For West Village cafes, espresso is both an art and a science

October is most frequently associated with the brewing of German beers, thunderstorms, and witches’ potions. But this October students might hop the 1 train down to the West Village to get the best of another type of brew—coffee. Formerly the center of Bohemianism, the Village retains a cup of its artsy past with a slew of some of the best—and most creative—espresso drinks New York has to offer.

Despite its “average” name, Joe The Art of Coffee does not offer your typical steam-‘n-go espresso. This artisanal café, tucked away on the cobblestoned Waverly Place, makes carefully crafted cappuccinos and lattes worth the long wait. With five locations around the city, Joe may be the anti-Starbucks New Yorkers need, but the original Waverly Place outpost still remains at the core of Joe’s coffee-losophy and the West Village café scene, with diehard patrons ranging from neighborhood socialites to busy NYU students typing away on computers. Tables are small and space is cramped, but friendliness abounds in Joe, where casual chats about neighborhood events and mutual acquaintances are not uncommon—a nice change of scenery from the usually frenzied atmosphere of coffee shops. Joe fosters this community feel with artisanal classes in home brewing and espresso fundamentals, and coffee 101 classes, in a program called “Joe University.” It also hosts a “Team Joe” weekend running club that meets at the Waverly location. Good athletics and a comparative coffee major? Might just make you want to transfer.

While Joe views coffee as an art, Doma Cafe and Gallery views art as the perfect accompaniment to coffee. This hidden café near the Christopher Street exit of the 1 train is packed around midday with artists scribbling furiously in notebooks and locals discussing politics over brunch. Doma has a cute rustic feel, with mismatched chairs, window nooks, and pillows galore. For spectacular coffee, students should look elsewhere, but for decent coffee and a pleasant atmosphere, Doma’s a good bet. Just make sure to come at an uncommon time because seating is limited. Then again, sharing a table in this neighborhood café might just be a good way to make a new friend, as conversation pieces and masterpieces adorn the walls. All in all, Doma is the perfect place for Hungarian fans in want of some better lighting.

If Joe and Doma sound a little too artsy for Columbia’s engineering crowd, Roasting Plant Coffee Company turns espresso into a science with its patented Javabot system. It is aptly named, due to the jungle-like maze of tubes adorning the ceiling. Customers choose their caffeine from an extensive selection of global beans, then have the beans shot overhead through a futuristic tube, ground, and steamed on the spot. While this engineering feat yields a good cup, the lack of clean-cut ambience is decidedly unromantic. But then again, we can’t all be comparative lit majors, can we?