café integral
Beautiful, clean, small space. Killer music. Friendly staff. And look at that typography.
My favorite coffee shop of all those I visited in NYC, café integral is a roaster as well as a café. Founded by Cesar Vega (whom I met but didn’t know it at the time), they roast only Nicaraguan coffees, taking extra care to partner with the farmers. They have this statement on the home page of their (gorgeous) website:
We have a simple and singular goal: to produce and source the finest Nicaraguan coffees on earth. It takes hard work and we're committed to it. Our producers are our partners and we collaborate with them day in and out to make the best of every picking, lot, and harvest. We don't spend a few days on the farms each year - we spend months. We do it because we believe it's the only way.
Now that’s good practice right there.
And boy did their coffee live up to the hype. I had the Samaria with notes of strawberry candy, dark chocolate, and spice on Chemex. If I were better at notes, I’d tell you if those were accurate. Unfortunately I’m not at that level yet. One day. All I can tell you is that it was tasty, and I had it twice.
The second time I visited, I was able to talk with two of the staff members, the founder and a barista who was just starting at the shop. I talked to them about the back order of Kalita filters, how delicious Chemex coffee is, and how I hope I’ll get to work in coffee someday. They even let me take their picture. Talking with baristas is probably one of my favorite things to do in a coffee shop, so, needless to say, I was very pleased.
Vega, the owner, is on the left. I was too much of a dork to get the barista’s name at the time.
café integral would be a great shop to meet someone for a quiet talk or to sit at the bar and do some work at the window. Frankly, this place would be good for anything as long as you weren’t looking for a noisy, packed shop or someplace that didn’t look fashionably hipster and classy.
Thumbs up from me café integral. 10/10 would recommend. Keep up the good work.
P.S. I recently started editing my photos with the Snapseed Android app. So good. Check it out. This is not an advertisement. I just like the app.
P.P.S. More pictures to come in separate posts to make reblogging pics you like easier.
