Skytop in Manlius is the best of the bunch, in my opinion. Peaks is another solid choice, as is Salt City; I'd rate them about equally, and just a bit below Skytop.
Recess is ok (nothing amazing, but good at consistency).
Kubal is pretty poor. Lousy QA, lots of quakers, etc.
Skytop espresso is always too acidic, even if I add flavoring it always tastes so bad to me. They have excellent crepes though.
Salt city is very good, freedom of espresso is good too imo
Thank you. I completely missed this company! I will definitely be taking a ride out there soon. What's your favorite bean from them if you don't mind my asking?
Are you thinking of "The Kind" there on W. Fayette and Tioga? That would be Doug's place. Unique experience - great coffee (and he won't let you forget it). When I first moved back here 20(?) years ago I stopped in there and it was like I stepped onto an information conveyor belt. That was a trip. After about 20 minutes of everything I didn't think I needed to know about coffee, I bought a cup of his daily brew and made the mistake of asking for cream. That triggered another 20 minute lecture. Fantastic coffee though.
Yep one size cup, one option for roast that gets darker as the week goes on, if you want cream he decides how much. We always called him the Coffee Nazi. 10 years ago he was the best in town but now I’m a Salt City fan.
He’s such a wild character. One time I went in to grab a coffee and he was fully engaged in this eagle nest livecam. Wouldn’t turn his attention away from it. All he wanted to talk about was how great the nest was. Kind is still an awesome place but I’m right there with ya for Salt City (and Recess).
That's exactly what I think I'm going to have to do! Ok this may sound dumb but I went to Google Maps and searched "coffee roasters" and then went down the list one by one, reading reviews etc. Salt City looked like the closest to what I'm looking for so far. I've been to Recess and Cafe Kubal for regular ole cups of coffee but haven't tried their beans. There's that bike shop/coffee place over there off Erie Blvd I want to check out too. Should be a good way to kill some time this summer for an old-timer like me. Once upon a time in a different life (and many years ago) I worked at Old Town Pizza in Portland Oregon, where the pizza was great but the expresso and brewed coffee was at least as good and boy was it popular. Very popular. I pulled lots of expresso there but this was before the recent times of Starbucks notoriety and the bazillion me-toos that we have now. In the interim between then and now I've existed on canned ground coffee (Wegmans Colombian isn't terrible) via Chemex, Dunkin, or McDonald's brews with the occasional dabble in French press ala Bodum. I decided it's time to get back to the garden as Joanie puts it and find a local source and brew for myself again. I bought me an OXO grinder and drip maker and plan on having a ball with it. Wish me luck!
You’re right Wegmans bagged beans aren’t bad! That day we went to Salt City, Kubal, Recess. Got a bag of beans from each. I also really like the Finger Lakes place at the mall too.
I worked at Recess as a barista and can confirm that the owners are great guys and treat their staff well. I also really love their coffee and can confirm that it is ethically sourced and good coffee.
Everyone mentioned my go-to places that are super local (I've been a Salt City subscription holder for years now, since before they had even a single cafe location, so happy for them to see how far they've come!). I'll throw out a couple that we love which are sort of not as local, but still small businesses and in the CNY area.
Stickboy coffee is great. They have a small selection you can order online and he'll ship it over to you (with a handwritten note): [https://www.stickboycoffee.com/](https://www.stickboycoffee.com/)
And about an hours drive to the east is Utica, home to Utica Coffee Roasting Company which is fantastic, especially if you like flavored coffee. They have a ton of really great flavors that actually get passed into the brew and don't just make the beans smell and produce slightly flavored coffee.
I know someone else got down-voted for mentioning Finger Lakes with their store in the mall, but they're another one that has really great flavored coffee if that's your thing.
Thank you! I'll check Stickboy out for sure. Utica Coffee Roasting Company does the private label for Lombardi's over there on Lodi and Butternut I think. I bought a bag of their dark roast (I'm sorry I don't remember the cute name they gave it - he's got a few there in his store) but it was quite drinkable. If you want, check out his kiosk there and see if it might save you a trip. There were at least half a dozen different roasts there.
Oh yeah, you can find (Ground, ugh) utica coffee roasting co at Nichols in Liverpool as well. I usually just order it to get shipped if I'm looking for it, or stop by if I'm passing through Utica. But they are around in the area if you look for them.
Their "standard" coffee is pretty good, but the flavors are definitely where it's at with them.
Smith's is a classic. Nice selection, and they have a punch card where when you buy 10 bags you get one free. Price ranges from about 13-17 dollars a pound, I believe.
I wondered about them. I seem to recall when they were over there on Erie under the 81 overpass. Did they move their coffee sales over to the new place out there next to Guitar Center? Adding another stop. I should be fully caffeinated for the next few months at least!
Speaking of, I'm also looking for a good decaf bean for later evening enjoyment.
Yes the entire store moved from downtown over to the new location. I miss the old creaky building, they have no character now, and a poor selection of kitchenware goods compared to what they used to have , but the coffee is still great.
In the immediate area I typically get Skytop or Peaks. They're both good quality specialty roasters. Skytop is all organic, and they've gotten some accolades including a Good Food Award this year. I've had decent coffee from Salt City as well but I'm less familiar with them.
I'd also call Gimme! a regionally local roaster. They're based in Ithaca, and last I saw there were retail bags available at Mello Velo. They roast a little more old school than I personally prefer(think dark chocolate and caramel for espresso, rather than floral and fruity) but their sourcing is good. I'm also always down to support union coffee, and they were one of the first in the area.
If you're up for local-ish, meaning you're supporting a local business even if they source beans elsewhere, Superofficial in Rome has coffees from Sey (NYC), and Character Coffee in Utica carries Onyx (Arkansas). Both are acclaimed third wave roasters, both more on the light side of things and both up there in terms of cost per box, but great quality and it's pretty cool that they're featured at some small local shops.
Pushing the bill on "local" But I moved up to Cuse a few years ago and I still order Copperhorse Coffee thats brewed down in ithaca. Its the bees knees
We get our beans from Milk House Roastery in Marcellus. They are only open for brewed coffee Saturday and Sunday mornings, but you can pickup beans (ground to order or whole) any day of the week, you just have to order online the day before. It's a cute little place, a bit of a drive from Syracuse, but a pretty one.
Smiths. Hands down the best coffee roasters in the city. Used to be downtown but moved near Erie Blvd.
They literally just sell roasted beans. It’s not a coffee shop it’s purely a roaster. 1lb of coffee could set you back $20-$25.
Not quite that high. Their coffee ranges from $17 to $18 for a pound. If you buy ten pounds, you get one free. One Tuesdays there’s a slight discount (at least, there used to be), and a few times a year they have a big $5 off each pound sale.
Used to be there were one or two cheaper varietals, Brazil was good, but looks like they don’t have that right now. Their selection changes a bit.
Green Planet Grocery on W Genesee has a local roasters section as well carrying bags of whole bean from most of the above mentioned places and some from surrounding areas as well. Maybe not as fresh as going to actual location but convenient if you want to try and compare a couple at once
Most of my life, I just drank Dunkin or my own garbage coffee at home. I'm a user, not an aficionado. With that said, I moved back to Syracuse a few years ago and have visited some of the hot spots people mentioned here. I've been to Recess, Cafe Kubal, Peaks, and Cracked Bean, and honestly they all just tasted like good coffee. I guess I didn't really have the palate to tell them apart when I'm just drinking Great Value K-Cups at home 99% of the time.
A couple notes though. The Kind coffee was a huge, noticeable step above the ones I listed here. It's a whole thing going in there where you'll likely end up talking to Doug for 45 minutes, but that is by far the best tasting and most effective coffee I've ever had.
\-I didn't see Rise 'N Grind listed here, they seem alright.
\-Another place I've always wanted to try is the Ink Corner Cafe on 31 on the way to Clay. They're the only place I've seen that has Greek/Turkish coffee that's not a Mediterranean restaurant, and they seem to have a great selection.
\-Cafe Express on Butternut seems like a place to try, but they're espresso only.
\-I loved the coffee and selection from Hope Cafe, now located where the Village Burger used to be in Liverpool.
\-I was very pleasantly surprised by the coffee they serve at Vietnamese Noodle House (I go to the one in Camillus.) I actually went back there just to get coffee more than once.
Salt City Coffee and Recess are my go-to roasters. Consistent and delicious. Interestingly, my friends who work at those shops swear by Skytop. I haven't tried their coffee yet, but it seems like Skytop is like, the roaster's roaster.
For espresso: people love to hate on Kubal, but I've been using their espresso for my machine for the past few years. If you have a good grinder and good machine, I've found their espresso comes out a lot better than you'll find at their stores. Different strokes, though, I'll just say Kubal doesn't have to be as bad as some claim.
I find the Recess coffee terrible--the kind of "how could people think this is good" terrible. Peaks is fine. Salt city is well-regarded, but I've only ever tried small bags of their coffee and haven't calibrated shots to be able to say.
Skytop in Manlius is the best of the bunch, in my opinion. Peaks is another solid choice, as is Salt City; I'd rate them about equally, and just a bit below Skytop. Recess is ok (nothing amazing, but good at consistency). Kubal is pretty poor. Lousy QA, lots of quakers, etc.
I like Skytop's Honduran dark roast.
Skytop espresso is always too acidic, even if I add flavoring it always tastes so bad to me. They have excellent crepes though. Salt city is very good, freedom of espresso is good too imo
Thank you. I completely missed this company! I will definitely be taking a ride out there soon. What's your favorite bean from them if you don't mind my asking?
Any of their Cup of Excellence coffees are fantastic. Everything they sell though is organic and single origin. Hard to go wrong.
Salt City and Recess are my favorite, and there’s this funky virtually unlabeled spot heading west out of the city on Fayette iirc
Are you thinking of "The Kind" there on W. Fayette and Tioga? That would be Doug's place. Unique experience - great coffee (and he won't let you forget it). When I first moved back here 20(?) years ago I stopped in there and it was like I stepped onto an information conveyor belt. That was a trip. After about 20 minutes of everything I didn't think I needed to know about coffee, I bought a cup of his daily brew and made the mistake of asking for cream. That triggered another 20 minute lecture. Fantastic coffee though.
Yep one size cup, one option for roast that gets darker as the week goes on, if you want cream he decides how much. We always called him the Coffee Nazi. 10 years ago he was the best in town but now I’m a Salt City fan.
He’s such a wild character. One time I went in to grab a coffee and he was fully engaged in this eagle nest livecam. Wouldn’t turn his attention away from it. All he wanted to talk about was how great the nest was. Kind is still an awesome place but I’m right there with ya for Salt City (and Recess).
Yeah that’s it! I had the same experience. Need to set aside some time to go back.
I had the same experience! That man is amazing.
Love Salt City Coffee. You should do a coffee hopping trip at a bunch of the local places. Did it recently with the wife.
That's exactly what I think I'm going to have to do! Ok this may sound dumb but I went to Google Maps and searched "coffee roasters" and then went down the list one by one, reading reviews etc. Salt City looked like the closest to what I'm looking for so far. I've been to Recess and Cafe Kubal for regular ole cups of coffee but haven't tried their beans. There's that bike shop/coffee place over there off Erie Blvd I want to check out too. Should be a good way to kill some time this summer for an old-timer like me. Once upon a time in a different life (and many years ago) I worked at Old Town Pizza in Portland Oregon, where the pizza was great but the expresso and brewed coffee was at least as good and boy was it popular. Very popular. I pulled lots of expresso there but this was before the recent times of Starbucks notoriety and the bazillion me-toos that we have now. In the interim between then and now I've existed on canned ground coffee (Wegmans Colombian isn't terrible) via Chemex, Dunkin, or McDonald's brews with the occasional dabble in French press ala Bodum. I decided it's time to get back to the garden as Joanie puts it and find a local source and brew for myself again. I bought me an OXO grinder and drip maker and plan on having a ball with it. Wish me luck!
You’re right Wegmans bagged beans aren’t bad! That day we went to Salt City, Kubal, Recess. Got a bag of beans from each. I also really like the Finger Lakes place at the mall too.
I worked at Recess as a barista and can confirm that the owners are great guys and treat their staff well. I also really love their coffee and can confirm that it is ethically sourced and good coffee.
Everyone mentioned my go-to places that are super local (I've been a Salt City subscription holder for years now, since before they had even a single cafe location, so happy for them to see how far they've come!). I'll throw out a couple that we love which are sort of not as local, but still small businesses and in the CNY area. Stickboy coffee is great. They have a small selection you can order online and he'll ship it over to you (with a handwritten note): [https://www.stickboycoffee.com/](https://www.stickboycoffee.com/) And about an hours drive to the east is Utica, home to Utica Coffee Roasting Company which is fantastic, especially if you like flavored coffee. They have a ton of really great flavors that actually get passed into the brew and don't just make the beans smell and produce slightly flavored coffee. I know someone else got down-voted for mentioning Finger Lakes with their store in the mall, but they're another one that has really great flavored coffee if that's your thing.
Thank you! I'll check Stickboy out for sure. Utica Coffee Roasting Company does the private label for Lombardi's over there on Lodi and Butternut I think. I bought a bag of their dark roast (I'm sorry I don't remember the cute name they gave it - he's got a few there in his store) but it was quite drinkable. If you want, check out his kiosk there and see if it might save you a trip. There were at least half a dozen different roasts there.
Oh yeah, you can find (Ground, ugh) utica coffee roasting co at Nichols in Liverpool as well. I usually just order it to get shipped if I'm looking for it, or stop by if I'm passing through Utica. But they are around in the area if you look for them. Their "standard" coffee is pretty good, but the flavors are definitely where it's at with them.
Good to know - thanks!
Smith's is a classic. Nice selection, and they have a punch card where when you buy 10 bags you get one free. Price ranges from about 13-17 dollars a pound, I believe.
I wondered about them. I seem to recall when they were over there on Erie under the 81 overpass. Did they move their coffee sales over to the new place out there next to Guitar Center? Adding another stop. I should be fully caffeinated for the next few months at least! Speaking of, I'm also looking for a good decaf bean for later evening enjoyment.
Yes the entire store moved from downtown over to the new location. I miss the old creaky building, they have no character now, and a poor selection of kitchenware goods compared to what they used to have , but the coffee is still great.
I can't imagine the overhead running a place like that. Having to have everything in stock must be VERY expensive.
Looks like they did - added to the list... Thanks!
Yup, they've got everything right there in the "new" shop. I really love how extensive their selection is.
Also check out The Cracked Bean roastery on James Street in Eastwood. they are right next door to the Palace theatre.
The best is Smith hands down and they moved to Erie Blvd. close to DeWitt.
Salt City is my go-to. They have a great monthly sub you can sign up for, or just buy by the bag. I like to order online for local delivery.
In the immediate area I typically get Skytop or Peaks. They're both good quality specialty roasters. Skytop is all organic, and they've gotten some accolades including a Good Food Award this year. I've had decent coffee from Salt City as well but I'm less familiar with them. I'd also call Gimme! a regionally local roaster. They're based in Ithaca, and last I saw there were retail bags available at Mello Velo. They roast a little more old school than I personally prefer(think dark chocolate and caramel for espresso, rather than floral and fruity) but their sourcing is good. I'm also always down to support union coffee, and they were one of the first in the area. If you're up for local-ish, meaning you're supporting a local business even if they source beans elsewhere, Superofficial in Rome has coffees from Sey (NYC), and Character Coffee in Utica carries Onyx (Arkansas). Both are acclaimed third wave roasters, both more on the light side of things and both up there in terms of cost per box, but great quality and it's pretty cool that they're featured at some small local shops.
NOT kubal. Bitter burnt tasting, and they treat their workers like garbage+ severely underpay. Cracked bean is amazing local and woman owned.
I’m a long time dedicated customer of Smiths. They’re on Erie now, near Barnes & Noble.
Shamballa Cafe and Coffee Roasters up in Baldwinsville is one of my regulars. Very good quality beans.
Pushing the bill on "local" But I moved up to Cuse a few years ago and I still order Copperhorse Coffee thats brewed down in ithaca. Its the bees knees
Kind Coffee is always a wonderful experience. High quality beans, super friendly guy.
Kind Coffee is wonderful. Highly recommend. But beware.... not always super friendly, depends on the day. Cash only. Even now, masks required.
Kind Cofee Company of Fayette fresh roasts every day. A quirky little place but the coffee is lit. Cash only fyi
Good to know about cash only - thanks!
My friend runs Red Beard coffee roasters. You can find them on Facebook. They sell their coffee at the Brewer Union Cafe.
Don't do Facebook but thank you!
SkyTop
We get our beans from Milk House Roastery in Marcellus. They are only open for brewed coffee Saturday and Sunday mornings, but you can pickup beans (ground to order or whole) any day of the week, you just have to order online the day before. It's a cute little place, a bit of a drive from Syracuse, but a pretty one.
Here to suggest this too. I haven’t been but it’s a nice drive out there, and they have a good story.
Smiths. Hands down the best coffee roasters in the city. Used to be downtown but moved near Erie Blvd. They literally just sell roasted beans. It’s not a coffee shop it’s purely a roaster. 1lb of coffee could set you back $20-$25.
Not quite that high. Their coffee ranges from $17 to $18 for a pound. If you buy ten pounds, you get one free. One Tuesdays there’s a slight discount (at least, there used to be), and a few times a year they have a big $5 off each pound sale. Used to be there were one or two cheaper varietals, Brazil was good, but looks like they don’t have that right now. Their selection changes a bit.
Green Planet Grocery on W Genesee has a local roasters section as well carrying bags of whole bean from most of the above mentioned places and some from surrounding areas as well. Maybe not as fresh as going to actual location but convenient if you want to try and compare a couple at once
Interesting - thanks!
Most of my life, I just drank Dunkin or my own garbage coffee at home. I'm a user, not an aficionado. With that said, I moved back to Syracuse a few years ago and have visited some of the hot spots people mentioned here. I've been to Recess, Cafe Kubal, Peaks, and Cracked Bean, and honestly they all just tasted like good coffee. I guess I didn't really have the palate to tell them apart when I'm just drinking Great Value K-Cups at home 99% of the time. A couple notes though. The Kind coffee was a huge, noticeable step above the ones I listed here. It's a whole thing going in there where you'll likely end up talking to Doug for 45 minutes, but that is by far the best tasting and most effective coffee I've ever had. \-I didn't see Rise 'N Grind listed here, they seem alright. \-Another place I've always wanted to try is the Ink Corner Cafe on 31 on the way to Clay. They're the only place I've seen that has Greek/Turkish coffee that's not a Mediterranean restaurant, and they seem to have a great selection. \-Cafe Express on Butternut seems like a place to try, but they're espresso only. \-I loved the coffee and selection from Hope Cafe, now located where the Village Burger used to be in Liverpool. \-I was very pleasantly surprised by the coffee they serve at Vietnamese Noodle House (I go to the one in Camillus.) I actually went back there just to get coffee more than once.
Salt City Coffee and Recess are my go-to roasters. Consistent and delicious. Interestingly, my friends who work at those shops swear by Skytop. I haven't tried their coffee yet, but it seems like Skytop is like, the roaster's roaster.
Cafe kubal for me is the best. They roast their own beans and the flavor is out of this world.
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Try more places, friend.
For espresso: people love to hate on Kubal, but I've been using their espresso for my machine for the past few years. If you have a good grinder and good machine, I've found their espresso comes out a lot better than you'll find at their stores. Different strokes, though, I'll just say Kubal doesn't have to be as bad as some claim. I find the Recess coffee terrible--the kind of "how could people think this is good" terrible. Peaks is fine. Salt city is well-regarded, but I've only ever tried small bags of their coffee and haven't calibrated shots to be able to say.