On the new Ninth Road Espresso roastery and low bar in Lengthy Island Metropolis, Queens. All photographs courtesy of Ninth Road Espresso.
New York Metropolis-born unbiased espresso pioneer Ninth Road Espresso has relocated its roasting operation into a brand new dwelling in Lengthy Island Metropolis, Queens.
After committing to the area in 2019, then dealing with two years of pandemic-related delays, the Ninth Road management group introduced a wealth of mixed expertise to bear on the brand new roastery and adjoining espresso bar.
The design and plan was led by: Ken Nye, who based Ninth Road Espresso with a single East Village store in 2001; Trey Wrange, who has been managing Ninth Road espresso outlets for 14 years; and Nina Glikshtern, who has been managing all elements of the corporate’s roasting program for the previous 10 years.
“What made this challenge so thrilling was that each element was deliberate, created and carried out internally by our administration crew, from the earliest discussions by means of the ultimate execution,” Nye just lately informed DCN. “Between the three of us, we’ve got near 50 years of espresso expertise and it was actually rewarding to place it to make use of designing the store.”
Occupying roughly 800 sq. ft, the roastery formally opened final yr and was adopted in February 2023 by the opening of the 500-square-foot cafe area.
It’s the first time that Ninth Road Espresso has had roasting and low service beneath the identical roof. The corporate at the moment operates 4 cafes across the metropolis.
“For the previous 10 years, we’ve got roasted in a separate facility and consolidating the 2 into an inviting public area will give us alternative to interact prospects in new methods,” mentioned Nye. “We expect individuals admire seeing the roasting course of and getting access to the freshest potential coffees.”
Inside the brand new roastery, a shiny white Diedrich IR12 machine handles the roasting manufacturing load. Inexperienced coffees proceed to come back from Ninth Road’s long-trusted suppliers, together with the progressive Brazilian espresso producing and buying and selling firm Daterra for Ninth Road’s core blends.
“Now we have gained slightly little bit of room, however contemplating that our final roasting area was 600 sq. ft, it didn’t take a lot to realize area,” Nye mentioned. “What we actually gained is best move, really feel and accessibility with the brand new area. It’s an important structure with a lot of lovely daylight.”
Within the adjoining cafe, freshly roasted coffees make their method into the hoppers of a Mahlkönig EK43 grinder for brewed coffees or a Mahlkönig E80S for espressos. For the latter, the brand new store goes old-fashioned with a custom-built Bosco Sorrento 3 group lever machine.
“When NSE began over 20 years in the past, we had a Faema E61 on bar and the attraction of working with a easy basic machine that may produce wonderful espresso has by no means left us,” Nye mentioned. “The Bosco provides that have with extraction profiles that solely a lever group can obtain.”
As in any respect the opposite Ninth Road outlets, the brand new LIC location boasts an aggressively easy espresso menu, with solely Sizzling Espresso, Chilly Espresso, Espresso or Espresso with Milk, plus a la carte add-ons ice, oat milk, chocolate, honey or steamed milk. There are additionally teas, scorching chocolate and baked items from native outfit Native. The store additionally expenses 25 cents for single-use cups.
Notably, the brand new store occupies a bit of twelfth Road in LIC that’s closed to visitors as a result of a protected glacial rock formation. NSE’s landlord partnered with town’s streets division in 2019 to boost the previously under-used area as a pedestrian hall, the place NSE’s neighbors embody complementary companies like Focal Level Beer (previously ICONYC).
“Our nook of LIC has a wealthy residential neighborhood of parents who’re excited to have a espresso store of their hood,” Nye mentioned. “One thing we realized throughout Covid is that espresso outlets in industrial districts are weak, whereas, espresso outlets in residential neighborhoods are much less so.”
The most recent Ninth Road Espresso is positioned at 43-58 twelfth St in LIC, Queens. Inform DCN’s editors about your new espresso store or roastery right here.
Extra From DCN
Nick Brown
Nick Brown is the editor of Every day Espresso Information by Roast Journal.
