In a day when 171 Starbucks locations litter the streets of Manhattan , and Folgers has been voted “America’s Favorite Coffee,” I had to wonder for a bit if New Yorkers were doomed to searching out the dwindling coffee hot spots of the East Village and Brooklyn when we crave good amazing coffee. But with RBC’s recent introduction to TriBeCa, caffeine lovers won’t have to go far for their next superlative shot of espresso or cup o’ java.
Hiding away on 71 Worth Street between Church St and Broadway, this two month-old gem boasts a handful of rare and unique features that could make it New York’s best kept coffee secret:
RBC is home to one of only twenty Slayer espresso machines worldwide. You may be asking yourself what the heck a Slayer is, so I will tell you: it’s a mega espresso machine (with an $18,000 price tag) that is hand-crafted in Seattle, and is considered perhaps the finest espresso machine in the industry. Why? Because it allows for a better flavor to be drawn from the espresso bean through a lower starting pressure and a steeping style similar to that of a French press, making for a “smooth and complex” extraction process.
It brought back the communal table. Coffee shops are historically known to be common areas, places to socialize. Yet when was the last time you felt inclined to say “Hi” to a stranger in Starbucks or any other coffee go-to spotted with 2-seater tables (which are usually occupied by people on their laptops sporting accompanying headphones)? Such a scenario is a no-go at RBC. Upon walking in, there’s no missing the fact that there is a giant, rectangular table front and center, and that you may in fact risk being spoken to and carrying on an interesting conversation with another frequenter if you sit there. Darn.
It neighbors an aquatic therapy facility for dogs, and streams live doggy playtime on one of it’s flat screen TVs. Srsly. Who doesn’t want to watch adorable canines swim their way to better health at Water 4 Dogs while sipping a cup of yummy espresso?
It rotates it’s selection of coffee beans. A “commitment to not commit” as director Cora Lambert puts it, allows for coffee lovers to explore new coffees and broaden their sense of taste while RBC ensures that only the best of the season is offered up. Currently, RBC serves coffee from roasters Dallis from Queens, and Brown from San Antonio, TX.
Even their fare is super. Their menu boasts Buchon Bakery pasteries, sandwhiches from Eli’s and Zabar’s, and cookies from Downtown Cookie Company, all of which are superbly delicious.
Personally, I’m thrilled to see a coffee shop like RBC pop up downtown, and I’m even more excited to take my friends there. The staff is wonderfully friendly, and I between the dog-watching, the chatter, and the incredibly satisfying espresso, I could easily spend hours upon hours just hanging out there. If you stop by, don’t forget to try Cora’s specialty – the Vietnamese Coffee, which is  served in a shot glass,  and is layered with espresso, sweetened condensed milk, and crema; definitely a specialty espresso drink that you won’t forget!
