Sasha’s Coffee

It’s as extreme as everyone says. He’s that bad. I wouldn’t come back here if you paid me. I’d rather get a root canal.

The coffee here is decent but I’ll be totally honest the service is NOT nice at all. You can see from the reviews below that you’ll be greeted with a grumpy guy who seems like he doesn’t want to be there at all. Even with his regulars (who just accept that he’s charmingly mean to them) he’s curt and straight up rude to.
You want a pastry? Good luck. He’ll only insult you for not knowing what pastry you want (which you can’t really tell because it’s TUCKED AWAY IN A CLOSED BOX WITHOUT LABELS) and you’ll stammer awkwardly until you run out of the store as if you just offended him somehow.
I’m all for short service if it means great food but I think Sasha’s has taken it too far.

Small is an understatement! Not much distance between, actually there isn’t any, you and the barista. Pastries, you need to ask. And ask how many shots of espresso, you may be surprised as to how few they plan on making.

Ignore the haters!
The coffee is unbeatable and the pastries are perfection! They use single origin PT’s for their espresso and their pastries come from Balthazar and Las Delicias.
I’ve been coming here consistently since moving to the city because it is one of the few places with genuine character. I also bring friends here and out of town guests.

I get it, the owner knows his stuff. He could probably brew me the best cup of coffee in New York. But for me, that doesn’t really matter if I feel uncomfortable entering his store. I’m sure he’s a really great guy deep down inside and I’d prefer genuine attitude to syrupy fakeness, but I am not inclined to come back. Especially when there are a lot of great coffee places around (see birch… or Irving farm/​joe which are a tiny bit further)

I tried Sasha’s within a week of moving to the UWS a year ago. Haven’t been back since. The 1-​star reviews suggest why.
Good enough coffee, but the guy working there (who I assumed was the owner) could not have been ruder. There also isn’t anything inviting about the shop. Hardly a morning pickup.
Birch is two blocks away, Irving Farm is two subway stops. I’d take either every day – and I do – over Sasha’s.

So its 10am on a Thursday. I open the door and step through the threshold expectantly awaiting a quaint little coffee shop with mismatch cups and a cabinet of sweets.
Instead, I get a guy that looks up at me and gives me a blank stare as if to say «Why are you in here?».
«Hi», I say, «Are you open?»
«No.», he replies.
«Oh ok, what time do you open?» I ask.
no reply… «Do you live in the neighborhood»” he asks.
Hesitantly, I reply, «Yes».
“What do you want?”
«I’d like to get a drip coffee please…».
«Uh.well… Ok, hold on». He continues drinking his coffee and shuffling his papers.
1 minute goes by (which is a very long time in a situation as awkward as this) It was as if I wandered into his kitchen and demanded a cup of coffee…“What is going on?” I think to myself…“Should have just gone to Starbucks”.
I go to Starbucks on Broadway and 95^th. Its delicious. Its funny how they open their front doors when they open, and then they lock them when they’re closed. So weird…

I’ve tried to go here several times when it it’s supposedly open and its always closed. Not sure if it is a permanent closure or just has limited and erratic hours

I would give a zero if I could. Despite the comments on Unilocal,I decided to give it a try and walked right past Starbucks. When I arrived, the owner was helping the customer in front of me while having a leisurely chat. After about 5 minutes, he asked what I would like. I tried ordering a mocha which was listed on his menu, and he scoffed and turned away while mumbling under his breath. Needless to say, I cancelled my order and went back to Starbucks. It seemed like the owner did not like making some of the drinks on his own menu and was angered by not just ordering espresso. I will definitely not be back.

Visited New York this past weekend and stayed in the Upper West Side. We were on our way to the baby store two doors down, so strolled into this coffee shop after passing two Dunkin’ Donuts and a Starbucks, as my wife and I do whatever possible to avoid big players and support local businesses. What a mistake. When we walked in, there was no acknowledgement, but it was busy. A few moments later the owner pipes up, «Do you two live in the area?», to which we answered «Nope, just visiting»…no response.
When we reached the front of the line he greets us with, «Don’t order anything complicated, I’m all f&*)ed up with a hay fever and don’t want to be bothered… this place is just for the regulars…». I was so taken aback, that I thought it was a joke so I laughed. No response.
We ordered the Americano, and I think it was then that he noticed that my wife was pregnant. He appeared to soften up, and ask if my wife needed a water or anything, which too little too late.
It was our last day in the city, and he really put our morning off.
As some other reviews here have stated, he likely does have a soft-​side, as exhibited by his acknowledging the needs of my pregnant wife. So, whether his attitude is real or fake, it’s unnecessary. If it’s real, then he’s rude and doesn’t deserve the unconditional loyalty that locals appear to give him. If his attitude is a front, then he’s a fake and doesn’t deserve the attention he’s attempting at getting.
In the end, he should really consider a smile, and to look at his life, and realize that it ain’t so bad.
Perhaps if he were open to servicing the needs of everyone, and not just the locals he could actually afford some allergy meds for that gawd-​awful hay fever of his.
On another note, we tried another coffee shop called Joe’s, on the West side of Columbus near 85^th a few days prior and it was FANTASTIC! Coffee was better too!

The location is great.
However I don’t care how the coffee tastes and how clean the place is when the guy behind the counter is an A#$hole. Sorry will not be coming back to a place where It ruins my day when i step out of a coffee shop all because some dude is pissed about his life.
My latte was scalding hot… which right away is the mark of an amateur barista because lattes are never suppose to burn your lips.
The espresso was bitter and nothing special. Don’t bother about asking what juices they have because then you will get scolded.

The owner is a smarmy, hateful little man who obviously doesn’t want customers to set foot in his establishment or he would treat them better. I live a block away and would’ve been a frequent, repeat customer if I felt treated with an ounce if dignity or respect. He acts like it’s a great burden for him to serve you, never smiles, or even replies when you say thank you. This happened on 3 separate occasions and I will never return.

Was in the UWS for a meeting and needed a coffee. Saw the great reviews for this place, so I stopped in as it was close by and i try to support local shops whenever possible. Big mistake.
I wish I’d had a chance to try the coffee or the chai, I might have liked it, but the way I was treated by the small churlish man running the place was so disrespectful I walked out without a drink of any sort.
When I’m back in the area, I’ll probably go to Starbucks — at least there I won’t be told they’re not in the mood to make tea.
It’s a shame 0 stars isn’t an option.

Visit on April 5^th:
Greeted me with a «hurry up, I have to take my daughter uptown.» Ordered an espresso. Terrible espresso. Was bitter & sour. He used «gimme!» Coffee beans and downright told me they sucked. He claimed he usually uses some beans from Brazil but shipment didn’t come in. Awful ambiance… Owner’s daughter’s name is Sasha so I understood the business’ name at least.
Worst spent $ 2 of my life… Well, one of the worst.

Having read the many positive reviews of this tiny coffee shop I was very, very interested. What I found/​thought was vastly different.
I found that it was neither great nor was it terrible. It was just coffee-​nothing more or less.
The cappuccino and the chocolate croissant I got were neither plentiful nor, as promised, hot.
Now it’s understood that I might’ve gone at an off time, but that explanation is a bit less then desirable.
Not only was the state of the coffee not great, but I went several times only to find them closed-​I thought they had gone belly up!
So it’s back to my normal café haunts-Orin’s, Zabar’s Café, Edgar’s, Le Pain Quotidien, even Starf@#$‘s.

Sasha’s is a great place to stop by if, AND ONLY IF, you are grabbing your caffeinated drink to go. They only have one table that seats 4 for the entire shop, so consider yourself warned! But their baristas are outstanding. And why support a national conglomerate known as Starbucks that is sucking the life out of smaller businesses?!
They share space with an Arts & Crafts shop designated for children who want to paint their own pottery. And therefore, it can get a bit rowdy with children, nannies, and parents, especially since they are on the same block as an elementary school.
PS– They let you write on the one table. Ask for pens if you want to leave your mark!
PPS– They have a few delectable treats and pastries made on premises, so indulge yourself!

Out of the way spot, grumpy owner (who is secretly very sweet), and the best coffee in the area by far.
Double Cappuccino and Americano are consistently excellent. Kid-​friendly, great pastries as well.
Look for a tiny shop with a cof-​fee sign. Thanks for this great find Unilocal

Sasha’s is great for the coffee purist. The coffee is delicious and every cup is made fresh to order. The baked goods are great too (I tried a scone).
The owner knows his stuff and is passionate about his craft, and anyone who gave this place 1 star because of his demeanor, it’s because they don’t appreciate an artist at work (or they don’t know how to handle a real New York attitude!).

Interesting experience as some other Unilocalers mentioned. The owner has a distinct personality. I almost felt like i was in someones kitchen more than a café. The latte was good but would only go to get if i was in the area.

Definitely a great spot to pick up a coffee or tea or croissant. I wish there were more places to sit, though!
Low maintenance and all about the coffee. One of the best coffees on UWS, I think.