A Books & Beans review of Madman Espresso at 54 University Place in Greenwich Village, Manhattan
Ambience
A cup of coffee at Madman Espresso pairs nicely with a walk down University Place in Greenwich Village. The street makes any passerby feel like they stumbled upon a quaint town rather than the most desired neighborhood in Manhattan. The outpost is small, rustic and perfectly quirky with a handwritten menu, local photography, and intricate paintings. A chessboard sits on a shaky wooden table that promises any winner a free cup of coffee. The indoor seating is limited, but the café has a cabin out front that can be quite lovely on a warm day. If you can find a seat, WiFi is available and laptops are welcome!
Coffee
But a café is only as good as its coffee. Thankfully, Madman Espresso serves coffee and espresso brewed from Caffe Vita beans and it is simply amazing. The Oat Milk Latte (hot or iced) is the best in the city, and I often walk out of my way just to have it. If you’re interested in recreating this latte in your own home, you can buy the Caffe Vita Del Sol blend from the Caffe Vita website or directly from Madman Espresso.
Food
If you walk a few doors south on University Place, you’ll notice another Madman establishment – Madman Bakery. Just like its sister establishment – this bakery does not disappoint. The bread, the pastries, the PIZZA. This place is carb heaven and we wouldn’t want it any other way. The Wells Sandwich with Italian ham, fontina cheese, and fig jam on focaccia bread is a must have.