We understand: PSL is good. Really good. However, we think these North Jersey coffee shops offer a better cup of coffee.
The Fine Grind
This cozy shop is rich with personal touches in its décor from its owners, Rhonda and Jon Mallek (who still often work the counter and check on customers who are seated). The menu is extensive, full of ‘concoctions’: crazy flavor combos for latte, coffees, milk steamers, hot chocolates, and even their signature ‘Blendesso’. Think Starbucks Frappucino, but much smoother and more flavorful. What to Order: A warm vanilla Snuggle, touted on the menu as “a hug in a cup” and is the perfect drink / alternative to PSL.
101 Newark Pompton Turnpike, Little Falls
Red eye
Opened by a former manager of Montclair’s unfortunately closed coffee shop, Café Eclectic, Red Eye can travel with the best coffee shops in the neighborhood and Brooklyn. And, with its proximity to the NJ Transit Walnut St. stop, Brooklynites should take note. Serving Intelligentsia beers, no coffee drinks disappoint, but the food is definitely worth mentioning – the specials change daily, but the shop makes a “Blue Velvet” – a roast beef sandwich with pickled blueberries, shallots, and cream cheese.
What to Order: New Orleans Sludge, a cold brewed coffee mixed with spices and milk and served over ice. 94 Walnut St., Montclair
Van Gogh’s ear
Any art lover would appreciate the huge Starry Night mural on one of the front walls of this spacious store. Furniture and mix-and-match tables instill the feel-at-home vibe and provide plenty of seating options, from tall to super comfy sofas. Sunday nights are a delight: from 8pm to 8pm. M. A 11 p. M., The store puts on a live jazz or blues band for a paltry $ 4 fee. The food is solid, with a wide variety of cuisine, from paella to buffalo chicken pizza. What to ask for: the other ear, if not just for that cool name.
It is a double cappuccino flavored with chocolate, mint and almonds. 1017 Stuyvesant Ave, Union
Rock’n joe
With five locations in Jersey, this aptly named rock music venue specializes in signature mixes, Velvet Underground and Sledgehammer, and Black Dog Espresso. Don’t need the extra shake? Order a cup of “Unplugged” (decaf). Come for the kitschy atmosphere and musical memorabilia lining the walls. What to order: Milky Way cappuccino: caramel and chocolate, espresso and steamed milk. Locations in Caldwell, Cranford, Millburn, Union and Westfield
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