Lauren H.
Yelp
I walk to work, so my coffee stop is, out of necessity, very strategic.... If I get coffee to early in the walk, then I have to carry the cup, along with my bags, and if it's raining - an umbrella, AND keep a hand free to fiddle with my phone or iPod, all at the same time, which is nearly impossible. Lore's is 2 blocks from the office, so the perfect location to duck in to pickup a quick latte and shuffle the iPod one last time, before I complete the walk to my desk.
It helps that the staff is friendly and, at times, laugh out-loud funny (I would dearly love to have a day-in-the-life, these girls - and they're all girls - have the best stories). AND they remember what I like. I don't even have to say anything anymore. I walk in and snap....skim milk is being steamed for my latte.
Lore's brews La Colombe, the prices are very reasonable, and my drink is always excellent. I can get a medium skim latte and a croissant for $4.75...which is a steal in my book, and the croissants are rather lovely...I'm a bit particular about my croissants and these are quite tasty.
This is strictly a walk-in, walk-out place. If you don't mind being crammed between non-coffee beverages and the creamer you can sit at one of the two stools in the window, but it's not ideal. If you really want to sit, I'd just walk down the block to Washington Square.