er La Colombe’s Corsica blend, a
smooth but rich medium-to-dark
roast that holds up well in cappuccinos and lattes. “It’s a food-lover’s
co;ee,” says owner Julie Pauly. The
bakery also sells it by the pound,
whole bean or ground.—TLG
187 Maplewood Avenue
theablebaker.com
Ahrre’s Coffee
Roastery
WESTFIELD AND SUMMIT
With roughly 55 co;ees on the
menu, Ahrre’s is not for the indecisive. There are no seats or AC
outlets in the small Westfield shop,
but the back wall is lined with an
absorbing display of labeled glass
jars filled with beans from around
the world. All are roasted at a
facility in Plainfield. Sumatra—light,
with a nutty aroma and sweet,
maple-syrup flavor—and Morning
Blend—a robust and complex blend
of light and dark roasts—are the
most popular, but customers are
invited to create their own blends.
For $3, they’ll even make you a
cup with the bean of your choos-
ing.—MM
ahrre.com
American Bulldog
Coffee Roasters
RIDGEWOOD
Co-owner and barista Gadi Gilan
artfully inscribes a leaf pattern into
the thick crema on her satisfying
cappuccino ($4). It’s part of the
genteel stylishness of the Bull-
dog, with its Art Deco fixtures,
antique benches, milk-glass tables
and working fireplace. Gilan and
co-owner Maleigha Liburdi roast
their Arabica beans at their shop in
nearby Chestnut Ridge, New York.
In addition to espresso beverages,
they o;er two single-origin co;ees
of the day—a light and a dark roast
($3). The dark-roast Brazilian is
smooth, with hints of chocolate and
walnut. Almond and soy milk are
o;ered, as well as the stu; cows
give. Liburdi bakes organic cookies,
mu;ns and quiches on-site, using
no refined sugars. Packaged whole-bean or ground co;ee costs $17 to
$22 per pound.—MACF
31 North Broad Street
&grain
GARWOOD
This airy shop is one of the few
New Jersey cafés to serve Portland,
Oregon’s famous Stumptown Coffee, though only one blend—the
brightly citric (and faintly chocolatey) Hair Bender ($2.25). The cold-
PERKUP,NJ!
ARMCHAIRS AND ART, MUSIC AND MUNCHIES, CONNOISSEURSHIP
AND CONVIVIALITY MEET IN JERSEY’S COMPELLING COFFEEHOUSES.
Reported by Lauren Barbagallo, Joanna Bu;um, Mary Ann Castronovo Fusco, Kristen Fischer, Katie Kortebein,
Tammy La Gorce, Breanne McCarthy, Maryrose Mullen, Tara Nurin, Monica Rozenfeld and Pat Tanner.
FREE WIFI
BAGGED OR
CANNED
BEANS SOLD
OCCASIONAL
LIVE MUSIC
WHERE T O FIND
JERSEY’S; B EST;CUPPA
;
JO E
KEY
GROUNDS HOUNDS
Clockwise from top left, Carol Matzah and
owner of the Co;ee Mill; Paul Veltri, left,
and John Lobello chat at the Co;ee Mill;
Gabby Sanchez pro;ers a cup at Rockn’
Joe’s; stirring Rockn’ Joe grounds. Center:
the co;ee menu at Co;ee Mill Roasters. PH
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L
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All co;ee prices are
for the smallest cup,
except where stated
otherwise. Hours
vary. Check websites
for daily schedules.
; Bar Cafe
JERSEY CITY
Order an espresso at the counter
and eavesdrop on the plainclothes
cops speaking Italian with Stefania
Cocozza, the Roman-born proprietor of this old-school shop. Cocozza’s lips are sealed as to what’s
in her two blends (one for drip,
one for espresso, macchiato and
cortado drinks), but she’s happy
to share the secret of perfect
espresso: an atmospheric pressure
on the machine of 0.9. ( 9 bar will
soon o;er free classes on how to
make a perfect cup at home.) Classic Italian sandwiches like tomato,
basil and mozzarella ($6.50) are
made fresh daily, along with a soup
and salad of the day. The biscotti
and other baked goods are made
in house. The ingredients for her
cannoli ($2.75 small, $4.50 large)
are flash frozen and delivered from
Sicily.—LB
18 Erie Street | cafeninebar.com
The Able Baker
MAPLEWOOD
Buttery, fresh-from-the-oven
scones (try the blueberry!) and
other delicious baked goods often
upstage the co;ee. But the coffee is terrific. Two dollars buys a
12-ounce cup of Philadelphia roast-
