Guy and Gallard

A coffee chain in midtown Manhattan, Guy and Gallard describes themselves as "purveyors of fine imported coffees".
 
THE SERVICE The drip coffee is serve yourself, and everything else comes faster than you can imagine. If you don't serve yourself fast enough, they'll wonder what's wrong with you.

THE TASTE With 8 different types of drip coffee to choose from, a juice bar, specialty drinks, and food, there is something for everyone here.

RECOMMENDED Drip coffee. Cheap, delicious, quick, and easy. It's a flat dollar for an 8 ounce, so if you don't want a lot of buzz, enjoy this drink as your four o'clock cup.

THE CUPS The cups are pretty businesslike. Just plain green writing on a white cup. Nothing special.

THE PRICE  Cheap. When compared to Starbucks, this coffee house won't empty your pockets for an overpriced cup of joe.

THE ATMOSPHERE Very businesslike, nondescript, and modern. WiFi for all the suit wearers, who, if I haven't mentioned, are sitting at their MacBook Pros typing away.

ON THE WALLS The walls are white. No art to be seen. It fits the businesslike atmosphere, and is less distracting when you're trying to work. However, it makes the place feel less like a coffee house and more like a cafeteria.

WHO'S THERE It's midtown, so mostly men in suits stopping by on their way to work, and a few joggers stopping midrun. You'll also get traffic from local gym.

FASHION ADVICE Anything goes, but you'll fit in right away with a suit and tie.

FUN STUFF They deliver! Order online.

WEBSITE

Coupa Caffe

Coupa Cafe is a Venezuelan coffee place with four locations (Palo Alto, Stanford, Beverly Hills, and Caracas). I come here nearly every day on my way to or from work at Stanford. The coffee is delicious, the service is great. The cafe really has a Venezuelan flavor, both in the taste of the coffee and in the atmosphere.They describe themselves, and rightfully so, as an urban oasis.
 
THE SERVICE They help you right away, and they're quick to place your order. It's a bit of a wait (maybe four minutes or so), but they call out your order right away. Some of the baristas don't have perfect English, so keep that in mind.

THE TASTE Delicious delicious delicious. The coffee has a rich, deep flavor that flows through your body and energizes you. Order anything here, it's all great.

RECOMMENDED The cappuccino is perfect: just the right amount of milk, just perfectly fluffed. Get it "for here" with a saucer and a metal spoon.

THE CUPS I LOVE the cups! Their logo is a beautiful pattern of yellows, reds, and blues.

THE PRICE Very affordable. The drip coffee here is a dollar, flat. A cappuccino is 2.50. Better than more expensive coffee, and better priced too. Their special drinks (add syrups, or signature coolers) are only 3.50.

THE ATMOSPHERE The Coupa I frequent has nice metal silver tables and chairs. Choose sun or shade. The music is a bit loud, and some people sometimes talk a bit loudly, but overall, it's very relaxing.

NOW PLAYING Ya No Se by Los Amigos

ON THE WALLS There is no art at the small location I go to. I'll ty to update this once I visit the Palo Alto location.

WHO'S THERE At the Stanford location, you'll see a mix of students, professors, and tourists enjoying the campus.

FASHION ADVICE Stanford sweatshirt, jeans, and a laptop (though be warned, they don't have outlets).

FUN STUFF Take a fun coffee quiz and calculate how many milligrams of caffeine you drink per year, hosted by Coupa HERE. I drink about 201600 mg per year. That's pretty frightening

WEBSITE

Philz Coffee

Walking in the Mission District of San Fransisco one afternoon, surrounded my colorful murals and colorful people, I came across Philz. I had already had a few cups of coffee that morning, and had stopped for a cappuccino a few hours earlier. But I reckoned it was time for another cup. Plus Philz looked so inviting, so artsy. The front door was ajar, people bustling in and out. The entrance was screaming at me to come in. Just one more cup, my brain pleaded. No no no, my stomach replied.
I walked through the door.
And found myself completely at home.
I think this is possibly the best coffee place I have ever been to, and the winner of the SF Weekly 2010 Reader's Poll. With seven bay area locations (a new store recently opened in Berekly), Philz is very unique in that they only sell drip coffee, with the option of sugar and cream. But this isn't any old drip coffee. You can order around twenty different blends.
Three hours later, I was doubled over in pain. I thought maybe it was some weird feminine epidemic, but it turned out to be Philz coffee. And now I know why. When I visited their website, I found out that one cup of their coffee is the equivalant of three cups of regular coffee. No wonder their slogan is "Enjoy the Ultimate Coffee Experience, One Cup at a Time".

THE SERVICE They're very nice and helpful. The menu can be overwhelming,
with around thirty selections of different drip coffees. Just tell them what you normally drink or what you like and they'll be sure to help you. Also, each coffee has a little description if you get lost. My only complaint is it's probably a five minute wait for your coffee... but look around, enjoy the atmosphere, relax. Just don't come here on your way to work when you're in a rush.

THE TASTE Beyond incredible. Each coffee is an experience. Each blend is customized with 2-7 different beans from around the world. It is all delicious and unique.

RECCOMMENDED I love Julie's Ultimate, described as "complexly smooth and satisfying with
floral highlights". If that's too intense, try the Philharmonic, with "delightfully
orchestrated warm and balanced tones with harmonious layers of cardamom"

THE CUPS Their cups feature their logo. Notice the sprigs of mint, some of their coffees come adorned with fresh mint floating on the surface.

THE PRICE Totally reasonable. A regular coffee was around two bucks, but for joe this good, I'll pay.

THE ATMOSPHERE The Philz I visited (3101 24th St. at Folsom St.) is their original location. Lots of cozy chairs, old tables and crap sitting in the attic. A piano and loads of board games really add to the experience. Hide in a corner or sit by a window and people watch.


NOW PLAYING Dropping Keys by The Levins

ON THE WALLS At the Mission location, they have a mural on the walls, so you feel like you're in a forest. One of the columns has been painted to look like a tree. A few boards in the back advertise upcoming concerts and art shows. Simple but beautfiul.

WHO'S THERE You get your overly pierced, tatooed crazies, the middle age men in skinny jeans and plaid shirts, but everyone here is pretty hip. If you're a nerd, don't show. They're all scribbling away, sketching away, reading away, or typing away.

FASHION ADVICE A baret, glasses, lots of studs and dark clothes for women, a band tee and skinny jeans for men. No matter how many tattoos you sport, you'll be at home.

FUN STUFF They make your coffee right in front of you, using huge beautiful filters. You can also follow Philz on facebook and twitter. Check out their twitter for band listings: they host a lot of live music. They also sell T-Shirts.


WEBSITE

Caribou Coffee

Caribou has been a very mixed experience for me. Sometimes it's delicious, sometimes it's undrinkable. Some don't know it, but Caribou exists in 21 states and 9 countries.

THE SERVICE They're pretty "jolly" here, but they won't try to make you 110% satisfied.

THE TASTE Caribou Coffee has a kiosk at the mall and the coffee there is so burnt you can't even drink it. Sometimes coffee is even spilling out of the top of a drink. However, when I've been to real locations, the coffee is delicious.

RECOMMENDED My friend Elle is a big fan of the Caramel Apple Cooler, usually available in the fall. I also like their White Mocha better than Starbucks's.

THE CUPS Their logo is beautiful... a leaping deer on a light blue/green background. The hot cups and cold cups feature the same design.

THE PRICE I usually go to Caribou... then leave, because it's so ridiculously expensive.

THE ATMOSPHERE Beautiful family style honey colored tables and very cozy leather chairs. A fire place complements the "upscale cabin in the woods" feel.

NOW PLAYING Cleanse Song by Bright Eyes

ON THE WALLS I can tolerate their art. And they've been known to house independent artists.

WHO'S THERE Like Starbucks and Peet's, you get a mix of everyone.

FASHION ADVICE A very casual, relaxed place. Come in blue jeans and a worn tee, or business style.

FUN STUFF Caribou's Coffee Recommender gives you a short quiz to figure out which of their roasts best suits you and your taste buds. You can also rate their coffee (one out of five beans). I also love their slogan "Life is short. Stay awake for it". Something we could all live by.

WEBSITE

Peet's Coffee and Tea

I'm living on the west coast for the summer, and so I had the unique pleasure of walking into a Peet's the other day. I ordered a cappuccino, and took a sip. Wow, this is good, I thought. This is REALLY good. I vowed to never go to Starbucks again. Okay, I admit, I've made a few much needed afternoon iced coffee runs. But after that first taste of Peet's, there was no going back.

THE SERVICE Overall very friendly. They're patient, they wait for you to order, they'll tell you about the drinks. I showed up at a Peet's recently and the baristas were all chatting in the back. But once I cleared my throat, someone helped me and the service was excellent. They helped me set up my Wifi (free for an hour with purchase). While I was working, a barista came over and gave me a free quarter pound of coffee.

BARISTA BIO Joseph loves Peet's because of the great employer's discount (50% off) and the free drip coffee and tea. He likes Peet's better than Starbucks, but for the best coffee, he prefers blue bottle coffee, a Bay Area brewing company.

THE TASTE So far, everything I've tasted at Peet's has been great. The foam on my cappuccino wasn't quite dense enough for my liking, but Peet's is definitely an upgrade from Starbucks and tastes a lot more natural and fresh.

RECOMMENDED Coffee of the day. They never let their drip coffee sit for more than half an hour, so guaranteed freshness and deliciousness. I have yet to try the Freddo's (a Peet's frappuccino) , but during July, medium Freddo's are only $2 on Fridays. The Jasmine Tea over ice is also delicious and refreshing.

THE CUPS The hot cups have an African twist. The "for here" cups seem to have an available saucer, but you have to ask. No metal spoons either.

THE PRICE Money savers: if you reduce the amount of espresso shots in your beverage, they lower the price. And for every pound of coffee you order, expect to receive a free drink.

THE ATMOSPHERE Very homey and welcoming. Beautiful marble tables and comfortable chairs. Peet's has a very rustic feel to it. The last Peet's I frequented had a teeny two-room attack. A little two crowded and the second room didn't have a window, but still cute.

NOW PLAYING Chopin Piano Concerto

ON THE WALLS I sat in front of a very ugly tapestry behind glass that seemed to be glaring at me. It was mustard yellow and ketchup red; a repetitive pattern. I was not so fond.

WHO'S THERE Pretty much everyone. A more select group than Starbucks. Expect a West coast flavor.

FASHION ADVICE A skateboard, jeans, and a tee and you'll fit right in. Or a button down tucked into khakis. The barista at my last Peet's was wearing huge gauges, a pink tee with black writing, and black jeans.

FUN STUFF Peet's has been around since 1966 when it opened its first location in Berkley, CA. Peet's is also a proud sponsor of many local artists and organizations. You can even tour their roasting facility online (all of Peet's beans are hand roasted).

WEBSITE

Starbucks Coffee

Ah Starbucks. The not so chain coffee shop that began in 1971 in Seattle as a small coffee place. Today, Starbucks has 15,000 stores in 50 countries. I'm beginning here, because honestly, I'm not such a big frequenter of Starbucks anymore. I wrote essays in Starbucks this year. I wrote poetry. I cried over espresso chocolate truffles to friends who weren't really listening. I sat there for hours, ordering shorts, talls, grandes, and ventes. The music is a bit repetitive, but there's something comforting about Starbucks, because wherever you go around the world you'll find one, and you know what to expect.

THE SERVICE A mix. You get your great baristas, and your so so ones. Chat up the baristas, befriend them, they'll give you free drinks here or use their partner numbers. The best barista to ever make my coffee is from Bethesda, MD. I ordered a coffee frappuccino, and as he was making it, he saw my down expression. "Bad day?" he asked me? It had been a bad day. I nodded. "Do you want a hug?" he asked. I nodded. He came around the counter and hugged me. "I'm Nick by the way." He winked.
I decided i wanted a shot of espresso mixed in with the drink. "Well it's too late, but I can just make it affagato", he told me. So he poured the hot shot over the blended coffee. It was delicious, and I didn't pay for the extra shot.

THE TASTE It varies. The drip coffee is very good. Stay away from some of the syrups, especially in excess. A tall drink has three pumps of syrup. One pump will do. Also, avoid some of the weird drinks such as chocolate cherry concoctions and don't try to invent your own drink, it could be a disaster. Keep it simple.

RECOMMENDED Tall iced coffee, sweetened. Very refreshing on a hot day, and very flavorful

BARISTA BIO: TJ works at Starbucks in NYC, walking distance from Central Park. His favorite part about the job is running into his customers all over the city. He recently invented the TJFrap, a blended mix of vanilla, caramel, and chocolate, with a hint of raspberry.

THE CUPS The hot cups change for each season and occasion, which I love. The cold cups stay the same. The "for here cups" are a nice change of pace, but do not come with a saucer.

THE PRICE Overpriced. Whereas I pay a buck for drip coffee somewhere else, at Starbucks it can be over two dollars.

THE ATMOSPHERE One thing I like about Starbucks is that ever location has some sort of special feature, whether it's upstairs seating or a bar.

NOW PLAYING Falling in Love at a Coffee Shop by Landon Pigg

ON THE WALLS all the art, at every location is the same, or very similiar. This invigorates me to no end. You might see something like this or like this. There is some variation, and although the art is decent, I tire of looking at it every time I enter a location.

WHO'S THERE Everyone. From the two year old with his mom, to the middle age man running from the gym, to the two 60 year old women meeting for coffee, to the college student. You can find anyone here.

FASHION ADVICE Anything goes. You'll see a lot of sweatpants/ pajama attire, but in the early morning rush, you'll see suits and business attire. Bottom line, it doesn't matter what you wear. You see it all here.

FUN STUFF "The Way I see It", on the back of each hot cup, is a series of inspirational quotes from such as one about global warming. They also have a great line of products: bottled coffee, instant coffee, and coffee accessories. Their mugs are great and worth the buy.

WEBSITE