It’s funny, I practically lived in a friend's apartment for years just around the corner from Ninth Street Espresso and never knew they were there.  These were the days when alt.coffee was still on the west side of the park and within spitting distance from where I spent lots of time. 

What can I say?  Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea culpa. 

Getting There. I knew the café was on 9^th Street, thanks to their top shelf branding.  I just kept walking east, through Tompkins Square Park, until I saw the little wooden sign out front on the south side of the street.  I suppose you could take the F train to Avenue D or Second Avenue and walk.  If you plan to see these guys on your first trip to NY, print a map and Google the walking directions.

The Coffee House.  I rolled in just 30 minutes after leaving a cupping session so I was relatively hopped up on caffeine, but knew I needed to sample some of their goodness.  So, I plunked my coat and bag in a corner by the window looking out onto 9^th Street and bellied up to the espresso machine.  There’s room for I’d say 20 people to sit inside with some benches outside for another ten, cozily.  Plus they’ve got free wifi.  I knew they would (and planned to do some work here) ahead of time, since Ben H. told me he wrote the better part of his dissertation here.

No distractions.  Ninth Street carries coffee from Stumptown Coffee in Portland, OR.  I think most of it, if not all, is from their direct trade stock.  Their espresso is Stumptown’s Hairbender.  The menu is as spartan as you would hope at a place that’s known for it’s espresso.  Five or so espresso drinks, no sizes.  No food except maybe a few baked goods…there were two scones left under the counter by the time I got there, so who knows, maybe they have tons at 7:30 AM.

The Latte of Champions. I ordered a scone (a sad, sad lunch replacement for me) and a latte.  Mark the barista proceeded to pull and assemble perhaps the best latte I’ve ever had.  It was the right temperature, the milk was sweet and well textured.  The design on top added a nice aesthetic.  I’ve had a lot of latte’s and few make me say “Mother of God, this thing was handcrafted by the Pope himself.”  I say this with the greatest respect for the Mother of God, the Pope, and Mark.  Nothing I drank on this trip was better than this latte.

I worked for a few hours and then decided I needed something else.  I ordered a decaf shot since even though the caffeine from my earlier adventures had settled in, I knew I had a few more stops before the night was out.  Mark pulled me another shot of decaf house espresso.  He warned me he didn’t feel the decaf grinder was terrifically dialed in.  Regardless the shot was solid.  Well rounded with maybe a little fruit but also enough Colombian perhaps to ground it.

Next Stop.  Before I left, I thanked Mark for his work.  I told him I was on a coffee pilgrimage this week.  He asked me where else I was headed.  After hearing what’s undoubtedly the same list anyone with a coffee blog, a digital camera, and a mission from God rattles off, he suggested I check out Everyman Espresso.  So, on that recommendation, I yanked Joe, the Art of Coffee off the list (sorry fellas, you’re my first stop next trip) and bolted out the door.