Toby's Estate Coffee: Brooklyn, New York

Maybe I was attracted to Toby’s Estate Coffee because it was on the way back from lunch at House of Small Wonders, or maybe it was the graffiti on a nearby wall that would make for the perfect Instagram photo, or maybe, just maybe, it was the two men outside objectively talking about the size of their girlfriends’ breasts . . . well, maybe it wasn't the latter, but whatever it was, I was attracted to the coffee shop non the less.  After having a pull vs push issue with the door (it’s push) my brother, Clark and I were inside.  Two floor to ceiling bookshelves lined the side walls and raw wood tables and stools cluttered with people filled the large room. We apparently walked up the small ramp to the counter but it felt a bit more like floating. I could tell by the baristas' overall appearances that we would be the best of friends if it weren't for the fact that my wandering eyes and active photo taking screamed that I was in fact not a Brooklynite (not yet anyway). Although I will admit I complimented one of the barista’s glasses so therefore we are slowly building a beautiful and lifelong friendship.

           Clark ordered biscotti that he raved about and hung in front of my gluten free face. It came on an adorable flowery china plate which I would have had the notion to steal if I weren't such a moral and sensible person. Right behind the counter was the room Toby’s Estate Coffee uses for their public cuppings and private classes. Although I was not able to do a class when I stopped by, just the sight of it made me want to happy cry, but I’m all talk when it comes to public scenes so instead I collected my cup of coffee and headed to a table. Clark and I sat facing the large garage looking windows covering the front wall of the coffee shop. We were nestled in at the same table as a woman on her laptop being that there were no open spots. The whole café was filled with the hippest hipsters of Brooklyn. There were so many well-dressed men and women in one room that I had multiple heart palpitations through the course of my stay there. It almost felt as though the room was being lit by laptop screens. I may have witnessed fifty award winning screenplays being written but I just simply can’t confirm (until I see how mine turns out). 

Being that all the coffee is brewed right there in their Brooklyn location, every cup is quality. The roast I tried was right in the middle thus making it perfect. If you’re in Williamsburg, living in Williamsburg, or have a lover in Williamsburg, you’d be foolish not to grab a (daily) cup from Toby’s Estate Coffee on North 6^th Street, one block from the Bedford L stop. But fear not Manhattan dwellers there is also another location in the Flatiron district for all of you. Open Monday through Friday 7 to 7 and Saturday and Sunday from 8 to 8 it’s the perfect place to nurse a coffee before work, to write a screenplay, find a boyfriend (I found a few…hundred) or just a nook to people watch from. Drink up, Brooklyn.

Blue State Coffee: New Haven, CT

            Did the coffee taste better because it was on Yale University’s campus? Yes, yes it did and I won’t let anyone convince me otherwise. But with that being said, the coffee was well above par, as were their lattes that came holding a newly created masterpiece right there in the foam. 

            With two Blue State Coffee locations nestled on either side of the campus, Yale students have the perfect study rooms. Although it was Yale’s spring break, the café was still jam packed with local coffee addicts, granola-eating-anti-bathing ex-peace core members, and the occasional Dr-to-be, I'd-save-your-life-Sophie-but-I-know-you-don't-actually-need-CPR Yale student. My group and I slid right in with the other wallflowers perfectly. So much so that I found myself quickly morphing into the Yale student world. I began talking to my friends as if I attended the school. "Yes, well if you turn left out of here you're gonna be on Yale's campus. It's just simply beautiful and if you take a right out of here believe it or not you're gonna be right there on Yale's campus. There are buildings, and other buildings all of which are Yale. Those brick and stone things, Yale. Beautiful, I know." Adapting into unknown cultures is kind of a gift of mine. 

        With a part of their profit going to charity and their mission overall rather “green,” do you really need another reason to stop by Blue State Coffee? If so, I’d say the boy at the window is personally enough of one for me. Or possibly the twenty-one year old girl with brown curly hair sitting with a few of her friends waiting for the perfect Yale boy to come in, swoop her into his arms and carry her into the sunset whispering “I’ll pay off your college debt.” But then again, I guess I'm just a hopeless romantic.

        With locations ranging from Yale’s campus to Rhode Island to Boston, you've got to be here on the East Coast to grab a sip of this heavenly delight in one of their shops.  Luckily you can still have their coffee at home by ordering it off their website. Please note that the beautifully perfected foam masterpieces are not included with the online models. Nor are the attractive male baristas. You wouldn't want to miss out on a chance to embarrass yourself like I do everywhere I go. So why not make the trip to go to the cafe in person. Maybe I dropped most/all of the change from my change purse on to the counter  when paying. Maybe I couldn't find where the milk was for the coffee and wandered around like a lost (21 year old) child until someone else with coffee led me to the source. Maybe.

         With sandwiches, lattes, coffees, and teas, there really isn't anything else you’ll need while studying, reading, or catching up with friends. After the coffee reached all the darkest parts of my soul which is indeed hard to do, it was time to say goodbye. With most shops open around 7 am and closing around midnight, you simply have no excuse to pass by this place. With a polished look, inspirational quotes written on every large open surface and enough tables to satisfy even the most stressful of midterm seasons, it’s a great coffee rest stop.  It was a pleasure mixing into the Yale students’ world if only for an hour or two. Will I randomly be hanging out on Yale’s campus even though I don’t go there, Blue State Coffee in hand? Yes, how else does one meet their soul mate? Give to charity, help local farmers, and get energized for the day all by simply making your morning cup a Blue State one.