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-10:45 PM Mon-Sat, 9-8:45 Sun. AE, D, DC, MC, V. $
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Borders Café Espresso
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 and sandwiches. Bring books along; browsing is
welcome. Poetry readings, live music and other entertainments
are frequently scheduled. Serving 9 AM-10:30 PM daily. AE,
D, DC, MC, V, personal checks. $
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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, croissants, muffins and desserts,
including gelato. Serving 6:30-6 Mon-Sat, 8-3 Sun. AE, MC,
V, personal checks. $
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Capital Grounds
Shaker
Pine Plaza, Watervliet 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. Takeout available.
6:30 AM-4:30 PM Mon-Fri, 8-2 PM Sat. AE, D, MC, V. $
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The Coffee Beanery Ltd.
Crossgates
Mall, 869-3039; Colonie Center, 438-1637; 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 new Rensselaer
Amtrak Station, there are also hot and cold sandwiches,
soups, and chili available. Crossgates and Colonie locations
open during mall hours. Amtrak: 5:30 AM-9 PM. Airport: 5:30
AM-9:30 PM daily. AE, D, MC, V. $
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Coffee Planet
100
Milton Ave., Ballston Spa, 884-9913. Classic and colorful
coffeehouse. Traditional drip selection with brews changing
daily. 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. Bagels and cream cheese. Sweet and savory scones.
Cookies, shortbread, biscotti. Sandwiches, soups and dessert.
Also, music and art. Takeout available. Serving 7-7 Mon-Sat,
8-3 Sun. Local personal checks. $
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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, latte
and such munchies as biscotti and muffins. Select teas,
too. Serving 8-5:30 Mon-Fri, 9-4 Sat. 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. Serving 7 AM-10 PM Mon-Sat,
7 AM-8 PM Sun. AE, MC, V. $
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Francesca’s
See listing under “Light
Fare.”
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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. Newly expanded bakery features gourmet
pastries and fresh pies. Regular art exhibits. Serving 7
AM-8 PM Mon-Fri, 8 AM-3 PM Sat. Closed Sun. Cash and checks
only. AE, D, MC, V. $
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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 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.
On Fri-Sat evenings, enjoy live bands. Serving 7 AM-11 PM
Mon-Thu, 7 AM-midnight Fri-Sat, 8 AM-10 PM Sun. AE, MC,
V. $
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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, cinnamon-raisin or jalapeño-cheddar
bread. Also featuring organic coffee, scones, biscotti and
freshly baked bread. Serving 7 AM-6:30 PM Tue-Sat, 9 AM-4
PM Sun. MC, V, personal checks. $
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Stagecoach Coffee
90
State St., Albany, 436-7233; 54 James St., Albany, 434-6255.
An extensive beverage list, including latte, cappuccino,
chai, Italian sodas, specialty drinks, frappucino, fresh-fruit
smoothies and 35 different types of whole-bean coffees.
Fresh baked goods—including bagels, scones, croissants and
danishes—plus soups, sandwiches and salads. State Street
shop serving 6-5 Mon-Fri; James Street shop serving 6-4
PM Mon-Fri. AE, D, MC, V. $
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Starbucks
Stuyvesant
Plaza, 489-1064; Broadway, Saratoga Springs, 581-9498; St.
James Square, Niskayuna, 381-9340; Newton Plaza, Loudonville,
783-4544; Wolf Road, Colonie, 435-9280; 9 Clifton County
Road, 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. Call individual stores for hours. AE,
MC, V. $
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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 (scones
in Saratoga). Albany store: serving 6 AM-11 PM Sun-Thu,
6 AM-midnight Fri-Sat. Saratoga store: 6:30 AM-11 PM Mon-Thu,
6:30 AM-midnight Fri, 7 AM-midnight Sat, 7 AM-11 PM Sun.
Cash and local personal checks only in Albany; MC, V accepted
in Saratoga. $
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