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Coffee, Coffee Cart Everywhere

Almost every Wednesday morning for the last year and a half I approach this statue of the composer, Verdi, in the square on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, that is named for him. Sometimes I am walking down Broadway and other times, like this morning, I am coming out of the subway station on the right. 


I cross two streets and approach this majestic building. I am en route to my Weight Watchers Meeting on the second floor of the Ansonia. This building has had an illustrious history, and at various times residents have included Babe Ruth, Walt Kelly and Stravinsky. But my sights are set on the coffee cart on the corner, just like a thousand coffee carts everywhere -- or so it seems -- in New York.
 


This is my cart. Though I'm only here once a week -- sometimes less -- the operator knows that I don't use sugar in my coffee. I've broken my pattern of ordering iced coffee, and he now asks me what I'd like, but until this winter my order was always iced coffee, light. If there were no other customers it might be waiting for me when I approached the cart. I'm in awe of the cart folks.  Despite the cold, the heat, and the cramped quarters it's rare to receive poor service.

This morning I decided to approach my cart coffee in the same manner I've been assessing much fancier places. It was cold this morning and I ordered hot coffee, light. I sat down at my meeting and opened the plastic lid and I took a sip. The coffee was good. Judged strictly on the flavor, friendly customer service aside, the coffee was good. It is a "B," and worth drinking. I've found most cart coffee good. There is one cart near my gym where I once bought a cup of coffee and alas, half of it was thrown away. Perhaps it was the bottom of the urn, but it didn't pass the taste test and I've never stopped at that cart again.  

This is the menu for this cart. Some coffee carts are strictly cold breakfast, but this operator is able to cook on the smallest grill imaginable. I've never ordered eggs here -- don't think this is the food to bring up to a Weight Watchers meeting -- but they look and smell good.
 
I know "everywhere" is a big stretch for "E" in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge, but I prefer to think of it as creative. Tomorrow we travel up Broadway for another coffee experience.
 
So much coffee, so little time. As ever, thanks for visiting and enjoy! 

13 comments

Paula said...

I find it so fascinating that there are coffee carts everywhere in New York. I hope to visit one day! I love big cities.

TARYTERRE said...

The fact the cart operator knows your likes is a BIG plus in my book. Comfortable is embracing the familiar.

Bee Lady said...

I'll be heading out soon for "My" coffee shop. They know I like vanilla BEAN latte's with whip. However, now and then I change it up. And as I sit here looking at blogs I'm having coffee with breakfast. It's good coffee. I've said it before, life is too short to drink bad coffee! I enjoy seeing Manhattan through you. I'm not a big city girl, so this is probably the only way I'll ever get to see it!

Cindy Bee

Little Wandering Wren said...

Next time you're at your coffee cart mine's a skinny decaf cap! Which is a skimmed milk cappuccino made with decaffeinated coffee in case you were wondering Carol! Mind you those of us at Weightwatchers seem to prefer a piccolo which is less milk! Great choice for your ABC challenge!
Wren x

I'm mostly known as 'MA' said...

My coffee cart is right here in the kitchen and I enjoy lots of different types thanks to the K cups I do enjoy most of them, but some don't get close to a B. Fun to try though. I'm enjoying your ventures and love the architecture of that old building. I am a fan of older homes too.

Starting Over, Accepting Changes - Maybe said...

You could always go back after your meeting and pick up one of those muffins.

BJ PUP said...

I love stopping at the coffee carts for hot in the winter and iced in the summer. There coffee is good and the people are friendly. I was down at the courts buildings twice a week for three years and stopped at the same cart in front of 60 Centre St - the one Law & Order's DA McCoy stopped at all the time.

The vendor knew my name, my coffee order, and the roll I liked. If he had run out of rolls, he sould say he was sorry and give me a bagel. A nice way to start that day of sitting on jury duty.

Theresa said...

YUM, I love me a good cup of coffee:) Your City is so beautiful to me and I can't wait to visit... maybe later this year:) Have a blessed day dear friend, HUGS!

Susie said...

Buttercup, Now I could eat from your food cart. When we were in NYC, Ted ate some meats from a smelly old meat cart ...there was no way I could eat that. So I did without. My daughter told me the other day when we went to lunch..oh mom they have good coffee. Yuck...her idea and mine are so different when it comes to coffee. I do not think café coffee is good any more. I think my taste is changing. The best coffee is on a cruise ship. LOL. Blessings, xoxo, Susie
p.s. thanks for all your wonderful pictures of the city.

Nellie said...

I do love coffee, though usually I'm at home when I drink it. Where I live, and my daily routine, do not put me where coffee carts are located. It's great that the operator recognizes you and remembers your order, though! Hope WW is going well for you!

Janet said...

Good luck with Weight Watchers. I have been but it's too expensive for me now. I still try to follow the rules and am using Hungry Girl Diet Plan now, which is working, thankfully. i am always afraid to stop at the carts on the corner but you make me want to try them!

Misha Gerrick said...

It's cool that the cart operator knows what you like. :-)

J Lenni Dorner said...

J here, stopping by from the #atozchallenge - where I am part of Arlee Bird's A to Z Ambassador Team.
How has the first week of the challenge been for you so far? Are you meeting your goals of posting and hopping to other blogs?
My blog has a giveaway with bonus a to z challenges to encourage people to visit more stops.
http://jlennidornerblog.what-are-they.com
I love coffee. And yup, if I get a bad cup somewhere, I won't go back. Okay, yes, there is one terrible vending machine... but those were desperate times, desperate I say! Don't judge.