Wholefoods tribeca:

270 Greenwich St. (at Murray St.)

Background :

As part of earning my master’s degree in social work, I completed 34 credits of classes and 600 hours of internship in only one year. (This might not sound related but please follow my train of thought). As a graduate social work intern at BMCC (the Borough of Manhattan Community College, located on chambers street in tribeca), I developed somewhat of a caffeine habit. My mission, which I chose to accept, was to try a new coffee establishment at least once a week. In my quest for the best, I sampled everything from Dunkin Donuts to high end gourmet coffee houses where lattes were exorbitant. (Truth be told I even tried a McLatte) The winner, which even surprised me: Wholefoods! I can’t speak for all Wholefoods establishments but the one located in tribeca has a separate bakery and coffee stand way in the back of the store. For my first few visits, I was put off by the very long walk required to locate my caffeine fix, but it eventually felt like discovering a secret that most people didn’t know about. (Until I discovered a side door that lead more directly to the coffee stand) The smells are fantastic, sweet baked goods mixed with the scent of freshly brewed coffee and espresso.

What to order :

The mocha latte here is one of the best around and it’s a must. The excellent full bodied flavor of the espresso is complimented very nicely with the balanced sweet and chocolaty mocha with just the right amount of foam. After several months of caffeinated research, my experimented revealed this to be the best coffee in tribeca and perhaps New York City as a whole.

What to order with your coffee:

You can’t leave here without trying one of Wholefoods’ outstanding granola bars: these freshly baked treats are made from a mix of (just guessing) coconut, mixed nuts, and raisins. Mocha latte and a granola bar from Wholefoods: now that’s an awesome way to start your day!