Bird & Branch Coffee Roasters — Restaurant in New York

Underrated small biz.

So, I came here to pick up a Too Good To Go order of brownie ends, which I had heard great things about for a while. I was blessed with the opportunity to pick up 2 bags (I was so psyched to share these with others), and wow -- what a way to perk up the work week. The guy (one of two owners?) offered the choice of flavors between matcha/black sesame/hojicha. I went with the latter two.

[1] I tend to be a lil weary of being treated a certain way because of picking up Too Good To Go (cheap spender vs financially conscious, crumb-pecker vs sustainable environmental consumer), but there was none of that judgement here. Just sincere kindness+professionalism. This encouraged me to try something from their menu, and having an adventurous palate, I went with "the blackbird" latte: espresso, blackberries, thyme, housemade almond macadamia milk.

[2] They really hit their experimental+adventurous mindset outta the park. That latte is impressively well done where creative curiosity meets practical execution --successfully. The mad-scientist latte worked: the tartness of the blackberries and savory brightness of thyme --all with the right amount of sweetness-- went with the espresso and ¡creamy! nut milk. My barista rec'd having it hot vs cold and regardless of it being summer, I'm glad I savored it hot. Okay, and those brownies? The black sesame, and the hojicha flavors? Bravo. I was skeptical... Do these guys mean it's more of a cake than a brownie? No. The fudginess definitely make them closer to a brownie than a drier, fluffy cake. My favorite was the hojicha for the stronger flavor+fudginess; the ground black sesame makes it a lil drier but it's still good, just a lil different. These preferences vary for each person, for sure. Definitely worth the $3 lil side treat with your coffee. If the baker behind the brownies sees this: bravo. Those brownie ends are still soft+tender, than over-baked, dry, too crunchy/crumbly. Braaaaavooooooo.

As I was munchin' + sippin', I read into the company online and I respect their m.o. of their "job training program for people with barriers to employment" whose "goal is to help trainees find long-term employment at other coffee shops and restaurants around the city". What that means exactly, I can't say for sure. But this felt consistent with how they respectfully treated me (a nobody!). Their humane outlook on society is rare.

I am a humble fan....

O, what foul brew hast thou served me this morn, thou wretched keeper of bitter draughts! To think I did enter thy den of artifice, a humble seeker of warmth and solace, yet was greeted with naught but a chilling frost. Thou, who didst prance behind thy counter, with airs of knowledge as lofty as the heavens, didst regard me not but with disdain, as though my presence were a blight upon thy sacred grounds.

Did I offend thee, good madam, by requesting mere civility? For thou didst turn thine eye from me as though I were a ghost of no import. When thou didst deign to address me, it was with such haughty scorn, as though the very beans thou roasted were plucked by angels, and none but thee held the secret of their alchemy. Yet when thy words dripped forth, I found thy wisdom hollow, thy knowledge flawed!

Thou, who dost claim to understand the subtle arts of the bean, didst speak of dark roasts with ignorance most profound. ’Twas clear thy tongue knew not the difference betwixt fine Arabica and the burnt refuse of the Devil’s own kitchen. And when I, humbly, did seek to correct thy error, thou didst bristle and snarl, as a cur struck for its misdeeds.

A plague upon thy café! May thy milk curdle and thy beans burn forevermore, for no amount of false grandeur can mask the sourness of thy soul. Would that the very gods themselves did smite thee and replace thee with a keeper who knows both coffee and courtesy, for thy pretensions are as bitter as the cup thou didst place before me.

I do depart, never to darken thy threshold again, for I seek not just coffee, but warmth of spirit—something thou dost lack...

November 2020 Update: Bird & Branch continues to invent & reinvent, delivering high quality, ultra delicious creations! Over the summer they came up with several shaved ices inspired by Taiwanese night market. They were BEAUTIFUL, and tasted even better. House made honeycomb toppings were a nice touch, added texture and something unique from other shave ices I've had.

They recently launched pies just in time for Thanksgiving. Tried the hojicha maple pie (which has a custard consistency and a perfect hint of roasted green tea, slightly sweet), black sesame pie (less sweet than the hojicha, roasty toasty), and the blackberry ginger (more of a traditional fruit-filling pie). All are delicious, the crust is phenomenal, flaky, and very butter-forward-- YUM.

Throughout COVID-19 lockdowns in NYC and Broadway going dark abruptly and indefinitely, b&b has been a bright spot, striving to meet community needs and maintain ethical sourcing of beans. They launched a care package operation for medical workers in NYC hospitals, and now you can ship a care package with their squares, cookies, and chocolate to anyone in the U.S.

Love this spot, the people, the thoughtfulness & intention. Hoping they pull through and stick around for a long time.

Awesome coffee, and the baked goods (spicy brownie, matcha square, black sesame squares), pastries have been yummy! Pastries rotate seasonally, and they have kouign amans! The Robin is my favorite drink, and I also really enjoy the Sparrow (espresso with lemon soda) - super refreshing...