Ninth Street Espresso is probably my favorite coffee spot in the city–a tiny enclave east of Avenue C ideal for people-watching and drinking superlative cappuccinos. Now that they’ve opened an outpost on Tenth Street, next door to Life Cafe, (yes two blocks away), I might be more inclined to dash out for a cappuccino on those cold days when Ave C is just a little too far. This location forgoes tables for a long, slender standing-only bar, but the same baristas pull expert espresso shots, and the same Balthazaar bakery treats are available. Plus it’s right across the street from Tompkins Square Park, where the real people-watching happens.

Ninth Street Espresso 341 East 10th St. Near Avenue B

The aroma wafting outside this place stopped me in my tracks–warm and slightly nutty. It was like standing downwind from a roasted peanut cart on a cool fall day. I drink so many varieties of bad coffee during the work week (charred Starbucks, bitter Flavia, watery deli) that I’d forgotten this is how fresh-brewed coffee is supposed to smell.

Inside, my inner nerd feels right at home. Roasting Plant is pleasingly sleek and techy, like the Apple store for coffee. Choose one of seven varieties of beans stored in upright cylanders, and an attendant punches your order onto a touchscreen. Instantly, a cup-sized portion of beans rattles upward along the ceiling through a pneumatic tube into the “javabot“–which roasts, grinds, and brews, spitting out a perfectly-portioned cup of coffee topped with a layer of mocha-colored foam ($2 small, $2.50 large). Then it’s off to the milk counter, where you can choose from four different varieties of sugar, stored in salad-dressing bottles that permit no danger of heaping too much into your drink.

The coffee–at least the Ethiopian Harrar and Yirgacheffe–is smooth and the perfect drinking temperature, but not the boldest, most badass blend I’ve had in town (think Joe the Art of Coffee, or Ninth Street Espresso). The attraction here is having my coffee made by a javabot, which runs the entire length of the store. If you like robots and free wi-fi you’ll probably dig this place; if you prefer having your coffee scooped by humans from a burlap bag on the floor, visit the hippies at Porto Rico (like the one who dissed me for accepting a plastic bag for my half pound of coffee beans. Dude, my hands were full.)

Roasting Plant, 81 Orchard Street

As if Abraco Espresso weren’t enough, the East Village has hatched another cool little coffee spot–in a former carriage house. The Mercury Dime on Fifth Street actually started out as a wine bar, but the plan got vehemently smacked down by the nightlife-loathing neighbors. (Fifth Street residents are a particularly mobilized bunch, especially after fighting The Cooper Square Hotel’s now-unstoppable blotting out of the sun.)

But for now the block is sunny, quiet, and caffeinated. And unlike one of owner Sasha Petraske’s other ventures, referral-only speakeasy Milk & Honey, you don’t need a secret phone number to get in. Instead, the heavy black door swings right open to a clean, classy cafe, with four tables, a stunning full-length window, and high-quality, Ethiopian coffee. There’s supposedly food and wi-fi on the way, but for now, it’s just a minimalist menu of coffee and espresso drinks, with maybe a free sesame-studded cookie or two.

The jury’s out on whether their espresso ranks with my fave, Ninth Street Espresso, but given the owner’s connoisseurship with cocktails, it’s bound to be pretty damn good. Their official opening is this Friday, so be sure to check it out while you can still snag a seat.

The Mercury Dime 246 E. 5th St.

It’s actually Abraço, and I think it’s destined to be my favorite neighborhood coffee spot. I wandered in this morning, too weak and poor to amble much farther than (good god) Dunkin’ Donuts, and instantly my day started looking up. The barista, a cheerful, lanky dude with a mop of gray hair (I think this could only be Jamie), poured me a polished cappuccino. The espresso ($3) tasted a little less mellow than 9th Street’s, more slap-you-in-the face, but was very good, and topped with leafy foam art. While I waited, I was swayed into ordering zeppole–two fried-to-order balls of light, doughnut-like ricotta, rolled in sugar ($3). The standing-only space holds two narrow bars just wide enough for coffee cups, so the folks eating in were either chatting or just drinking coffee–no newspapers, laptops, or cell phones. But ambiance aside (Abraço is Portuguese for “hug”), this cafe’s secret weapon is that it has an actual cook, so instead of a display case of muffins there’s a whole rotating lunch menu to explore, complete with grilled cheese panini and a deliciously light, eggy frittata.

The only downside is that Abraço is sure to be popular, so I’ll have to get my happy tropicalia coffee fix early to beat the rush.

Abraço Espresso, 86 E. 7th St., at First Ave. 8 am - 8 pm, Sun. 9 am - 8 pm.

Saturdays require a refined sort fuel, a job for espresso masters. I have a sort of anxiety-driven gaydar for spotting slapdash baristas, but at Ninth Street Espresso I can relax, because I know I’m in good hands. I’m not even sure what would happen if I ordered a half-decaf non-fat extra-foam something-or-other with an extra shot in a venti cup. Something bad. I simply order “a cappuccino” ($3.50) and perfection results. A perfectly-poured cup with just the right amount of unbelievably rich foam in relation to bold, sweet espresso, with a design of a heart, or a leaf, dribbled into the top.

If that’s not reward enough for your week’s labor, there’s visual stimulation as well. By this I mean the clientele is mostly hot: young, moderately stylish, and quietly alone, reading something that looks like it has more words than pictures. Maybe it’s the not-exactly kid-friendly rules posted over the bar (”Unattended children will be given an espresso and a free dog”) or the location (avenue C) but this place attracts some of the yummiest, potentially-single eyecandy this side of the East River. Fittingly, the soundtrack to this little corner of the universe is usually something I won’t fight to drown out on my ipod (you know, listenable indie rock).

And there you are, revived and sailing forth from the far East Village to take on your weekend.

Update Feb ‘08: I see they’re now serving baked goods from Balthazar at the counter so be sure to pick up a brioche roll or one of their tasty scones.

The art of cupping at Ninth Street

Ninth Street Espresso, 700 East Ninth Street at Avenue C
7 am - 8 pm