Naz Kasim has been telling us about his love of coffee. On weekdays he orders a three shot Americano, black with no sugar. At weekends, it's an almond cortado. Not just for the taste, he says, but because they look pretty cool in pictures.
Naz lives in the Brooklyn Heights neighbourhood of New York. He's a creative director who moved to the US from Malaysia and he's been indulging his coffee addiction with great success ever since. New York is a city of coffee lovers. New Yorkers drink seven times as much coffee as residents of other US cities. The city even hosts an annual coffee festival. So if you're looking for the perfect cup of joe, this is the place to find it.
The hiss of the espresso machine or the slow drip of a coffee filter, a light or a dark roast, decaf or a double shot espresso; every coffee desire can be satisfied in NYC. It's partly down to immigration, says Naz. "The Aussies, Italians and South Americans all have their own style and technique for roasting, blending and brewing their coffee and they've all set up shop in NYC."
New York's coffee diversity can also be attributed to an increased appreciation for coffee that goes far beyond the need for a caffeine hit to get us through the day. Expert tasters talk about coffee in much the same terms that a sommelier talks about wine. There are layers of flavour 'nutty, bitter, fruity, acidic, sweet“ dictated by the conditions in which the coffee was grown and the way in which beans have been roasted. Naz's current favourite is a Sumatran blend, dark and bold.
The blend is important. But so is the space in which we savour it. Naz loves nothing more than exploring the many coffee shop corners his city has to offer. When picking out a coffee pit stop, the opportunity for people watching is paramount, he says. "The more characters a coffee shop attracts, the better." He also tends to go for independent cafe's over larger establishments whilst the photographer in him is always on the lookout for great light.
Here Naz shares his top destinations for soaking up the scene whilst enjoying a freshly brewed cup of coffee:
Reynard
This little gem, located in Williamsburg, is a great Sunday brunch spot. It's spacious, elegant and never too crowded. There's some beautiful tile work too. As well as the coffee, the cast iron pancakes and Bloody Mary they serve here are to die for.
Olio e Piú
Olio e Piú in Greenwich Village is one the best Italian restaurants in NYC so, inevitably, the post-dinner caffeine fix is something special. The restaurant interior is utterly charming and the pasta is the tastiest in town.
El Rey
El Rey is a great spot for people watching. On warmer days I love to sit by the large open windows and watch the interesting folks of the Lower East Side get on with their lives. If I'm there for lunch I tend to grab their grains and crudit's salad with chicken and a side of avocado“ delicious!
Miss Paradis
Located in SoHo, Miss Paradis has sleek decor designed by Philippe Starck, knowledgeable and helpful waiters and a really unique food and wine selection. The homemade black bread is one of my favourites on their menu as is the elderflower rosè wine which they brew in-house. All followed, of course, by a delectable cup of coffee.
Huge thanks to Naz for sharing his photography and coffee recommendations with us. You can catch up with his latest coffee discoveries over on Instagram.