Swiss Water Pop-up

Coffee has a special place in many people's lives. For me, I love the invitingly warm aroma that's like a hug from an close friend. It's a comforting yet stimulating drink, that somehow helps create an intimate atmosphere.

Earlier this week, my friends and I took an impromptu trip to American Apparel but were then enticed by Swiss Water's pop-up. Walking by I could just smell the coffee and I had to stop by; The bitter aroma lured us in.

ABOUT

Ever have those moments when you want coffee but can't because you have to be up early? Me too. Specializing in decaf coffee (yes, decaf), Swiss Water aims to serve the best possible tasting coffee without the caffeine. There are times when I want to unwind with a cuppa and still be able to fall asleep. I've never been one for decaf coffee but Swiss Water has changed my outlook on it.

All their coffee is organic, fair trade and is decaffeinated naturally, no chemicals are used.

INTERIOR

Set in a minimalistic studio, their pop-up allows you to experience their coffee in different forms: cold brew, black and speciality made. Each station allows you to explore the background and versatility of the coffee. If you have time, you can also take one of their coffee classes then sit back and unwind to the live DJ. If not they have covers available.

DRINKS

At the moment they have three blends of coffee: Panama, Ethiopia and "Wink."

Panama (Paso Ancho): Stone fruit, caramel, milk chocolate

Ethiopia (Duromina): Peach, brown sugar, black tea

"Wink" (Blend of Brazilian, Ethiopian & Guatemalan coffees): Chocolate, creamy, delicious

Lattes, cappuccinos, mochas..anything your little coffee lover heart desires, they'll make it for you--Latte art included.

The final station we visited was the grinding station. Swiss Water lets you choose your favorite blend, they then blend according to your coffee maker (french press, chemix, etc) and pack it for you to take home.

I had a wonderful experience at Swiss Water and I'm hoping to go as many times as I can before they close. If you're interested in buying their coffee, they will be selling them at cafés around NYC such as Joe's Coffee and Café Grumpy to name a few.

You can find Swiss Water's pop-up at 300 Lafayette St. in Soho across the street from REI. Their pop-up closes up on November 8th. They're open daily from 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m.

For more info, check them out here. Be sure to use their hashtags: #artwithoutcaffeine and #swisswaterdoesny on instagram.

Happy coffee drinking~

x Yzabelle

Café Visits: Café Grumpy

Grumpy is anything but. Tucked away from busy avenues, it can be hard to spot. If you're on the lookout, keep an eye out or you might miss it!

Grumpy could be considered a hipster or hipster wanna-be haven. It was more of the casual vibe that I enjoyed, other than their drinks. Like Stumptown, they had lots of pastries from other bakeries and retailers but they had some of their own as well. I was eyeing their banana bread but sadly it sold out.

My favorite drink of choice here has been their hot chocolate; the pretty design was a plus. Latte art isn't just for coffee anymore! Not your ordinary hot cocoa I'd say, it's creamy and rich without being too heavy. They also had a good selection of tea, the peach blossom tasted clean, elegant, and light; Perfect hot or iced.

Now, what makes Grumpy a little different is their approach to technology. They recently put a no laptop policy into action and this includes Wi-Fi. So my fellow writers and bloggers beware! If your work requires an internet connection you might have to look elsewhere. But I honestly think this adds to their charm. Without your tech you're forced to speak with your friends instead, but hey, good coffee goes well with good conversation. The music they play is mellow enough that you can still read your book. And it's pretty cool to see people actually talking rather than staring at their screens.

Check out Grumpy at W. 20th bwtn. 7th and 8th avenue.

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Café Visits: FIKA

For those who know coffee I'm sure you know that New Yorkers run on the stuff. And even though there are about two Starbucks' on every block or so, my heart lies with the smaller, more independent coffee places. Referring to my very first post on my blog "Coffee Shop Vibes," I feel these coffee shops can provide a different kind of environment, one that I don't really find with chains. What I also really love is that because they're more independent, often times you won't get the same look or feel; these places really make it their own, with the customers leaving their mark on the cafe, whether it is the music or energy.

This long ramble brings me to FIKA. Not only are their products good, but they also have aesthetics to a tee. Boy, am I happy that this location opened up. I love this one, more so than the others because of the space, cool jams, and industrial modern design. Cue a combo of 90s Eric Benét, J-pop, and chill lounge music. With the changing weather (hello sunshine!), the space will be even more gorg with their wide-open windows.

FIKAs are popping up around Manhattan, with another location a few blocks away from this one. If you visit, I recommend the Swedish cinnamon bun- one of the things that they're known for.

What kind of café settings do you guys seek out?

This FIKA location is located around West 15th and 6th avenue, directly across the street from Think Coffee.

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Downtown Hangouts

This past week I've been downtown for my food cravings. But the wonderful thing is that you don't know what you'll find; and that's what downtown left me with. A lot of people have their usual hangouts- coffee shops, bars, restaurants, etc. The usual for coffee downtown is The Bean, but due to the freezing weather (we're at 20 degrees now!) it was packed. My boyfriend and I checked out other ones within the area with no luck. But luckily, we found Everyman Espresso with one table to spare.

It's one of the quieter coffee shops I've been to (maybe off hours?), but I definitely enjoyed it. We managed on: one ham and cheese croissant, soy cortado, and a café mocha. An hour or so later, we wondered why we've never discovered this place before. I loved the addition of the various playbills and papers on every table- they acted as the perfect props for my photos. They know us bloggers and instagramers so well!

But we can't all survive on coffee alone (though it does help). I finally paid a visit to Beyond sushi, somewhere where I've been dying to go.

*Spicy mango roll with baked tofu and seaweed hand pieces*

*Might mushroom roll with enoki and seaweed hand pieces*

La Fiesta roll with baked tofu and seaweed hand pieces — *La Fiesta roll with baked tofu and seaweed hand pieces*

I've been meaning to get back into my healthy vibe for quite some time, and I thought some vegan sushi would do the trick. Now some are skeptical (including my friends)- "What is vegan sushi?" and "Is it even good?!" It was good boy was it good. I wanted something tropical/beachy and decided on the spicy mango roll. My friends had the La Fiesta and Mighty Mushroom roll.

The greatest feeling (asides from eating well) was that my friends thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm happy to share with others that healthy food can be delicious too. Beyond Sushi has become an instant favorite, I'm thinking about it right now! Their sushi is definitely a culinary inspiration and I'm looking forward to giving it a shot. Maybe some recipes in the future?

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Coffee Shop Vibes

I love coffee shops. There's something about the intimate setting that can spark unexpected conversation. Earlier this week I had the opportunity to finally visit Rex; I've been wanting to stop by for quite some time. Rex is small compared to some Starbucks', but makes up for it with the music, atmosphere, and coffee. My friends and I tried their cortado as well as their cookies (chocolate chip and peanut butter). Their cookies were flavorful and moist and I'm looking forward to trying their other baked goods. As for their cortado, it's one of the best ones I've had other than Abraço's in East Village.

When the Starbucks or my favorite café is crowded I'll definitely be stopping by for some good coffee with a book intact.

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