Warning: this post is slightly yuppie. Proceed with caution.

No matter what anyone says, getting a really good cup of coffee isn't as easy as it sounds, even in New York. By now, the world (at least anyone with any taste) knows that Starbucks sucks. I must admit, though, that I do go there once per summer to get a caramel frappacino. It's my dirtly little secret, or one of them anyway.

I recently got tipped off to two relatively new places that anyone who's a serious coffee lover needs to know about: Abraço and Gimme.

So small you could miss it (and I have many times going down 7th Street) Abraço (86 E 7th @ 1st) is a heavy hitter when it comes to coffee. Says New York Mag: "McCormick's beans come from North Carolina’s acclaimed Counter Culture Coffee, and his drip, like Blue Bottle’s, is ground to order and individually brewed straight into your mug. He’s out to please, not to preach. And in its unpretentious, free-spirited elevation of New York’s coffee-bar culture, Abraço does just that." That's so up my alley and, honestly, the espresso is un-fucking-believable. Read the full article here. Don't forget the New York Times piece.

Gimme is a coffee shop started in Ithaca that's made its way down to the big city, testing the waters first in Williamsburg (495 Lorimer St) -- where I have to admit I never go anymore -- and, most recently, in NoLita at 228 Mott Street. Checkout all locations here. Again, the espresso is amazing. I can drink it and enjoy it without milk or sugar, which is saying a lot. With a little milk and sugar, it's like candy! I almost biked down there this morning at 7:30 am to get a drink, but walked to Abraço instead. Gimme also sells beans so you can save a buck or two by brewing at home a few days per week.

On a side note, for anyone who's not gotten into cold brew coffee yet, you really don't know what you're missing. "Cold water brewing extracts the desirable flavor elements, but eliminates many of the undesirable oils and acids found in hot brewed coffee that are not soluble at low temperatures. Cold brewed coffee tastes smoother and is easier on the stomach." I found out the other day you can buy a cold press maker, which costs a bit more the DIY method, but I have a feeling it's worth it in the long run. Checkout the Toddy Cold Brew Coffee Maker here.