Canal and Bayard, for Ca Phe Sua Da - better known as Vietnamese Iced Coffee.

After an informal recent survey of about 8 venues in Queens and Manhattan in recent weeks, I've settled on NT's version as my current favorite because it is thick, solidly bitter and not overly sweet. For me, one of life's simple pleasures is drinking a cup of this stuff in Columbus Park, taking in one of the traditional Chinese bands nearby, and watching the world go by. For those who care, Elmhurst's Pho Banc (the diner that abutts the small and congested parking lot on Broadway) is the narrow runner-up here.

I can't get enough of this stuff.
P.

[daffyduck]

2nd this! i love viet iced coffee, sweetened condensed milk is like liquid crack. i just had one from pho banc two hours ago.

[Desidero]

I just found a sleeper pick for NY's best iced coffee, the cardamom iced coffee at Hampton Chutney, which has a sugary, piquant sweetness that is a perfect antidote to a sweltering hot day like this.

[sugartoof]

Damn, that sounds good.

Is the spice noticeable? I find they usually pair it with Turkish style dark roasts that just mask it into bitterness. Sounds like an awesome find.

[Desidero]

The spice is absolutely noticeable, and it's what gives the coffee its distinction.

[djhnyc]

I'm writing this on New Year's Day 2011, with snow still on the streets, but for the coming summer: Check out the VanLeeuwen Ice Cream/Coffee trucks on the streets, and as of this past October, they were also one of the several food trucks chosen to sit (semi)permanently in Central Park where Tavern on the Green was. They use Intelligentsia coffees - regular is cold brewed I think, and espresso-based uses Intelligentsia Black Cat espresso: both are delicious - the espresso versions (I like latte) is almost sweet without sugar. Caramel notes.... Also a big fan of Joe's iced latte and mocha. I also make my own cold brewed at home, using a slightly modified version of a NY Times recipe.

[Defal51]

Casa 9th ave between 40/41. Serving la columbe. So good!