Variety Coffee Roasters (Upper East Side)
Variety Coffee Roasters is a coffee house founded in Williamsburg, Brooklyn in 2008. While the brand now has eight locations all over New York City as of this article’s writing, this review will focus on the Upper East Side location due to its unique atrium-like interior and atmosphere.
Situated on 1269 Lexington Ave, the Upper East Side location of Variety Coffee Roasters is an attractive corner spot that draws in local coffee enthusiasts from all over the neighborhood. The exterior is built from a set of glass walls that extend from floor to ceiling on each side, allowing natural sunlight to bathe the interior during the day.
From the inside, the coffee shop is decorated in a mid century-modern aesthetic, with natural wood and plants giving the impression of an atrium. While cozy and compact, the cafe has excellent seating options both inside and outside the shop to accommodate guests. Customers can be seen either chatting with one another, or setting up laptops to work quietly. The cafe itself has plenty of outlets and blazing fast wifi, making it an excellent choice for those wanting a retreat away from their home office.
As for the coffee, Variety is no stranger to high-quality beans and sourcing. The most interesting thing about them is that the menu constantly changes throughout the year in order to reflect the various growing seasons of coffee bean varietals from around the world. This is done to ensure that each type of coffee bean that is chosen is at peak ripeness at any given point in the year.
Their coffee is very fairly priced as well, with my iced Americano coming in under $4 USD (prices may change over time). The Americano is bright and well-balanced, carrying some slight earthy and fruity undertones in the flavor profile. Overall, I highly enjoyed the coffee and will be coming back to try their other options.
For a uniquely beautiful cafe that boasts deliciously inexpensive coffee, Variety Coffee Roasters in the Upper East Side is a coffee oasis for those wanting to sit back and relax for a second from New York City’s bustling atmosphere.
