Coffee Kick Start: Coffee Shops in NoMad
787 Coffee, 100 Lexington Avenue
787 Coffee has taken the New York coffee space by storm over the last several years, with a storefront seemingly popping up in every neighborhood. While the company launched in Maricao, Puerto Rico in 2014, their NoMad location – on 27th and Lex – opened in 2021.
What began as a simple investment with the purchase of a coffee farm, would soon manifest into an empire with over 25 stores nationwide, a coffee roastery, and an active social media fan base. The farm in Maricao single handedly grows all of the coffee for every single 787 store. Their motto is a “farm-to-cup” experience. By cutting out the middle man, 787 can be sure to keep coffee costs low, farmers paid fairly, and storefronts turning a profit. They currently have 25 people working on the farm. These individuals handpick every bean to assure that they are only using the best of the best. They also offer a one-of-a-kind coffee experience: book one of the farm’s two cabins for a relaxing weekend away and tours every Saturday.
Each of the nineteen New York storefronts has a unique look featuring a unifying signature yellow color throughout. “We believe in the power of yellow. It’s a new day full of sunshine and happiness.
Each location has its own personality while still being consistent with our Puerto Rico brand,” said the general manager as we sipped on a rum-infused cold brew.
After establishing a base brew, the roastery got creative. They began infusing beans with rum, whiskey, and even tequila. The rum cold brew was delicious with a bold yet drinkable flavor. The top-selling drinks are the Coquio latte, which pulls inspiration from the popular Puerto Rican rum and milk punch traditionally served at Christmas, the Horchata latte, which is a Mexican classic, and the Pina Colada latte.
As the shops searched for a sustainable way to serve their to-go cold brew they stumbled across pouches which look much like an IV bag. Social media quickly made the pouch, and subsequently the cold brew, a viral sensation. Now the brand changes out stickers on the pouch to highlight motivational quotes. One of the most popular stickers — featured near Valentine’s Day — read, “Don’t tell me you love me, just buy me a coffee.” Their social media has been tagged by celebs, including Kylie Jenner who stopped by this summer to try an iconic brew.
Customers often pair coffee with an empanada, homemade banana walnut olive loaf, or chocolate chunk cookies.
Stop in for your cold brew or latte seven days a week in the NoMad location or beyond.
Gregory’s Coffee, 775 Sixth Avenue
With 46 stores and counting, it’s clear that the popular coffee hub of Gregory’s is doing something right. But what most people don’t realize is that this US staple is a simple, well-executed mom-and- pop establishment. Gregory Zamfotis founded the company in 2006 with support from his father and sister. With offices and a coffee shop located on 31st and 6th, and storefronts on 26th and 6th and also on 24th and Park, it’s clear Gregory’s has cemented itself into the NoMad neighborhood. Zamfotis — who spent the last 18 years building his coffee empire — is known for repeated visits and drop-ins to each of his locations and is always willing to jump in behind the counter or man the espresso machine as needed. We met with the team at the 26th Street location to hear more about coffee, the area, and their famous vegan eats.
Gregory’s roasts its own coffee out of LIC. Customers have embraced its unique offerings, which include the house drip (with undertones of chocolate, cherry, and vanilla), a smooth cold brew with a kick of caffeine (the 12-hour brewing process is key), and the Night Vision espresso (with hints of orange and plum). A home delivery subscription plan for its light, medium, or dark roasts gives its loyal following uninterrupted access to its delicious brew 24/7.
After Zamfotis switched to a plant-based diet about seven years ago, the menu at Gregory’s slowly began to move along a parallel line, reflecting the changes he was making in his personal life. It’s hard to imagine Gregory’s without its delicious plant- based drinks, sandwiches, and pastries, including flavored vegan cold foam, vegan breakfast sandwiches, and house-made vegan pecan croissants. We recommend the Blue Dream which stacks cold brew with blueberry syrup and oat milk topped with butter pecan vegan cold foam.
Catch them at one of their locations or order catering for the office. Cheers to a sweet, vegan treat and a kick of caffeine.
La Joie De Vivre, 145 West 27th Street
Tucked away on West 27th between 6th and 7th Avenues, La Joie de Vivre is a unique cafe and bookshop combination that opened in March of this year. Cyril Dewavrin, a native Frenchman, moved to the US just last year with a mission to create a gathering place for both French and English speakers. With a 50/50 split between French and English books and patrons, he has seemingly done just that. We sat down with the founder — in French wicker chairs — to chat about coffee, books, and the differences between Paris and New York.
“In France, a bookstore can survive on its own. It’s part of the culture to visit the local bookstore once a week, but in New York I knew I needed to add a coffee element,” the founder said as he walked us through the vision planning process. La Joie de Vivre serves Stone Street coffee (a brand that is French-owned) alongside an eclectic mix of French pastries, croissants, and macarons. We sampled the slightly sweet medium roast with notes of caramel and chocolate, which is also a standout in the cafe’s espresso drinks.
“There are over one million French speakers in NYC,” Dewavrin said, reflecting on his first few months of business. And, to that point, it seems clear that word is getting around. “It has been busy, exciting, and business is growing. In the fall, we will host events, including author readings.”
The cafe-slash-bookstore feels like an oasis from the busy New York Streets; there is a calming quietness to the space. On the day we visited, a few remote workers were enjoying coffee and free wifi, while others browsed through the vast assortment of tomes. Be sure to check out the candy section where you can stock up on French signature candies, chocolate bars, and caramels that are often hard to come by here in the states.
But La Joie de Vivre isn’t just for Francophiles — this wonderful spot is a just the place for anyone who wants to forget about about the hustle and bustle of city life for a spell.
Maman Coffee, 22 West 25th Street
Maman founders Benjamin Sormonte and Elisa Marshal met in Montreal before traveling the world, spending a chapter in Spain, and finally landing in NYC. After helping launch a Soho wine bar, the couple opened the first Maman on the very same block. Now ten years later, the coffee shop chain has become a staple not only in NYC, but across the east coast with 36 locations (and counting).
The name Maman was inspired by the founders’ fond childhood memories of spending time in the kitchen with their mothers. Both Sormonte and Marshal wanted to create a space that felt like a home away from home; with a bright white and blue color scheme and the smell of freshly baked cookies wafting throughout, they have absolutely achieved that goal. Plus, the beautiful mix of French and Canadian influences make you feel like you’ve been transported out of NYC — if only for a moment.
We popped into the location on 25th and Broadway for coffee, cookies, and conversation with longtime employee Andrea. A welcoming outdoor seating area is accented by a stunning floral arrangement at the entrance. The bubbly baristas served up Methodical Coffee with notes of dark chocolate and almond butter from a La Marzocco espresso machine wrapped in Maman’s signature blue and white print. Every square foot of the NoMad location has been thoughtfully designed to ensure customers have a warm, whimsical experience from start to finish.
In 2017, Oprah named Maman’s Nutty Chocolate Chip Cookie one of her favorite things which created a viral moment and ultimately led to the opening of the NoMad location as a bake shop which then turned into the coffee/cafe/bake shop combo that it is today.
The much-loved all-day cafe menu includes fan favorites, like the caesar salad, breakfast sandwich, honey lavender latte, and a fall staple — mom’s pumpkin pie latte crafted with a homemade syrup. But there’s no gatekeeping here. Maman’s cookbook went live in 2021 sharing all their top recipes, the syrup included. So whether you’re stopping in for a handcrafted latte, a quick lunch, or to enjoy the laptop free dining area, you’re sure to have a welcoming, homey experience.
Paper, 44 West 29th Street
As we entered the Made Hotel — home to Paper coffee — the sound of the street dropped off and the world quieted. The sleek and modern interior is warm, bright, and welcoming; the outdoor patio inviting and cozy. Paper is a favorite haunt for hotel guests, remote workers, and anyone who simply enjoys a great cup of joe. We sat down with food and beverage manager Jeep to get the inside story on what makes Paper a tier above the rest.
Jeep, who grew up in Chiang Mai, Thailand, a large coffee exporting region, spends much of her time sampling local coffee shops in an effort to stay one step ahead of the competition. “Our coffee is consistent. Sometimes you go into a place one day and have an amazing cappuccino and the next day it tastes different. Not at Paper coffee. Our drinks always taste excellent every single time,” she said as we sampled a Cinnamon Honey Latte, a Lavender Latte, and a Butterfly Pea Lemonade. Each was perfectly balanced, not too sweet, and wildly refreshing. Paper offers complimentary coffee and tea to hotel guests, but the barista bar also pulls in an eclectic mix of NoMad residents and visitors, students and office workers.
The coffee shop features its own blend of beans from Superlost Coffee Roastery in Brooklyn. The medium roast has notes of chocolate that add a subtle sweetness to espresso beverages. In-house orders are served in a lightweight, delicate mug that adds a little something to the experience. And the small but mighty pastry selection includes a variety of croissants, vanilla donuts, Belgian waffles, and a signature chocolate chunk cookie, all from Colson Patisserie.
Whether you’re looking to escape to the greenery-filled patio or tuck into a corner of the stunning hotel lobby, Paper is — without a doubt — a must-try coffee experience.
Slate Café, 121 Madison Avenue
It was 10 am on a Tuesday when the NOMAD Magazine team popped into Slate Cafe on Madison Ave for a cappuccino. The bright, calming corner spot was packed with customers — a mix of tourists, NoMad residents, and remote workers. Lillie, head of operations, sat down with us to chat.
The shop was established in 2015 by Ashley Jaffe and Zach Israel, a married couple with a varied past in hospitality. After years of managing restaurants and hospitality PR, Israel and Jaffe were ready to try their hand with the early risers of New York. They started by gleaning information at the annual Coffee Fest here in NYC. That’s where they met David Taft, the founder of Panzon, an ultra-popular Greenpoint restaurant. He jumped at the opportunity to help the couple. Soon enough the cafe’s doors were open, serving top tier coffee from Cafe Vita, a roaster out of Seattle that now has a location in Brooklyn. The coffee blend is a medium roast with notes of raspberries, caramel and cocoa. It’s made to be perfectly balanced on your tongue and perfectly consistent — whether you enjoy it in house or to-go. Unlike at other coffee establishments, Slate staff brings your order directly to your table — no lining up at the counter waiting for your coffee to be made. A convenient set up for work meetings or dates.
Food also took center stage from the start with breakfast classics like a bacon, egg and cheese with spicy mayo, avocado toast with hot honey, and hearty lunch options like the famous rustic chicken sandwich. “My brother lives across the country and when he told a friend where I worked they said when they lived in New York they used to get that sandwich every single day. That’s how popular that sandwich is, plus it’s been on the menu since the very beginning,” Lillie said.
Customers tend to go for the classics when it comes to drinks. They opt for lattes hot or iced, or the shop’s coveted cold brew which is made in-house (food is also freshly made in-house). Even with four locations scattered around the city, Slate Café has been able to preserve its family-run atmosphere and mom- and-pop vibe. Each storefront is welcoming and the baristas work to make you feel at home, greeting everyone with a smile and remembering regular orders. Add them to your next coffee tour of NoMad — for lunch at one of their outdoor tables or just to grab a delicious cappuccino to go.