The city that never sleeps doesn’t sleep for a reason: New York and coffee just go together. But until about ten years ago, bitter, day-old juice from the closest bodega, tossed unceremoniously into a to-go cup, was the standard. Now you can take your pick of every variety imaginable, from cold brew to beat the heat of summer to pour-over by the cup to triple ristretto espresso. Here are a few of the best New York coffee houses.

Stumptown Coffee Roasters

New Yorkers who knew a thing or two about their beans were beyond excited when this Portland company opened its first official outpost in 2009 inside the Ace Hotel  – itself a West Coast original – in Manhattan’s Flatiron neighborhood. Known for its combination of careful roasting and never-ending search for the finest coffees on the globe, Stumptown swiftly captured the hearts of local coffee lovers.

Image: Stumptown Coffee Roasters

La Colombe Torrefaction

Originally from Philadelphia, La Colombe Torrefaction has three New York branches for you to try: Tribeca, NoHo, and SoHo. You won’t find clutter – visual or otherwise – at these minimal, quality-focused cafes. These folks take great pride in treating their espresso right, from farmer to customer, engaging in ethical trade practices and philanthropic activities. And beyond all that, the coffee is truly top-notch.

Image: La Colombe Torrefaction

Saturdays Surf NYC

At first blush this storefront seems straightforward: sweet surf gear for the young Rockaway Beach wave junkie. But there’s more. Saturdays Surf shows off not just its own line of cool men’s clothing, assorted accessories, and beloved grooming products, but a compact coffee bar that serves up some of the finest cold brew and espresso in the neighbourhood. Worth a visit, whether to browse the goods or just to feed your caffeine craving.

Image: Saturdays Surf NYC

Gimme! Coffee

With two Brooklyn locations and one in Manhattan, Gimme! began its mini-empire in the Empire State in the upstate college town of Ithaca. Community-minded with exacting standards for the very best taste and quality, Gimme! is a serious, no-nonsense coffee experience and I doubt you’ll be disappointed with their small-batch-roasted, triple-ristretto approach.

Image: Liz Clayton for Serious Eats

Café Grumpy

If you’ve seen HBO’s new Brooklyn-heavy Girls, chances are you’ve already caught a glimpse of Greenpoint’s Café Grumpy, where Hannah works for less than a day under Ray’s tutelage after quitting her publishing internship. Though its name might describe how you feel before your morning coffee, you’ll leave their shops – also in Park Slope, and in Manhattan’s Lower East Side and Chelsea – fresh as a daisy thanks to their craft-centric brew and bubbly baristas, whom many New Yorkers call some of the friendliest in the city. Always selling several origins of coffee beans each day, they’ve also expanded their tea selection for those of us who prefer a gentler cup.

Image: Café Grumpy

So which city wins the battle of the coffee? See our pick of London’s best coffee shops here.

This is guest post by Meredith Modzelewski