Espresso 77

5/15/2012

Great place to get an espresso. Way better than Starbucks and it's a cozy atmosphere. It's kinda small but it's always good to drop by and pick up a cup!

4/10/2011

No one in Jackson heights makes as good hot chocolate as E77, the creamy whipped cream, the thick chocolate, it is so, so good.  Every time I have something here I want more of it, including the sandwiches and baked goods (they get a lot of amazing things from local places like cannelle).
This is the perfect place to go with a friend or two and just order lots of things and chat.  I am looking forward to going back!

11/9/2013

i dont know what all the wonderful rage is about- yes its a kinda cute place- but i gotta tell you the owner is an a-hole!   has limits on his credit card in a coffee shop?? an when you dont have the cash to get a 6.50 latte he will tell you right in your face bye bye....and it has happened.    ive heard quite a few stories about him -  it may look like some cool hip san francisco coffee house but honey its still in queens...and you get treated like dirt just like all the certain money hungry owners in this area do.   Oh and please take the time to put some extra outlets in your place??? theres like one outlet for everyone to use.  omg.   treat your customers a little better.   bill was 9.65...i pull out my card  he says bye bye....for about 30 cents.  welcome to the neighborhood.  went right around the corner on 37th ave and the guy there took my card for 5.50 for same latte.   this is a cool hip friendly place??????   when i finally saw him i was like ah er go it.   peaceeeeee......

1/3/2011

Love the local support this place gives: local art, local musicians, etc. Every town needs to have one of these. The feel is hipster without being too hip. The teas and coffees are decent, however my favorites drinks are the hot drink concoctions: chais, apple ciders, seasonal lattes, etc. You never feel rushed however sometimes there can be kids running around, which can be...frustrating.

7/10/2010

This is a cute, local coffee house. That said, it isn't anything special. They don't roast their own beans, and their espresso has the same burnt, bitter quality as that of a nearby mega-corporate-coffeehouse. Drip coffee/lattes/cappucinos are good, but not great.

All things told, it's a nice environment in which to sip a drink and chat, as well as a neighborhood joint, but not great in terms of coffee quality. It's certainly worth supporting because it's locally owned and operated!

2/13/2010

This is as good as it gets for a local coffee shop. I'm annoyed that some are not rating as high as they should because lack of wi-fi. Don't get me wrong, I like Starbucks and all its shining glory, but when I walk into Espresso 77 I don't expect Starbucks and I like that.I like that I can sit by the window and not hear the clicking of keys on laptops or people having their f aux meetings inside the shop. Thats annoying. I like that when I went in the man attending me urged me to try something new and I looked at local art pieces on the wall while my drink was being made. I love that everything is hand-picked and most likely locally grown. I like that all the "baristas" know what they are talking about and I LOVE that they support the local bakeries and artists.
The coffee is exceptional, and they absolutely won me over Starbucks that is just around the corner.

1/12/2010

Their cappacinos are sub par. Few of their baristas know how to steam milk properly.
This is a big one! They recyle there coffee sleeves but get this, they don't send them to be recycled, re-processed or sterilized, they give them back out. I asked them to confirm and the barista said that no they dont get recycled, they hand them back out. This is utterly disgusting and a health violation. Just think about it, someone could have the flu and leave there germs (there mouth is only and inch from it) all over the sleeve and then you get it. Not cool and a lousy way to save money. If you want to help the environment then recycle your cardboard like everyone else.

4/24/2012

Since moving to this neighborhood Espresso 77 has become one of many things that has caused me to love it. It's a great little cafe with friendly,creative,  intelligent customers and staff. It's not hard to find a conversation. The coffee is amazing. The only reason for 4 stars instead of 5 is that the food is just ok. However, it's a coffee shop so that really isn't a big deal. Oh, and they have wine and beer as well.

2/20/2012

One of the best Americano brews I've had. Friendly staff, clean bathroom and stable WiFi. They also have pretty good selection of sweet and savory munchables. It's a short 5 min walk from the Roosevelt Ave subway station. A better alternative than Lucid Cafe II at Woodside.

5/22/2011

I registered with yelp just so I could post a review of Espresso 77--that is how strongly I felt about the experience I had there earlier today.

The coffee and pastries were fine, served by a very friendly barista. My friend and I settled into seats near the windows with our laptops on our laps and our $15+ worth of food purchases on the table between us. After 45 minutes or so, a member of the staff came by to unplug one of our battery chargers in order to turn on the decorative lights in the window (a change that went largely unnoticed at 12 in the afternoon).

Without an outlet for my laptop and a little flustered, I moved from my couch seat to a small table near an outlet by the wall. My friend also purchased us a couple mugs of tea. The lunch rush surged in, and I get that the place is small, but hey, I was a (well)paying customer, so I was VERY irked when a female member of the staff came by to tell me I would have to couple up with another table in order to make room for other customers. I had already paid for 2 large coffees, a sandwich and a croissant. Why can't I get a 2'x2' table to myself?

Annoyed, I moved back to my original spot by the window with my friend sans outlet. I was still nursing my remaining mug of tea when the manager came by and asked if my friend and I wanted anything else from the menu. I told him we were fine to which we were told we'd have to leave soon because "computer time is limited to one hour."

Excuse me? I wasn't even finished with my drink and I was getting booted? I told him we'd purchased a significant amount of food previously, but he shook his head (refusing to look me in the eye the entire time) and said he hadn't seen us buy anything in the last couple hours. He said this as I sipped from my mug, eyebrow raised. He went on to explain that computers take up a lot of space, which was also funny because our laptops were on our laps and taking up no space at all. The table between my friend and I was actually covered in napkins and empty plates from our food purchases.

We got up and left shortly afterward. The cafe was empty save for two other dine-in customers (one of whom had been there before we arrived).

Outrageous. I could not agree with Konstantin more. I have never felt like I was being kicked out of an establishment before. I've had some rude waiters rush a check on our table in the past, but nobody has blatantly come up to a table to tell me I need to leave within the hour unless I buy something else.

This place is in over its head and way too snobby for its own good. I enjoyed my Thai Iced Coffee but had my afternoon completely ruined by the ridiculous management (the baristas were wonderful). Don't charge West Village prices if you're still going to treat customers like you're in Flushing.

9/19/2011

I live right down the block, so I come here often. The coffee is very good (although I suspect it has a lot of sugar, I am addicted to the ginger chai latte) and the pastries are excellent. The french toast is outstanding, and the veggie egg sandwich is delicious.  I also think all the baristas are very friendly and helpful.

I don't understand the comments from the people who are offended they can't work endlessly on their computers. This is not an office space; it's a small coffee house. The owners have to make a living, so please, save the angst for your bad novel you can write at home with coffee you ordered to go. Or do what I do--write/work there until you see it's getting crowded, and give other people a shot at a seat.

2/12/2012

Just had Brunch here for the first time - amazing french toast and the super awesome service I had been accustomed to for coffee all along. Not the fastest service, and only a few menu options, but there isn't much else for Brunch in the neighborhood, so I know I'll be back soon! Yum!

4/25/2013

This place gets four stars from people because we have nowhere else to turn in this hood and there's an intense social element to it, which I can appreciate on a day when the stroller mafia isn't out in force. It's Brooklyn/Manhattan prices for coffee that is only worth that when a particular barista is working. I have no idea what it takes to make a coffee shop profitable, so I feel a little bad accusing the owner (who is a really nice guy) of overcharging, but I hate the sensation of being gouged that I always have at 77. And yes, the food is incredibly slow and uneven. Some things are delicious, but a lot of things aren't. I've probably spent over a thousand dollars here in the last four years, more out of desperation than anything else. Lately I've been coming in less and less, preferring to spend my cash once I get to Manhattan somewhere with a little more consistency. It's weird to even be writing a review after all this time, because it's not going to have an effect on the business, but if they could just bring prices down about 15%, I'd be able to say I was a fan and give another star for reasons other than the food. Good ambience and some decent pastries, if they happen to be fresh.

12/31/2011

Solid coffee and great baked goods, I'm especially addicted to their awesome ham scone thingy.  The only sort of 'hipper' hangout in Jackson Heights. Before you flame gentrifier at me I grew up on the LES and Astoria and most of my friends grew up in J Heights so whatever, haters.  I think because they are the only 'yuppie' coffee shop in the area they do very well and tend to hiccup with the service.  My boo literally goes there every day and he asked to redeem one of those frequent service cards for a free drink after having 10. The cashier gave him 'tude and acted like he was doing him a favor.  Not cool - you shouldn't treat your customers this way, especially not someone who goes there constantly.

6/9/2010

This place is such a cute little coffee house in Jackson Heights. Seems to be really community oriented. Was here for 3 hours Tues. Beginning of the day was filled with couples with a babies enjoying breakfast as well as people getting their regular cup o joe and jetting off to work. Around 10:30am the kiddies started to show up for the 11am story time. That's when all the adults in the place started to run away. By 11:30am it was quiet again and the lunch crowed began to show up.

They have one of the best lattes and scones I've have in NYC.

2/25/2009

I planned on not reviewing this; I have some criticisms and would rather not put down a locally owned place which is so enthusiastic about their business. But lately I've been hanging out there, and while I have warmed up to it a bit, I have some contributions to add to what has already been written.

I'm not a coffee person and I can't make sense of ordering a tea bag in water. When I come here, I order chai iced tea or hot appled cider. Both take some process by the counter person and make it worth leaving my apartment for (in addition to the free wifi).

My friend keeps telling me to get the Limonada. He says when he ordered it, everyone in the whole place was asking him about it, "what's that??" I told him that I was fine with my hot apple cider and that when the counter person (who has seen everything there is to see) passed me my cider, she said "ohh that smells good." So I'm good for the winter, thanks anyway (we are very competitive).

Food could use some help. Their muffins are from Cannelle Patiserie, and that's great, but the bagels are from M&V and that's just par if anything. I believe all the other baked goods are brought in as well.

I dig the music completely. Lots of chill songs, but not that lesbian stuff of a trendy coffee shops. More like soul from the 60s and 70s combined with newer but not annoying admire-my-playlist music.

I am turned off by the amount of publicity and attempted events going on here, seems like overkill for a coffee shop with too many tables and too little attendance in too little space. I just want a place to chill out. I don't want gay singles night here. I don't want children's story time. I don't want bus rides to the casino. I just want Freakazoid Al reading a book next to Quasi-emotional Jane talking to Art-Hat Lenny looking over the shoulder of Hunchback Grandpa Jay and me, peering over my laptop, taking it all in.

It's local and it does the wi-fi job. Counter people aren't machines and corporate boards didn't decide which paintings to put on the wall, the owner made them. We could build a real community here.  Why would anyone choose the sterility of Starbucks?

7/18/2011

The owners are the loveliest people possible. Great service, excellent coffee. I just adore it there. One of the best things Jackson Heights has going for it.

7/18/2011

I just love this coffeeshop.  And I don't even drink coffee.  

It has a wonderful selection of non-coffee drinks, including an amazingly refreshing honey-mint limonata.  Oh, and the NEW limonata with green apples and mangos is simply sublime.  

As for the food, the owners always come up with new menu items, which is great for those who get bored with the same old, but need a little help getting out of a routine.  There are lots of healthy options that contrast nicely with the devilishly delicious cookies and muffins.  Yummy smoothies too.

As for sitting at a table in front of your laptop for more than an hour, it's just not what the shop is about.  From my understanding, the owners had envisioned a coffee shop with a neighborly vibe -- a network hub for artists and art lovers.  That is one of the main reasons why it is so loved.  And as awkward as it must be, it's great that the owners take pains to preserve that atmosphere.  The tables are used for people to meet and exchange.  I think a knitting circle still meets one night a week.  I think a kids' story hour still happens on a monthly basis.  If I bring any device at all, it is an iPad, and I go during offhours and limit my stay to an hour.  If I am engrossed in my solitude, I'll buy something else and stay for just another half hour.

If you're looking for a place to plop down and stare at your laptop for a long time, this is not the place for you.  Not that there is anything wrong with that - you just may feel more welcome at the Starbucks down the street.  However, if you're looking for a place to enjoy good food, good drinks, local art and good music, this is where you want to be.

7/9/2012

This is overall a good place, but not my favorite. On the downside, as others here have noted, you are not welcome to stay for long. And, the food isn't great and is pricey - particularly for the area. At the same time, they do have nice fruit shakes and croissants are good on the days when they get them from Cannelle bakery (not everyday though, I think just on weekends). I really appreciate all they do for the neighborhood in that the owner seems to make an effort to sponsor community events and really be part of the neighborhood. But, at the end of the day, I never felt very welcome here - more of a burden, as I am one of the laptop users who comes in.

8/30/2011

Hey Jackson Heights Starbucks fan's, when you walk out of Starbucks, head two blocks west and make a right onto 77th.  Espresso 77 is on your right.  Great cappuccino.  Give it a try.

9/26/2012

It's a coffee shop. So overpriced an important people sitting on laptops working on important jobs. It's a nice placed smack in the middle of Jackson heights. A little reminder your 20mins from manhattan surrounded by manhattanites who rather pay queens rent. Staffs nice. Credit card minimal of $10 is annoying an illegal but otherwise...it's a coffee shop.

10/4/2012

Pretty rude service. I asked if they had wifi, guy said one hour with quite the attitude, as if I ate his lunch or something. I would absolutely not return.

9/27/2008

I love E77.  I love their special drinks.  I love that I get to see all these people from my hood that I see nowhere else.  I love the Queens Pride.  I love the orange walls.  I love all the baked goods.  I love the people behind the counter.  I love the IKEA design.  I LOVE the bathroom (!).  I wish it were a bit bigger.

I really, really, really despise the owner.

I get that this sort of business is hard to recoup an investment on.  But being rude and chintzy to customers is NOT the way to do it.  He reprimanded me for putting my feet on a chair that was not in use.  What are you, my mom?  He also reminds people ALL the time that they can only use the internet for 30 mins.  By which he means you can only sit at a table for 30 mins if you have a computer.  The person next to me even mentioned she wasn't using the internet, and just had her computer.  Still, the rule stands.

1/3/2011

3,only because its in Queens. ***

I try every cafe or restaurant twice, even if it fails me the first time. I've been here twice and it failed me the first time,but the second try was fair. Espresso was burned, and the wraps were decent. Very small space with limited wifi, and parents with baby strollers take up majority of the space. Manhattan prices all across their menu, so for jackson heights, thats expensive. I suggest to walk around the corner to Letys bakery, for a spanish/italian taste.

6/12/2011

Love this cute local spot. Wish more people would support local business like this over Starbucks.

11/2/2009

This review is for one item: The Latte.

I wanted to like this place so badly.  Living in Astoria, there is a coffee VACUUM or black-hole or something, for some reason, you cannot get a good espresso drink ANYWHERE.  So when I found this place on line and saw it from the outside, I was really optimistic.

On to the drink.  It was basically the same as a Starbucks latte, but I don't even think it was as good.  It was WAY too hot, I mean SCALDING HOT.  You're not supposed to steam the milk beyond recognition when you make a latte.  I swear I couldn't even put the cup to my lips for about 10 or 15 minutes.  It was brutal.

Anyway, go ahead and try the place, but if you're looking for an amazing espresso drink, move on.

7/26/2008

I'm VERY pleased with this joint.  They have good coffee, good eats, and it's aesthetically pleasing inside.  Since moving to Jackson Heights more than a year ago, I've been longing for a decent coffee shop.  Fortunately Espresso 77 fills that void.  

As I understand the timeline, this place must have opened around the same time as the Starbucks just down the street.  That must have been rough.  I suppose it's possible that the Starbucks in Jackson Heights could close, based on the recent reports of closing various locations.   According to a Starbucks employee I spoke to recently, the younger locations are at a greater risk with this new plan.

Back to Espresso 77 -- their foods seem to be sourced from local bakeries, bagel places, etc.  They even have some locally produced ice cream.  I saw them making a delicious looking sandwich, on fresh baguette, with sliced tomato, basil, olive oil, etc -- it looked delicious!  I seem to notice something different everytime I'm there -- little signs or various foods I hadn't noticed before.  I'm wondering now, if they have a full menu, with a listing of all the food they serve.  That might be nice.

Since learning of this place, I've been able to stop by regular Starbucks intake when I'm in my neighborhood.  I've been there basically everyday for about two weeks.  It's quite refreshing to get a cup of coffee from a local coffee shop.  This is something I've really been sore about, from day-one of moving to Jackson Heights.  Espresso 77 should be proud of their shop.  I've recommended it to a few people already, and finally have a place to take friends and family who are visiting me in Jackson Heights.

10/24/2010

Great local joint.  Good coffee and tea selection.  Ditzy staff.  Great locally made pastries.  Supports local artists with rotating exhibitions.  Small, only a few tables inside.

4/20/2011

I wish we had more places like this in Jackson Heights. I'm not a coffee drinker (gasp!) but I am a food eater and this place has one of the best curry chicken salad sandwiches. Haven't tried much else since I'm such a fan of the sandwich but the pastries look yummy and I'm sure everything else is too.

5/25/2011

Cool place...great latte!!

1/15/2008

I went there yesterday afternoon (06/10/08) and was taken aback by the abrupt manager/owner. He seemed confused as to why I would want milk in an iced coffee and went as far to comment 'you want more milk?'

There are notices indicating that the first hour of WiFi is free, but then they charger $5 after that point. If I am going to paying for something (aside from the overpriced, lackluster iced coffee) it might as well function well - the WiFi service was spotty and really slow.

Carollo Bakery (1 block away) has better service, better prices and much better iced coffees.

4/20/2008

Really love this place.  The best tasting coffee in the area.  Great sandwiches.  My faves are the chicken, spinach & feta wrap or the chicken curry sandwich.  YUMMMY.  And different scones and cookies daily.  Love, love, love the chocolate, cherry scone.  I buy my ground coffee here now.   And I love the bench outside.  Only complaint: too many people taking up tables every day, all day long on their computers.  Very inconsiderate of others who'd like to sit and eat.  I'd give it 5 stars if it weren't for this.

Anyway it's: Good bye Starbucks! Hello Espresso 77 ;-)

5/10/2010

I think this place has been a positive addition to the neighborhood.  I like stopping by for their house blend and relaxing for a few minutes before I continue on with my day.  It offers a nice alternative to the Starbucks around the corner.

3/26/2009

I would have rated much higher since it is the only cafe I found around the area and I liked the location and the sort of low key feeling to it. I enjoyed being there but somehow it suddenly occured to me, that it was actually the location that made the place look so special but the cafe itself was more on the average side.
It is in a really quiet place, clean and comfortable. Bathroom also clean, the price is really cheap when you compare it with the cafes in manhattan,
you can get a nice drink for the 2-3 dollars. The sweets were on the average side, if you don't expect too much its ok.

9/10/2009

Espresso 77 is a true Jackson Heights neighborhood hangout -- not only for newcomer "gentrifiers" (I could be put in that boat as well, admittedly), but also old timers. The place is super clean, has a relaxed vibe, minimalistic decor. It serves up house coffee brews and baked goods, and it even displays art by neighborhood artists. Jackson Heights has many sides, and I guess one of the newer sides is captured at Espresso 77. Added bonus: I heard they are serving craft brews now in the evenings. That's another idea that is yet to hit this part of Queens.

9/30/2010

I ordered a Pumpkin Spice latte at Espresso 77 and waited about five minutes.  It was great!  Watching a real barista making it was a nice change from Starbucks and their McDonald-ized ways of making coffee, which is just to push a button.  It was a very tasty Pumpkin Spice Latte and certainly less expensive than their mainstream counterparts.  It was also bigger than a 'tall.'  It was a really cozy cafe and a good way to end a night in Jackson Heights.

5/31/2011

I am so happy to hear that I was not the only customer singled out by the manager / owner. I went there about one month ago and brought a large cup of coffee, brought my macbook with the intention to do some work online.  I tipped 50 cents for my $2.00 coffee and was hoping to stay there and get some work done. After one hour the manager came over to me and asked me 'miss can I get you something else'? I looked up said 'no thank you I am fine'. Look if I needed anything I will go up the counter and tell you, don't come over to disturb and pressuring me to buy another cup.
Then another ten minutes go by he came over to me again. This time he said our limit is one hour and yours is up. I said, where is the sign that states this policy'?  He said we used to have a sign, but it is no longer up. I said if you don't have a sign how are people supposed to know your policy? By telling me to leave, I feel you are SINGLELING me out and that was purely disrespecftul'.   He mumbled something and he knew he was wrong.  I said please put up your sign so the next customer wouldn't be subjected to this in the future.   I told him it was not nice to kick a well behaving customer out of a store because you need loyal customers to operate a business maximize profits. He clearly didn't understand this concept and won't be his last time booting a customer out of his store.

Do not patronize here. Many people agree with me here!  If you buy their coffee you are allowing this mean owner to profit while he treats his customer like dirt. Put your money elsewhere where the merchant values your business, especially in today's economy they need the business.

12/11/2007

The entire neighborhood of Jackson Heights has been holding it's breath in anticipation... and can now release a sigh of relief!

We've been waiting so long for a decent coffee place in JH that when I first saw the lights on here last Wendesday (they actually opened the previous Sunday), I called my bf on the phone and gushed excitedly. Since that time, I've had a chance to enjoy some nice tea and the bf's had some good coffee. We've been trying to find time to sit and chill out for awhile, but the place is ALWAYS packed -- that's how much we've needed a cafe like this in the 'hood.

Coffee is from Gimme, baked goods are from Ambrosia, teas are Tazo, Stash, Twinings, and Oregon Chai, and the barristas have been super friendly so far. Prices on the special baked goods seem a little high, but prices on coffee and bagels are reasonable to low, so it all balances itself out.

I'm knocking off one star because the space is too small -- they need more seats! Perhaps when the excitement dies down there will be more room to hang out for awhile, and I fully plan on spending my morning writing hours there with a cuppa and a scone when it does!

8/23/2010

Love love love this place. In a 'hood is that is starved for joints with some young blood (that isn't another homogenized Starbucks), E77 is practically an oasis.  They are always thinking of new ways to serve you coffee, which is great (try the sweet Thai iced coffee!) and the food they serve ain't half bad either, though a little pricey I'll admit. Love to come here and sit on the benches outside and talk to other locals. A gem!

11/7/2010

The cappuccino at this place are amazing! My absolute favorite in NYC. The coffee flavor is so smooth but the yummy frothy milk is to die for. Making the cappuccino irresistible. Hmmm...so good!