Coffee Bars

Bailey’s Café
Phila and Putnam streets, Saratoga Springs, 583-6060. A fun and friendly café located in a historic Saratoga landmark. Early-morning fare includes gourmet coffee and espresso, fresh-baked goods and breakfast sandwiches. Award-winning soups, creative salads, sandwiches, sushi rolls and daily specials are offered. Also, a full bar, coffee cocktails, espresso, lattes and cappuccino and tantalizing desserts. Fun foods including fondues and s’mores—toast your own marshmallows tableside.

Barnes & Noble Café
Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 20 Wolf Road, Colonie, 459-8183. A sunny browsing café that features Starbucks coffee, as well as espresso and cappuccino, chai and other teas. Also, a variety of cold beverages including Italian sodas, and a selection of sweet baked treats. Everyone’s welcome to bring books into the café.

Borders Café
Borders Books & Music, 59 Wolf Road, Colonie, 482-5800; 395 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, 583-1200. You’re always welcome to bring books along for browsing while you enjoy coffees, teas, cold beverages and a selection of pastries, desserts and sandwiches.

Café Nora
Peter Harris Plaza, Route 7, Latham, 783-6880. Scores of different coffees, flavored and regular, as well as granitas (frozen flavored drinks), and espresso and cappuccino. Besides the regular lunchables, there are munchies such as bagels, croissants, muffins and desserts.

Capital Grounds
Shaker Pine Plaza, Shaker Road, Colonie, 869-3277. Fresh-roasted coffee. Espresso bar. Light fare including breakfast sandwiches, fresh-baked pastries and muffins. Coffee available by the pound. All coffee roasted on premises.

The Coffee Beanery Ltd.
Crossgates Mall, 869-3039; Colonie Center, 438-1637; Albany International Airport, 242-4303. The Coffee Beanery’s emphasis is on creating the “right roast,” roasting each different gourmet bean to ensure the perfect roast for optimum flavor. New flavors are served along with traditional favorites, specialty coffee drinks and gourmet pastries.

Coffee Planet
100 Milton Ave., Ballston Spa, 884-9913. This cozy coffeehouse, which just opened in the rustic village of Ballston Spa, features a full espresso bar, fresh-baked scones, muffins, croissants, cookies, soups, sandwiches and occasional entertainment.

Cowan & Lobel
Stuyvesant Plaza, 458-2771. Enjoy daily coffee specials, biscotti, scones, breads, cakes, chocolates, muffins, lunch items and much more at this gourmet food emporium. Sit inside or venture outside to the café-style patio, when weather permits.

The Daily Grind
204 Lark St., Albany, 427-0464; 258 Broadway, Troy, 272-8658. At the Troy location, a true coffee bar with several tables, offering coffee-of-the-day, espresso, cappuccino, steamers, latte and such munchies as biscotti and muffins. Select teas, too. At the Lark Street location, you’ll find more than coffee: Upstairs there’s a retail store specializing in fresh-roasted coffee beans, and downstairs there’s a European-style café offering an eclectic variety of light fare.

Java Jazz Café and Bakery
Main Square Shoppes, 318 Delaware Ave., Delmar, 439-1727. (Shares space with Seattle Sub & Pita Co.) Substantial line of gourmet coffees available, as well as espresso drinks. Special coffee flavors served daily, along with fresh muffins, scones and cookies.

Professor Java’s Coffee Sanctuary
217 Wolf Road, Colonie, 435-0843. A light menu features sandwiches, salads, quiches, stuffed breads, croissants, bagels, pastries. Large selection of iced teas, coffees, fruit frappes, etc. It’s all served in an eclectic, comfy atmosphere.

Rock Hill Bakehouse & Café
Diamond Plaza Mall, Glens Falls, 743-1660. Rock Hill’s bread-based café menu makes for uniquely satisfying breakfast and lunch fare. Try the paisano or jalapeño chedder bread. Organic coffee and delicous scones and biscotti make it worth the trip.

Stagecoach Coffee
90 State St., Albany, 436-7233; 54 James St., Albany, 434-6255. An extensive beverage list, including latte, Italian sodas, specialty drinks and 35 different types of whole-bean coffees. Fresh baked goods, including scones, croissants and danishes, plus soups, sandwiches and salads. The newer Stagecoach at on James Street specializes in breakfast sandwiches.

Starbucks
Stuyvesant Plaza, Albany, 489-1064; 321 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, 581-9498; St. James Square, Niskayuna, 381-9340; Newton Plaza, Loudonville, 783-4544; 18 Wolf Road, Colonie, 435-9280; Hannaford Plaza, Clifton Park, 373-5794. Contemporary Seattle-based coffee chain specializing in gourmet coffee drinks including cappuccino, latte, “frappuccino” and espresso, plus pastries, cookies and bagels.

Uncommon Grounds
1225 Western Ave., Albany, 453-5649; 402 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, 581-0656. Wide selection of aromatic, freshly roasted and freshly brewed coffees, teas of all kinds and obscenely wonderful desserts. Great bagels and muffins, too.

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Metroland's Dining Guide 2001
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