COFFEE
BARS
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, as well as soup and panini.
Featuring four cheesecakes from the Cheesecake Factory.
Everyone’s welcome to bring books into the café. Serving
9 AM-11 PM Mon-Sat, 9-9 Sun. AE, D, DC, MC, V. $
Borders
Café
Borders
Books & Music, 59 Wolf Road, Colonie, 482-5800. There
are plenty of tables in this upstairs café, which features
pastries, desserts and a selection of coffees, teas, cold
beverages, sandwiches and soups. Bring books along; browsing
is welcome. Serving 9 AM-10:30 PM daily. AE, D, MC, V, personal
checks. $
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. Also featuring
soups, sandwiches, bagels, éclairs, croissants, muffins
and desserts, including seasonal gelato and sorbet. Please
call for hours of operation. AE, MC, V, personal checks.
$
Capital
Grounds
145
Rye 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. Takeout available. 6:30 AM-3:30
PM Mon-Fri. AE, D, MC, V. $
The
Coffee Beanery Ltd.
Rensselaer
Amtrak Station, 463-8770; Albany International Airport,
242-4303 and 242-4302. 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. Try the Italian-style
cappuccino, made with the “espresso perfecto” roast. At
the Rensselaer Amtrak Station, there are also hot and cold
sandwiches, soups, and chili available. Amtrak: 5 AM-8:30
PM daily; Airport: 4:30 AM-9 PM daily; Airport kiosk: 5
AM-8:30 PM Sun-Fri, 5-8 Sat. AE, D, MC, V. $
Coffee
Planet
100
Milton Ave., Ballston Spa, 884-9913, www.thecoffeeplanet.net.
Classic and colorful coffeehouse offering traditional drip
selection with brews changing daily as well as flavors,
decafs, fair trade and organics. Full espresso menu including
lattes, cappuccinos and mochas. Chillers, coffee coolers,
fruit smoothies and don’t forget mulled cider. Also bagels
and cream cheese, sweet and savory scones, cookies, shortbread,
biscotti, sandwiches, soups and dessert. Wines and microbrew
beers now available. Takeout available. Serving 7-7 Mon-Sat,
8-3 Sun. AE, D, MC, V, personal checks. $
The
Daily Grind
204
Lark St., Albany, 427-0464; 46 Third St., Troy, 272-8658,
www.dailygrind .com. The Troy location features a true coffee
bar with plenty of tables and couches, offering coffee of
the day, espresso, cappuccino, and latte, as well as gourmet
soups, sandwiches and desserts. Select teas, too. Beer and
wine now available. Serving 8-6 Mon-Wed, 8-11 Thu, 8-10
Fri, 8-6 Sat, 9-6 Sun. At the Lark Street location, you’ll
find more than coffee: Upstairs there’s a retail store where
all the beans are roasted, and downstairs there’s a European-style
café offering an eclectic variety of light fare. Serving
7 AM-10 PM Mon-Sat, 7 AM-8 PM Sun. AE, D, MC, V. $
Eugenio’s
Cafe Gelato
419
Broadway, Saratoga Springs, 691-6000. Featuring gelato made
on premises with imported Italian ingredients, and Italian
pastries made from Eugene’s family recipes. Italian espresso,
cappuccino and the house specialty, café gelato (espresso
with gelato topped with whipped cream and caramel). Also,
homemade lasagne, soups, sandwiches and more. Takeout available.
Serving Mon-Sun, noon-11 PM. MC, V. $
Everybody’s
Café
674
Columbia Turnpike, East Greenbush, 479-2233, www.everybodys
cafe.com. Featuring a full espresso menu including latte
and cappuccino, mocha, and a large assortment of loose teas.
Homemade desserts and soups, and light fare served all day.
Now serving breakfast, along with Saturday brunch. Off-premises
catering and takeout available. Serving 7 AM-4 PM Mon-Fri,
8 AM-2 PM Saturday. AE, MC, V. $
Flavour
Café and Lounge
228
4th St., Troy, 266-9253, www.flavourcafe.com. Over 50 flavors
of fresh-brewed coffee; also plenty of teas and Torani syrups.
Menu features soups, salads, wraps and panini sandwiches.
Wi-fi and in-house computer available, and a new patio.
On- and off-premises catering, takeout and delivery available.
Open 7 AM-11 PM Mon-Fri, 9 AM-11 PM Sat, 9 AM-7 PM Sun.
D, MC, V. ATM on premises. $
Francesca’s
See
listing under “Light Fare.”
Ilium
Café
9
Broadway on Monument Square, Troy, 629-0004. Soups, salads,
sandwiches and paninis in an old-world, European-style coffeehouse
in historic downtown Troy. Featuring fair-trade coffees.
Serving 7 AM-5:30 PM Mon-Fri, 8 AM-5 PM Sat, 8-3 Sun; call
to see if open for Troy Music Hall events. AE, D, MC, V.
$
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. Bakery features gourmet pastries and
fresh pies. Serving 7-7 Mon-Fri, 8 AM-3 PM Sat. Closed Sun.
AE, D, MC, V. $
Muddy
Cup Coffee House
1038
Madison Ave., Albany, 458-6120; 742 Warren St., Hudson,
828-2210. Neighborhood coffeehouse with an artist-friendly
vibe. Serving their own coffee blends, plus fresh pastries,
and more. Albany: 7 AM-midnight Sun-Thu, 7 AM-2 AM Fri-Sat.
Hudson: 7 AM-10 PM Mon-Thu, 7 AM-11 PM Fri-Sat, 8 AM-9 PM
Sun. AE (Hudson store only), D, MC, V. $
Perfect
Blend
376
Delaware Ave., Delmar, 439-6537, www.perfectblendcafe.com.
Southwestern-themed independent coffeehouse offering a selection
of coffees, teas, espresso drinks, chai, all-natural fruit
smoothies and the original Brooklyn egg cream. Featuring
signature quiche, salads, sandwiches, and soups. Offering
breakfast sandwiches as well as fresh-baked pastries including
scones, muffins, bagels, cookies, biscotti, cannoli and
chocolate cake. Daily specials. Private room for meetings
and events, open patio. Free wi-fi available. Catering now
available. Open 7 AM-10 PM Mon-Fri, 8 AM-10:30 PM Sat, 8
AM-7:30 PM Sun. AE, MC, V, personal checks. $
Professor
Java’s Coffee Sanctuary
217
Wolf Road, Colonie, 435-0843. A light menu features sandwiches,
salads, wraps, quesadillas, stuffed breads, croissants,
bagels, paninis and pastries. Large selection of coffees,
teas, fruit frappes, etc. Coffee is roasted on the premises.
It’s all served in an eclectic, comfy atmosphere. Part of
the Gift Basket Company program. Serving 6:30 AM-11 PM Mon-Thu,
6:30 AM-midnight Fri-Sat, 7:30 AM-10 PM Sun. AE, MC, V.
$
Rendezvous
Bistro/Coffee Beanery
1900
Central Ave., Albany, 452-1231. A cozy, relaxed atmosphere
in which to enjoy a gourmet coffee, cappuccino or espresso.
Unwind in front of the three-sided fireplace and sample
some of their desserts or tap into the free wi-fi access.
Serving breakfast sandwiches all day, as well as gourmet
salads, wraps and panini sandwiches. Open mic and karaoke.
Free delivery. Drive-thru available. Open 5:30 AM-7 PM Mon-Thu
and Sat, 5:30 AM-8 PM Fri, 8-5 Sun. AE, MC, V. $
Rock
Hill Bakehouse Café
19
Exchange St., Glens Falls, 615-0777. Rock Hill’s bread-based
café menu makes for uniquely satisfying breakfast and lunch
fare. Try the naturally leavened, hearth-baked breads. Also
featuring organic coffee, scones, biscotti and freshly baked
bread. Open mic every Thursday; free film showing on Fridays.
Mon-Fri 7 AM-10 PM, Sat 8-8, Sun 9-6. AE, MC, V, personal
checks. $
Spill’n
the Beans Coffeehouse/Bistro
13
3rd St., Troy, 268-1028, www.spillnthebeans.com. Located
in downtown Troy’s historic Kennedy Hall building. Offering
fresh coffees, roasted on premises, from around the globe.
Complete homemade breakfasts, sandwiches, homemade soups
and baked goods, unique panini and European sandwiches.
Enjoy the fireplace and lounge area, wi-fi access and Internet
PCs. Takeout available. AE, MC, V. $.
Stagecoach
Coffee
90
State St., Albany, 436-7233; 54 James St., Albany, 434-6255.
An extensive beverage list, including latte, cappuccino,
chai, specialty drinks, fresh-fruit smoothies and 35 different
types of whole-bean coffees roasted fresh daily. Fresh baked
goods—including bagels, scones, croissants and danishes.
State Street shop has soups, too. State Street shop serving
7-5 Mon-Fri, 8-2 Sat; James Street shop serving 7:15-noon
Mon-Fri. Cash only at James Street; MC, V accepted at State
Street. $
Starbucks
Stuyvesant
Plaza, 489-1064; Citizens Bank Building, 10 N. Pearl St.,
Albany, 463-6990; 329 Glenmont Road, Glenmont, 433-4700;
1244 Western Ave., Albany, 591-0372; 399 Troy Road, Greenbush,
286-3153; 2441 Watt St., Schenectady, 347-1716; Broadway,
Saratoga Springs, 581-9498; St. James Square, Niskayuna,
381-9340; Newton Plaza, Loudonville, 783-4544; Wolf Road,
Colonie, 435-9280; 9 Clifton Country Road, Clifton Park,
373-5794; 555 Hubbard Ave., Pittsfield, Mass., (413) 442-5862;
607 Aviation Road, Queensbury, 761-1284. Contemporary Seattle-based
coffee chain specializing in gourmet coffee drinks including
cappuccino, latte, frappuccino and espresso, plus pastries
and cookies. Call individual stores for hours. AE, D, MC,
V. $
Ultraviolet
Cafe
290
Delaware Ave., Albany, 434-0333. Serving fair-trade gourmet
coffee and espresso drinks, whole-leaf teas, bagels, scones,
desserts, panini sandwiches, quiche, and more. Serving 8
AM-10 PM Mon-Thu, 8 AM-12:30 AM Fri, 10 AM-12:30 AM Sat,
10 AM-10 PM Sun. AE, MC, V. $
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 a variety
of desserts. Great bagels and muffins, too (scones in Saratoga).
Albany location also offers a salad bar. Albany store: serving
6 AM-10 PM Sun-Thu, 6 AM-11 PM Fri-Sat. Saratoga store:
serving 6:30 AM-11 PM Mon-Thu, 6:30 AM-midnight Fri, 7 AM-midnight
Sat, 7 AM-11 PM Sun. AE, D, MC, V. UAlbany off-podium cards
accepted at Albany location; Skidmore cards accepted at
Saratoga location. $