Manhattan has everything for everyone, but sometimes it takes a little while to find it.
There's also so much in the city, that there are moments when you do find it, but have already forgotten you were looking for it.
It takes a certain single-mindedness, then, to avoid getting lost in distractions and lose yourself in a mission.
Sometimes, when the mission is fueled by obsession, it's easier to follow through, and in this case, caffeine addiction helps.
Finding the best coffee in Manhattan is an adventure, and is actually probably impossible, because there are too many to choose from.
This isn't because of the wealth of espresso knowledge in the city, because, as others have noted extensively, the West coast has the East coast really beat when it comes to this.
They have the knowledge and the secrets for roasting and grinding, and also have a very educated citizenry that has time to complain when the macchiatos are served with caramel.
Manhattan has a great tradition, however, for begging, stealing, and borrowing secrets, and there's a growing culture for coffee.
It's a refreshing thing, because visitors and locals all benefit when there's a place with free wifi, and a chance to gather in public.
The cost of a cappuccino is sometimes cost prohibitive, but in places like Gimme!, it's still only about three dollars, and that makes it an almost free public space.
There's nothing in the world like cozying up on a couch in a big city, and being able to pass time browsing your favorite networking site while glancing out the window, and maybe even doing a little eavesdropping.
It's one way to get to know a city without having to worry about looking awkward and out of place, and after a little time observing in Manhattan, everyone realizes that no one is really in place here.
That connects everyone in a radical way.
Cafe Grumpy is another favorite spot, where the baristas are genuinely interested in raising the bar on coffee culture in the city, and the atmosphere is legendarily comfortable.
Porto Rico is considered by a fair number to be high on the charts for taste, and could certainly sustain a crowd if they found the means to open it up for lingerers.
And it's hard not to mention Housing Works Bookstore Cafe, not only for its superb offerings, but it's also a co-op run by volunteers, and all the profits go to Housing Works.
Good to have choices.
For more information on places to stay while visiting the Big Apple, visit http://www.
boutiquemanhattanhotels.
com.