08/08/2022
📸Thanks for
café review: ten thousand coffee, 3rd ave midtown Manhattan
I almost missed this spot hidden under scaffolding, but Ten Thousand was such a good Midtown find in a part of the city that has a bit of a dearth of good indie coffee spots. I just had a basic iced almond milk latte with their NYC espresso blend, but it was quite good. My cousin got the Einspänner, which I would definitely have ordered were I not quiiite as lactose intolerant as I am. You can order the drink with nondairy milk, but it comes with a cloudlike pillow of heavy whipping cream on top regardless, with a dash of cinnamon. The flavor is incredible and the contrast between the thick, sweet texture of the cream and the thinner espresso and milk latte combo underneath is unique and compelling, from the few sips I tried. The interior was minimalistic, almost to the extreme– all white everything, with a gleaming silver espresso machine, a few plants, and a small seating area. It felt clean and fresh. I don’t think this café aesthetic dazzles me quite as much as the cozy, delicate and floral vibes of a space like Maman, but it felt super modern and the baristas were very precise and knowledgeable about the coffee.
The menu was impeccable, with a full complement of pour overs and multiple roasts to choose from, a full espresso menu, and also some latte specials that struck me as unique finds. These included the Einspänner we ordered, inspired by Viennese coffee, but also a panela latte and a non-coffee purple sweet potato latte (probably highly Instagrammable, but I was in the mood for a coffee-based drink).