Albany is the 338th largest city in the US. Jacob Alejandro would be right at home in some of the…read morelargest cities! The vibe is impeccable, truly comfortable and well designed! The staff were professional, pleasant, and coffee/tea focused! My wife enjoyed a black tea chai latte and I loved the reserve pour over coffee experience! I order pour over pretty much every time it's available at a coffee shop. Jacob Alejandro's pour over service is pretty much ceremonial! They serve it on a tray. The tray has the "pitcher", a glass for service, and a glass of palate cleansing jade tea in the middle. (I did have to ask what the jade tea was) The palate cleanse was the perfect start. The Costa Rican coffee was heavenly, one of those drinking experiences where even my amateur palate was engaged. It was truly nice to sit for a while and enjoy a great cup of coffee at Jacob Alejandro! Yes, they would fit in a larger city but smaller cities deserve great coffee also!

After going on a lovely walk through Albany's Washington Park on Easter Sunday, I noticed some…read moreactivity across the street at Jacob Alejandro. I was so surprised. Could they really be open on Easter Sunday? It seemed too good to be true. A great cup of caffeine was just what I needed at that very moment. So my friend and I crossed Madison Avenue and peeked into the tinted windows. Not only were they open, but the place was bustling. The inside of Jacob Alejandro is elegant and beautifully decorated. Furniture, plants, music and wall art are arranged to set moods. It feels more like a club than a coffee house. The baristas are super friendly, helpful and patient. As I tried to make up my mind on what to order, they offered suggestions. I wound up with matcha. I think my friend had some kind of latte. I remember both beverages were delicious. They were made to be savored slowly. We took in our surroundings and it was very relaxing. We'll visit again. Thanks Jacob Alejandro for a nice experience.

We were helping our daughter move into off campus housing in the neighborhood. So lucky to have…read moreIron Coffee within easy walking distance! The woman working there is friendly and professional! Ethiopian Yirgacheffe pour over made building furniture tolerable, cold brew a few hours later kept us going!

Iron Coffee is a small coffee shop about a block from the pond at Washington Park. When I say…read moresmall, I mean small. When I arrived today, there were two other customers in the shop and it was cramped. There is no indoor seating, but in the warmer months there are a few tables set up on the sidewalk outside the shop. Service is quick and the baristas are friendly. Their menu isn't huge, but they have all the classics and every drink I've tried has been delicious. I am a sucker for an iced drink on a warm day, but I will have to get back here for one of their hot drinks at some point. Very happy to have this coffee shop in the neighborhood.

I went into Stacks expecting to grab a coffee and keep moving, but I ended up slowing down for a…read morebit. I ordered the Honey Lavender and a bagel, and the drink was probably my favourite part. The lavender wasn't overpowering and it wasn't loaded with sugar either. I sat there finishing my coffee and realized I'd been there longer than I meant to. Nothing complicared, just a really nice stop in the middle of my day. I'll definitely be back when I'm nearby.

Best espresso I've had in Albany, and if you order for here, they'll plate it with sparkling water…read more Sweet! There's a big ordering and waiting area, so even when it's busy there's plenty of space. Local art on the walls, a variety of seating options downstairs, and one relatively clean restroom. Upstairs is the computer lounge, theoretically, except that the advertised WiFi doesn't work. There is no network with that name. Friendly baristas, some food options, although not a lot for vegetarians. Great location close to the park.

On a quiet Saturday morning, with not many places open, we were happy to find this coffee shop and…read moreenjoy a couple of cappuccinos. The seating area is very spacious with plenty of room to sit, read a magazine, and enjoy the coffee. I also ordered banana bread with chocolate and a chocolate croissant, which were both delicious. It was quite calm inside, and it seems like a perfect spot to work or read a book during weekdays. I would definitely recommend it.

Nice coffee shop in what felt like a former retail store front…read more One employee was taking orders, answering questions and pumping out the drinks!! And people were coming in at a pretty good pace. It was impressive! My final verdict on the iced mocha was that it tasted so good it was a solid special treat, but I was a bit disappointed at how small it was for the price. My husband had a cortado and he thought it was good. Would go back if in the area again.

My wife and I were in the area with our older daughter and wanted coffee. I found Java Cafe on Yelp…read moreand knew I wanted to try the Kurdish latte. The cafe is clean and bright, with comfortable seating at a solid amount of tables. The woman working behind the counter was friendly and professional. My wife and daughter had traditional lattes and I really enjoyed the Kurdish latte. It had nice flavors, not something I usually go for in coffee. (I typically drink it black but made an exception for the traditional Kurdish version) My daughter enjoyed a chocolate croissant and I enjoyed a dill/cheese pogaca, beautiful dill flavor! I would gladly return!

Nice spot for a coffee near Washington Park! I stopped in…read moreon a weeknight as I'm one of the few people who drink caffeine in the evening and was looking for a coffee shop that was open later. They close at 7pm on weeknights, which is great. I love how beautiful the cafe is. There are tons of tables and good wifi too. I ordered an iced mocha, which was great, and the barista was helpful and friendly. I do wish they had a specialty coffee latte and some more dessert options. There were several savory pastries available when I went and I was having a major sweet tooth moment but thankfully the iced mocha hit the spot!

I first went to Mr. Bumbles Cafe when they originallh opened and had a fantastic experience…read more Now, after a several year time period of living out of state, I have returned to try them out again and I was not disappointed. The service was warm and friendly. The food was outstanding, utilizing fresh sourced produce and baked goods. The cafe was spotless, as was thd rest room. The decor is friendly and inviting. I will definitely be back!

Mr. Bumbles had been on my radar for a while, so when I had an appointment not too far away, I knew…read moreI had to visit. I can find a lot of good words to include here: Cozy, charming, unique, friendly, welcoming. I could taste the freshness and quality in my made-to-order breakfast sandwich. That was a small coffee?!?!?! The decor is fun. Street parking is very convenient too. Similar types of stuff I could get at fast food places closer to my home just can't compare. If I lived closer, I'd be here all the time. Even with a slightly longer drive, I still want to come back here more often.

The Eleven officially opened its doors this week after some soft opening events. Named after a…read moreGrateful Dead song, it's a taproom, coffee house, eatery, live music and events venue all rolled into one. This is the newest venture by the owners of Lark Hall--an entertainment and events venue--located directly upstairs. From the posters and memorabilia on the walls at The Eleven, owners Jennifer and Justin Miller are clearly Grateful Dead fans. They also have a great eye for design and fresh floral arrangements. Their new space has been beautifully renovated and this week there are gorgeous flowers decorating most tables and countertops. We came to eat. The menu features charcuterie consisting mostly of a variety of cheeses. There are some sandwiches, waffles, salad, bagels and other baked goods. It's a limited menu for now, but a sensible one since they're just getting started. All of the menu items have Grateful Dead related names. I had the Reuben and Cherise sandwich or was that Reuben and Cheese? There was a lot of melted cheese. It was very good. The staff was so friendly and helpful. I also enjoyed a decaf coffee with oat milk and a nonalcoholic grapefruit juice drink which the bartender created for me, since I can't drink alcohol following dental surgery. The evening's vocalist had a lovely voice. Leslie Barkman is her name. She also played keyboard. She didn't sing any Grateful Dead while we were there. She described herself as a Blues singer and even performed some original work for an audience of about two dozen. I look forward to catching more events and dining experiences at The Eleven.

I was well aware that Pearl's sells out of their bagels very fast and it probably explains why I've…read morenever tried them. I'm not likely to be awake and out of the house with a thirty minute drive early enough to score the purchase of any. However, my wife had recently just heard about Pearl's, and we happened to be passing in the neighborhood thirty minutes before their 2 PM closing. Yes, they were still open, and no, they didn't have any bagel's left. In fact, that was the very first thing the clerk announced as we came through the door. "We are sold out of bagels and cannot make any sandwiches." As we looked at the small display case we saw four different pastries on a plate. My wife asked what they were and chose two. One was a strawberry marshmallow muffin and the other was some kind of brownie combination ($11 for the two). Once we returned home we were ready to share them. The muffin was super fresh, soft, and very enjoyable. But we didn't believe that there was a strong strawberry flavor and neither of us detected a marshmallow flavor. It didn't matter! This was a delicious muffin no matter what the flavor was supposed to be. The brownie "thing" might have been what their website menu calls a "Featured Daily Brownie." This looked like they used their challah dough to roll up around brownie mix like you would make a cinnamon roll with cinnamon/sugar instead of the brownie mix. Whatever, it was a total success. It was delicious with two different chewy textures and lots of flavor. Maybe some day my wife or I will have to be in Albany around 9 AM and get to try the bagels.

Bagel flavor great. Bagel texture not so great, stale and difficult to chew. They honestly tasted…read morelike day old bagels. Over priced and overrated. I do love the spread texture and flavor. Order: everything, plain, sesame, and garlic bagels. Scallion, plain, olive spread.

Great place with great food and service. We took the dogs and sat on the patio. Great experience…read moreoverall. The server brought the pups water bowls right away. A couple next to us which was clearly very hard to please complained about virtually everything; ie. their poached egg being runny and their steak being overcooked yet they finished their plates. Beware if you see such a review and don't pay it any mind. Fantastic place. Highly recommend. Oh, the bar drinks were top notch too.

What a cool spot! First time visiting Cafe Madison! We called ahead and got our names on the list…read moreahead of time! Highly recommend otherwise it would be 15-30 min wait time. Service was great! The cafe itself is super cool and open on the inside. Ordered a water and coffee to start. No issues at all. For the first brunch meal we ordered the fried chicken sandwich with fries. It was delicious and well balanced though a bit messy! Ask for extra napkins! The other brunch meal we ordered was the eggs benedict special that had a spicy sauce and prosciutto as well. It was delicious! Though the sauce was a bit separated. That's an execution issue and not a flavor issue. The flavor was there! If you are in the area. Call ahead get on the wait list and give this spot a try!

At the recommendation of a friend I wound up at Perfect Blend in Delmar for brunch on a recent…read moreSaturday. My guess is that 11am was prime time for this bakery-cafe. The place was packed. Many people seemed to be standing around the front counter waiting for take out orders. Despite the lines, both customers and staff seemed very nice. People stepped aside to make room for one another and did so with a smile. I never thought we'd find a seat in this crowded place but there was turnover. After putting in our orders, we sat down. A short time later, the kitchen staff emerged carrying our orders and calling my name. The coffee is good. A little on the strong side. I also ordered a $9 BC Eagle breakfast sandwich. It consisted of 2 eggs on a roll with a sausage patty, cheddar cheese, hash browns and hot sauce. Both the coffee and the sandwich were piping hot and hit the spot. The eatery is clean and cheerful. There are wood block table tops and outlets in the metal table columns where you can charge your devices. The front dining area is decorated with music posters. Some for Phish though most were Dave Matthews Band posters. Adding to the eclectic look of the place were the crazy overhead light fixtures made from kitchen tools including cheese graters and a flour sifter. The display cases are filled with tantalizing baked goods. There appears to be more seating in the rear but with the lines I knew I'd never make it that far. I'm not sure why Perfect Blend doesn't have better ratings on Yelp. The crowds would be an indication that it's a popular place. My friend and I really enjoyed our meal. Parking was easy, too. I parked on the street and there appears to be some parking behind the business. It's a bustling neighborhood eatery that serves up good food without breaking the bank. I'd be happy to come back for another meal.

I had an amazing breakfast Sammy (BC Eagle ?j and lovely pastries including butter croissants,…read morechocolate muffins, and a thick coffee cake that was yummy.