Graham’s Coffee Parlor — Restaurant in Town of Niskayuna

Graham's Coffee Parlor is an excellent and much-needed addition to Schenectady, providing a local coffee experience amidst the overcrowding of auto shops and chain businesses in the area. The inside is impeccably clean, with gorgeous art installations on the walls and a bright, welcoming atmosphere. There is some seating available for those who want to lounge, but it is limited seating, so don't expect to always find someplace to sit at its busiest times. Parking is also limited, but as long as you can find somewhere to safely park your car, go for it!

The coffee itself is HEX coffee, and pastries are from Brimstone Bakery, also located in Upstate NY. The menu is varied, with a great offering of your basic coffee-and-espresso beverages (drip coffee, Chemex coffee, cold brew, lattes, etc.), with house-made syrups that taste a thousand times better than the bottled variety. They also fresh brew teas (they have a lot of flavors to choose from; also, they have matcha!), and make fresh-squeezed juices (like lemonade where you can add fruit puree), smoothies, and smoothie bowls.

What I love most about this place is how much love has been put into both the store and the menu. I feel welcome when I come in, I am able to ask questions without feeling disruptive -- as everyone is incredibly friendly and willing to help -- and there is a lot of customization available as well, just in case there is something that you may not prefer. I also appreciate that everything is as fresh as possible. Like I said above, the syrups, juices, and smoothies are house-made, so you know every ingredient that goes into them (sugar, vanilla, water for vanilla syrup; lemons and a nice surprise of fresh-squeezed apple juice for lemonade, etc.). The coffee is delicious, the tea is amazing, and this place is an...

A place I could absolutely go to every single day. I saw this randomly while driving, and while it took me weeks to make my first stop, I honestly regret not making trying it a priority. The shop looks awesome inside, almost like an old school ice cream parlor that feeds every adults need of daily caffeination while making you feel like a kid at heart. The employee that was working was amazingly friendly. He shared how much time and detail the owner put into the place, was happy to share ingredients when requested and explained different offerings that they make on their own.

I was sold on the pistachio latte, which sounded interesting/odd since I’ve never heard of one before. While I’m not sure it would be my morning go to, if you’re looking for a mid afternoon iced latte I couldn’t ask for anything more. It was a coffee that tasted just like pistachio ice cream and was so good it could have me coming back daily. On first sip, I realized the quality the shop puts into their ingredients and it has taken the place of Starbucks when I’m in the area which previously I would say didn’t have a great local offering.

I look forward to many visits to come. One side note is that parking isn’t overly abundant. While I was able to navigate into a spot quickly, my concerns are that once everyone in the area finds out how superior their coffee is to the national chains nearby that I won’t be able to make it in. For...

Graham's Coffee Parlor is the absolute best coffee shop in the 518. While this place was under construction, I waited patiently as the owner helped build this place by hand. Driving by seeing the hard working going into it. When it finally opened, I was greeted very warmly. It was such an inviting and fun atmosphere with wonderful employees clearly happy to be where they were. Clearly proud of the work they were putting into each and every cup. It's gotten to the point that when I walk up, they know my name and order.

During this crazy time, Graham's goes the extra mile to protect its staff and customers. Offering window service, take out, and even a cute little front area with tables and chairs to sit in. I still think you guys need a pink flamingo and a lawn gnome, but that's just personal taste. 😂

I really appreciate the hard work everyone at Graham's puts into giving us all a little normalcy in this crazy time. When you find a business that doesn't treat you like a customer, but like a human being, you know that this business will be successful.

Stop going to Starbucks, stop going to Dunkin, support local. Support good people. You won't regret it after you get a taste of their coffee. Even their food choices are delicious. Get a grahamwhich on the weekend. It will change the way you...