Double Dutch Espresso
“I have a dream that one day I can find a neighborhood business that combines the hipness of the village with the grace of Harlem.”
“As it was, I was on the hunt for a good cup of coffee and was thrilled to find this spot serving Counter Culture beans!”
“I usually get a green tea or a dirty latte (chai tea latte with a shot or 2 of espresso and almond milk).”
Double Dutch Espresso
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Accepts Apple Pay: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Outdoor Seating: Yes
Good for Working: Yes
PokéStop Nearby: Yes
Price range.
$$ Price range Moderate
8 reviews
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I'm glad I made a mental note of this cafe's existence a few months back. I was early to meet a friend for dinner in the neighborhood, but this place appealed to me more than the Starbucks across the street. The inside is pretty small and narrow, but the menu options are great, the iced tea is flavorful, and the outdoor space in the rear is intimate and comforting. It's definitely another small caffeinated gem in this neighborhood's burgeoning culinary scene.
I came here mid-afternoon, looking for something different than Silvana. I say hello. The Barista says hey. And gives me Bela Lugosi eyes. Don't know why. Maybe he is high off his own supply. I sit down my bag and return to the counter. Order up my goodies. The cashier snatches up the card, works her magic on the Ipad, for the spin around and sign. Customers down the line are treated warmer. There were a few jovial tete-a tete, and chuckle sessions. Maybe it was my timing.
The Cortado was good. The almond croissant was good. The music was Spotify-friendly. I asked a question about the music playing. The look I was given resembled the culprit scraping fingernails on a chalkboard. Maybe I am old. I should've just Shazam'd it and been done with, but I am not that app savvy. A whimsical whispered response crept out of the Barista; "oh, Bad Weather…"
I thanked him because I really did enjoy the Bass guitar phrasing, and ordered another round of goodies.
There is an outdoor patio which appears to be more spacious than the tables. The spacing inside is about as cozy as Lenox Coffee, nuff said.
Upon leaving, I thanked them and bid adieu. I received a head nod.
The product is good. The people skills towards me are better at Silvana.
This is a great spot. Just not for me.
No hot sandwiches. Reasonably priced. Nice ambiance. Nice place to do work, but tables get full fast. They also try turn the air on so low that you will have no choice but to leave the cafe. I mean I get it, but I'm pretty sure I you'll just freeze to death before you even get a chance to leave. Starbucks across the street, perhaps less cold. Bring a jacket and some gloves if you plan to sit at a table and do work here.
The definition of a neighborhood coffee shop that gets it right.
I've had friends pick up coffee from here and bring it over, but had never seen the actual place until today. I love it! When you walk in it looks tiny, but there's more seating in the back, where you'll see people settled in with laptops (they kindly offer free wifi) and books among soft, dimmed lighting. It's small and cozy and everything I love in a coffee shop.
When I visited, the place was pretty full but didn't feel that way thanks to the quiet atmosphere and store layout. Whoever picked the music did a great job, too: nice, lighthearted tunes that blend into the background and don't drown out your thoughts, but are upbeat and easy listening if you want to tune into them.
In terms of coffee, I've always liked what I've gotten here. Generally it's been an iced latte that's appropriately strong and creamy, but today I went with iced drip coffee ($4 for a large). I felt pretentious asking for a "splash of almond milk" but was in a mood to treat myself and did it anyway. Thank you, kind barista, for not being snobby about it! Some small coffee shops come by default with slightly pretentious small-coffee-shop baristas, but not Double Dutch. Just friendly, accommodating staff here. The coffee was well-roasted, not very strong or light, and had none of the lingering sourness that I worry about with iced coffee.
Overall, I will absolutely be back here to work, read, or just relax and take in the vibes. They have a variety of pastries and savory foods that I'm curious to check out as well, and I can see myself spending a happy afternoon here. That they take card and offer wifi are just added bonuses. Keep up the great work!
We've all been there, seen it and experienced it…endless, upon endless exposed bricks, rustic-soft vibe and wrought iron accessories restaurants. Double Dutch Espresso is in fact all that… and more.
Rustic style, for sure, prevails here with this soft-tone wall popping with antique frames and mirrors. A large window, up front, bringing lots of natural light. Interior, brings out a bright presentation and beginnings for an inviting light breakfast, in this small enclave in the middle of Harlem.
Though, my hot chocolate was dressed nicely, and somewhat freshly made, the chocolate was poured from a bottle and tasted like Bosco, so-called processed dark brown syrup, that I didn't care for. If you're a coffee drinker on the other hand, you'll take a liking to Double Dutch.
The guys at the front of the house, were great from start to finish. I liked how everything blended, the raw, brick-chic style, the funky lighting fixtures and accessories throughout Double Dutch. Grabbing a quick nosh here, created a different experience, that I was digging.
They've got a quaint setup, with wood tables and plenty of seating, both indoor and outdoor.
The coffee is good-to-great. But it's fucking expensive. I got a small one (I guess it would be a tall by Starbucks standards, although half of it was ice) decaf latte, and it was $4.25. Truly ridiculous. I have little patience for coffee establishments with inflated prices. This is Harlem, not Times Square.
The people working at Double Dutch are pretty DGAF. One dude is pretty fratty, a character trait that's out of place at a coffee shop and generally annoying.
It gets a less-than-awful rating because it's not pretentious like those in Brooklyn.
As I write this review, I am trapped in New York's Harlem in the middle of the first great snowstorm of 2016. This morning, after my son had to leave for work (on a Saturday, in a blizzard, because he is a very junior guy at a large news organization), I decided to venture out and get some coffee. Yelp guided me here. After an adventurous 6 block walk through really, really bad weather, I made it to this gem. I really like the coffee, even if it is not the super dark roast I normally prefer. The house coffee is between what I would call medium and dark roast. I've found that the right coast coffee is a shade lighter that way then the left coast coffee I'm used to. In any case, DD coffee is still substantial. It has body, fullness and a relatively clean aftertaste. Nice!
For me, the real star here, is the food. The pastries here are superior! I had an apple turnover that was excellent. The crust was flaky and crisp, but didn't just disintegrate into an inconvenient mess. Just right. The filling was clearly made from scratch by the baker and had just the perfect balance between tart and sweet that I like in a fruit filled pastry of any kind, but especially apple. I wish I could show you all a picture of it, but my iPhone shut down in the cold while I was walking to the shop. Really, Apple? It's only 28°F outside.
Since we're in the middle of a record setting storm, I thought I'd lay in lunch as well as have breakfast, so I purchased a provolone and salami on ciabatta to go. $8, but wonderful. It is grilled on the panini and has all the good stuff in it (Provolone, salami, spinach, special sauce, etc.) Yum! I ate it for lunch when I got back to the apartment. I have uploaded a photo of it in both open and closed face positions, since my iPhone had recovered from the cold by the time I was ready to eat.
Other things to know – the service is great and the people are friendly. Others seemed to be enjoying the free wifi (they have a password posted on the wall). I can't tell you how well it worked directly because my iPhone quit on me as I wrote above. The decor is comfortably eclectic and the overall feeling is much nice than spending time at my business traveler's office, Starbucks. The location is very near the corner of Frederick O. Douglass and 118th.
When in Harlem to see my son, if it is breakfast or lunch that I need to figure out, I am coming here. You should too.
I'm in love with the peanut butter cookie. Like, the type of love where your mind tells you no but your body tells you yes. Every time I come here, I try to deny it…. but, in the end, love conquers all.
The staff is great, there's WiFi, and it's an appropriate atmosphere for both laptop slaves & friends who are catching up.
4 stars because the seating can get a little cramped. But otherwise, I'm so happy to see a great coffee shop planted in Harlem!