Caf Grumpy - Lower East Side

Located in New York, New York

Address: 13 Essex St, New York, NY 10011, United States

Phone: +1 212-777-7515

Rating: 4.3

Services

Identifies as women-owned
Takeaway
Dine-in
Great coffee
Great tea selection
Solo dining
Wheelchair-accessible car park
Coffee
Quick bite
Dessert
Casual
Cosy
Trendy
Family friendly
LGBTQ+ friendly
Tourists
Accepts reservations
Credit cards
Debit cards
NFC mobile payments
Credit cards

Photos

Latest NYC Bar Directory

Comments

Review 1 (2022-05-06 - Rating: 5)
Small little coffee shop, the barista was very nice.There isnt room inside to sit and they only have one bench outside for seating but theres an entire park on the other side of the street where theres plenty of seating. Its a very nice way to spend some time, if you have it. Just sit and relax with your drink and pastry. The park has shade from the tall beautiful trees that surround it and there are jungle gyms so if you have a little one, both of you will have something to do.I got the Honey Oat Latte with a blueberry scone. Both were delicious, definitely gave me the morning pick me up I needed to start my day.

Review 2 (2022-03-01 - Rating: 5)
I ordered a seasonal cardamom rose latte with oat milk and it was divine ($6). I was so happy because there was no upcharge for non dairy milk and the guy was so nice and cool.

Review 3 (2024-04-05 - Rating: 5)
One of the best flat white’s i’ve ever had, but it was so cramped and on the more pricey side

Review 4 (2024-02-07 - Rating: 5)
Top-tier drinks in a phenomenal location across from Seward Park. Top 5 drip coffee in LES area. Large selection of beans, which are highly traceable and sourced from all over the world. Large selection of African country coffee. The storefront is tiny, and doesn’t cater well to seating, but it feels neighborhoody and cute. Usuals come in for a few minutes and chat. Baristas tend to be friendly and quirky. Coffee score: 5/5. Everything else score: 4.5/5. Overall score: 4.5/5.

Review 5 (2024-05-06 - Rating: 5)
Lovely coffee and atmosphere ✨ Nice, small, and chill💚

Review 6 (2022-11-15 - Rating: 5)
I really like the Pumpkin Butternut Spice Latte with oat milk here. The spice is just the right amount and the oat milk adds a delicious creaminess. Love that they dont charge extra for non-dairy milk substitutions. Also, if you bring your own cup/mug, you get $0.5 off! Barista was very warm and friendly as well.

Review 7 (2024-11-10 - Rating: 5)
Love Grumpy coffee, they have the best coffee in NYC. Most of their new locations like this one only have enough space for taking out but that doesnt matter they still have the most aromatic and tastiest coffee. I regularly buy their Honduras roast (red catuai). The baristas in that location are very friendly and more than once gave my some useful answers to questions I had about the area or where to get stuff as I am not a local.

Review 8 (2019-03-09 - Rating: 4)
Awesome coffee spot. Cozy. Warm. Safe. Great decaf coffee. As fresh as can be. Reg coffee amazing too. Want coffee. Go here! ☕️

Review 9 (2023-06-17 - Rating: 5)
Store can only fit 3 people in it max. They cant keep track of who is next and the customers act like they are getting methadone. And the coffee is not that good. Go further down the block and you will find better atmosphere, customer service and quality.Used to be a regular but I will not be coming back here again.

Review 10 (2024-01-17 - Rating: 4)
I prefer the location in Greenpoint because theres more seating but this is a good coffee shop if youre in the surrounding area!

Review 11 (2019-12-11 - Rating: 4)
Good coffee, Americano made my way w much less water in an espresso cup! Cant complain about lack of seating since we got the only 2 seats they have.... So its recommended for coffee but not a place to hang out. Maybe in summer they put a couple of tables outside?

Review 12 (2023-06-22 - Rating: 5)
Adorable little coffe shop by the park. I was in the neighborhood for work and stopped here. The barista was so friendly! Not much in the way of indoor seating though, so plan to take it to go

Review 13 (2023-04-09 - Rating: 5)
Excellent coffee. Vegan friendly snacks available, fresh, so get there early by evening theyre sold out of most bakery items.

Review 14 (2017-10-18 - Rating: 5)
I came here for a quick coffee. Couldnt find the place at first even though we walked by, didnt have any branding on the outside. Once we got in we saw the grumpy LED face and knew we were in the right place.The coffee was good and they make a good cortada. The location works well for them since they are near the park and you can stop in for a coffee in the evening.Theres not a lot of seating area, the space is pretty small but about 3 people can sit by the window. They do have a couple of chairs at the counter as well.Not a place for a sit in coffee with friends, no restroom, just grab and go.

Review 15 (2023-07-07 - Rating: 5)
Great coffee and service. Love the branding!

Review 16 (2022-06-24 - Rating: 5)
Nice small quiet coffee house! Great coffee and nice owner

Review 17 (2023-03-28 - Rating: 5)
The barista here is really nice and you’ll notice he’s interested in the coffee making, also the type of lattes they have are really tasty and interesting

Review 18 (2022-06-16 - Rating: 5)
Delicious coffee, the El Pintado (Guatemalan) is so good. Barista was friendly and thanked me for being patient. The baked goods looked good too.

Review 19 (2024-07-16 - Rating: 5)
In a delightful café, the friendly barista welcomed me with a bright smile. While the interior lacked seating, there was a lone bench outside. Fortunately, a spacious park with ample seating was just across the street. It was a perfect way to unwind, enjoying my beverage and pastry. The park, adorned with tall trees, featured jungle gyms for children to play on, offering enjoyment for both adults and kids.I opted for a Honey Oat Latte and a delectable blueberry scone, which made for the perfect morning boost to kickstart my day.

Review 20 (2023-06-13 - Rating: 4)
Very good coffee, great atmosphere close to the park but also very expensive, would not get it frequently

Review 21 (2024-05-02 - Rating: 4)
Straightforward coffee shop! Great coffee ☕️No specialty drinks

Review 22 (2021-08-17 - Rating: 5)
The coffee is sooooo good. No place to sit and the barrista is a lil grumpy 😅 but makes a great mocha.

Review 23 (2022-06-11 - Rating: 4)
Nice place, though the coffee was not for my taste

Review 24 (2021-12-12 - Rating: 5)
Best espresso I had in New York. Properly served in porcelain mug!!! Like I used to in Europe. Very friendly service.

Review 25 (2023-01-04 - Rating: 5)
My favorite coffee shop in the neighborhood. Drinks are consistently good and the service is great!

Review 26 (2023-01-22 - Rating: 5)
The best coffee in nyc ❤️

Review 27 (2019-03-12 - Rating: 5)
A nice subtle sweet and light roast on the latte. And service with a smile. Maybe. 😁

Review 28 (2019-06-06 - Rating: 4)
Consistently good coffee. OK service, not the most personable though.

Review 29 (2017-08-28 - Rating: 5)
Very mod and small coffee place. Great customer service and cheerful baristas. Definitely recommend. :)

Review 30 (2022-07-22 - Rating: 5)
Cardamom tea cake is stunningly good, with fine moist texture - a knockout for taste buds

Review 31 (2019-12-01 - Rating: 5)
Clean，warm cozy ，open early and great waiter

Review 32 (2021-09-17 - Rating: 5)
Great service and amazing coffee. wish the place was bigger for a sit down.

Review 33 (2020-02-27 - Rating: 5)
One of the best coffee in NYC

Review 34 (2012-08-26 - Rating: 5)
If your ever in the need for your daily fix, stop by you wont regret it! The cappuccino is the best!

Review 35 (2023-10-25 - Rating: 5)
Always good and quick service. Prefer it over the majority of the coffee shops in the area.

Review 36 (2011-11-14 - Rating: 4)
Surprisingly small location, with only two spots in the window to sit. coffees are excellent.

Review 37 (2020-06-22 - Rating: 5)
Great cold brew and iced macha! So glad it is back open

Review 38 (2016-09-26 - Rating: 5)
I love cafes and this one is pretty nice. One of my favorites.

Review 39 (2023-08-17 - Rating: 4)
Really good coffee. When Im in the city, I always go to a Cafe Grumpy. I have tried Blue Bottle and a few others, but nothing is better than Grumpy.

Review 40 (2024-09-28 - Rating: 5)
Love this chain!

Review 41 (2024-03-12 - Rating: 5)
Love the barista John

Review 42 (2022-12-29 - Rating: 5)
I’m short this is the best coffee around this neighborhood

Review 43 (2023-04-23 - Rating: 5)
My favorite coffeeshop in the city! been going here ever since i moved here and every barista i’ve gotten the pleasure to interact with has been absolutely lovely, something i don’t really get from other shops in the area. very chill energy, and the coffee is to die for, especially the chili mocha and the cold brew!

Review 44 (2023-02-27 - Rating: 5)
Gatlin (so?) the barista is the best!

Review 45 (2022-05-15 - Rating: 5)
Delicious Vanilla Latte. Bought an iced latte and walked across the street to the park to enjoy it. Was the perfect amount of sweet and espresso for my taste. Would go again

Review 46 (2013-07-31 - Rating: 5)
Thanks you guys I could get a decent coffee while we were travelling! :)

Review 47 (2021-05-19 - Rating: 5)
Mmmmm so delicious! Literally just got my coffee 5 minutes ago and it’s so good that I had to write a review right away. I got the honey oat milk latte and I’m trying to make it last but I just keep sipping! Love it so much, I will definitely be back and the man who made me my coffee was so friendly. Thanks so much :)

Review 48 (2015-07-28 - Rating: 5)
Damn good roast. Baristas are lovely, too.

Review 49 (2022-05-28 - Rating: 5)
Friendly baristas (I enjoyed the irony of the name of this place) great coffee. Instantly brightened my day after getting off a long and crazy bus ride into the city.Absolutely stop by this place (among your many options around here). They have:-good drip coffee (can’t speak to the espresso bc I haven’t had it yet but it appears they know what they’re doing)-they have a synesso espresso machine (good machine man)-the pastries looked tasty but I didn’t end up grabbing one this time

Review 50 (2015-09-28 - Rating: 5)
Best coffee Ive had in New York!

Review 51 (2019-08-18 - Rating: 5)
Heartbreaker expresso is one of the best coffee..

Review 52 (2015-01-16 - Rating: 5)
One of the best coffee shops in the city. Fresh-roasted beans make the most flavorful coffee. This particular location is tiny and there isnt much space to sit. However, theres a park across the street.

Review 53 (2014-11-21 - Rating: 5)
One of the best espresso experiences in NYC. Smooth, nutty, sweet espresso, or perfectly foamed latte - this is the no nonsense coffee drinkers coffee drinking spot. Hard to beat.Minimal seating, so have your espresso standing or your larger cups to go.

Review 54 (2021-06-10 - Rating: 5)
Helpful staff, excellent espresso and they know how to do a great Americano, without too much water.

Review 55 (2021-05-18 - Rating: 5)
Amazing cafe wonderful barista I go every Wednesday and the barista leaves around 1 he is amazing!!!

Review 56 (2021-07-06 - Rating: 5)
Nothing grumpy about this place. Great quality beans and talented barristers.

Review 57 (2023-06-19 - Rating: 5)
The honey oat latte, 10/10

Review 58 (2022-02-19 - Rating: 5)
Even though it’s called grumpy, I got friendly service and a smile was brought to my day

Review 59 (2013-09-14 - Rating: 4)
I always stop here on my way to the Hester Street Fair to get a coffee. This is genuine hipster coffee in the lower LES - expect skinny jeans and Warby Parker glasses - and it always smells great when you step inside. They also use Square here so you can pay through your phone if you want.

Review 60 (2017-12-06 - Rating: 4)
Very mod and small coffee place. Great customer service and cheerful baristas. Definitely recommend.

Review 61 (2018-10-01 - Rating: 5)
Great coffee. Heart breaker bean is awesome. This is what I call speciality coffee!

Review 62 (2019-08-21 - Rating: 5)
Love cafe grumpy. Often has the same very friendly barista on the weekend and my latte is always great!

Review 63 (2016-12-16 - Rating: 5)
Was very cute from the outside, thought I would go in and try it out and found myself there quite a few more times. Espresso is very rich, smooth, and creamy

Review 64 (2022-12-25 - Rating: 4)
Love to came here.

Review 65 (2019-09-08 - Rating: 5)
Went for a coffee just before the 6th Avenue spring fair and I must admit I went partially for the name but man this place was good , a real laidback bohemian vibe from the decor to the young lads serving the really tasty coffee and chai latte we had. Had to buy the some of the merch with the Grumpy logo as its pretty cool. A really nice place for a laid back Sunday morning coffee

Review 66 (2013-03-04 - Rating: 5)
Excellent coffee. barista was friendly and informative. Store is the smallest Ive ever been in, however - not the best place to camp out and study...

Review 67 (2017-11-11 - Rating: 5)
❤️ the super friendly team here. Read your daily horoscope while your coffees being prepared.

Review 68 (2016-09-07 - Rating: 4)
Excellent coffee. barista was friendly and informative. Store is tiny.

Review 69 (2013-09-04 - Rating: 4)
As Australian, this is good coffee. This is really just a takeaway. No real sitting.

Review 70 (2015-07-13 - Rating: 5)
Such a cute hole in the wall with amazing night staff 😎😉

Review 71 (2023-03-18 - Rating: 5)
Well made cappuccino, thanks 😊

Review 72 (2018-11-25 - Rating: 5)
Without a doubt the best espresso below 14th Street.

Review 73 (2018-10-08 - Rating: 5)
Great coffe with cool vibe and location

Review 74 (2021-02-06 - Rating: 5)
Macha apple cider is so interesting

Review 75 (2018-12-13 - Rating: 4)
Nice small shop that does a decent brew.

Review 76 (2017-10-31 - Rating: 4)
Staff is awesome, love their daily horoscope paper, but the coffee is a bit over priced for the quality.

Review 77 (2016-05-22 - Rating: 5)
Hands down the best coffee in the hood.

Review 78 (2016-03-26 - Rating: 5)
Great baristas and great cappuccino

Review 79 (2022-06-28 - Rating: 5)
Really good cup of black coffee

Review 80 (2022-04-16 - Rating: 5)
Best iced latte in LES

Review 81 (2019-02-20 - Rating: 5)
Best breve latte on my block

Review 82 (2019-04-29 - Rating: 5)
Its the best coffee in the neighborhood.

Review 83 (2018-08-06 - Rating: 5)
Can a cafe grumpy ever disappoint? i think not. if you’re in this area, make this your go to. or i dunno, don’t but then you’re missing out.

Review 84 (2015-12-02 - Rating: 5)
Whenever Im grumpy, I come here :)

Review 85 (2019-03-05 - Rating: 5)
Good coffee and good staff!

Review 86 (2012-01-31 - Rating: 5)
Great coffee, friendly service

Review 87 (2016-03-18 - Rating: 5)
Really great coffee.

Review 88 (2019-04-11 - Rating: 5)
Good eats

Review 89 (2023-10-06 - Rating: 5)
Amazing

Review 90 (2018-06-28 - Rating: 5)
Don’t try to be happy here. Just don’t.

Review 91 (2016-10-08 - Rating: 5)
Very chic

Review 92 (2021-02-14 - Rating: 4)
Excellent

Review 93 (2018-01-24 - Rating: 5)
Solid coffee

Review 94 (2020-12-17 - Rating: 5)
Solid coffee and experience

Review 95 (2019-04-22 - Rating: 5)
Meh

Review 96 (2016-11-25 - Rating: 5)
Best coffee in the hood

Review 97 (2018-03-07 - Rating: 4)
Cool lil hood cafe

Review 98 (2020-01-06 - Rating: 5)
Love this place!

Review 99 (2017-08-08 - Rating: 5)
Best coffee

Review 100 (2017-06-11 - Rating: 5)
Great Coffee

Review 101 (2019-07-19 - Rating: 5)
Amazing!!

Review 102 (2025-01-04 - Rating: 4)
Got a couple extra strong Americanas. Very good.

Review 103 (2024-12-04 - Rating: 5)
There are several branches in New York, but I deliberately visited the Lower East Side branch. It has a nice small atmosphere and the coffee tastes rich and flavorful. There is no space to sit and eat, but you can drink it while sitting on the bench outside the store!

Review 104 (2024-10-28 - Rating: 5)
I had the most delicious cappuccino on my 4th day in New York. I happened to stop by before a cruise, but Ill definitely go again if Im ever in the area.You can see squirrels up close at a nearby park. While drinking at a cafe.