Uptown Roasters

Not really sure why this place has 5 stars.
Unfriendly staff, the one tall guy was GROUCHY as hell when i asked how many shots there were in their «YUPPIE”(which by the way what the hell? It’s a LATTE… L A T T E lol). I admire them trying to do their own thing but that’s pushing it. The interior is a hodgepodge of random thrift shop crap scattered about the place. The place is a little dirty as well. Also the pastry case is unlabeled! Which pastry is which??? I asked what a certain pastry was in the case and the barista responded with a shrewd» oh that’s our turnover” she could have added a «D’uh» at the end to make her feelings even more clearer lol. I guess I should of read their peace of paper menu typed in 12pt don’t on top of the case that just lists what they have in there.
As far as coffee wise… Meh… Love the heart blob I got.

Such a big fan of uptown roasters. I like their seasonal flavors, and they have some great bakery itwms too. I tried their blueberry kale vegan muffin and it was decent despite the fact that I’m not a fan of kale and vegan stuff, though I’m trying to be healthier! The coffee here is almost a necessity in my life now. It just puts me in an actual functioning state in the mornings lol.

Great service great, quality coffee as well as a nice atmosphere! Definitely coming back with others!

Positive experience: friendly staff + tasty pour over were welcoming. Would go back if in the area.

Best coffee I’ve found in New York! Perfect kick start to my day. Super friendly staff too

Amazing coffee! I was si happy when they opened last year because I had been looking for a coffee place around the neighborhood, and this is definitely it!

Amazing place. Staff was excellent and super friendly. Highly recommend them. Coffee is made fresh and tastes real. Not watered down. They brew your coffee right in front of you.

East Harlem is SO desperate for cafes and this place is great! I like to sit in cafes to work and I gave this place three stars because the internet cuts off after an hour. Also, the barista didn’t know how to make an iced tea, but he also seemed like he hadn’t worked there for very long. Support East Harlem cafes!!!

Yummy cold brew and great customer service! A little hole in the wall, not much seating, but a good spot to grab and go. Happy to know there’s a nice spot to get my morning coffee when I visit family again in East Harlem.

Uptown Roasters is an absolute gem and a great addition to East Harlem. You probably won’t find another coffee shop with as much character, authenticity, and quality coffee as you can find here.
The owners, Dan and Shanna, are passionate about what they do. There is a story behind their coffee as other Unilocalers have written… Dan works with farmers in Peru and a lot of the coffee comes from there. All of the coffee is roasted by the Uptown team in the South Bronx.
If you’re looking for a good cup of coffee, a great relaxed atmosphere, and friendly, welcoming people, stop by Uptown Roasters. If you know nothing about coffee, or hardly drink it, I especially urge you to stop by! Try a drink, ask a question, learn something new, get connected to a new place in the neighborhood.

I think this is probably the best coffee (brew-​wise and espresso-​wise) in east harlem; they don’t have a lot of competitors but they’d win anyway! Most friendly staff, I hope this doesn’t change for them because those small chitchats in the mornings before work could really up-​bring someone’s day. I’d recommend anyone to try their Iced Mocha for the summer, so simple yet so good!

Had my own version of Vietnamese ice coffee barista was very flexible and willing to meet my expectations and surpassed them… final product is something worth trying… four shots of expresso hot poured into condense milk added to a shaker cup with ice shaken vigorously then out come this fluffy goodness at a splash of half and half on top give it a swirl then a swig… perfection thank you Josh

So glad this place came to East Harlem. Dan & Shana are the power duo behind the bar — and they’re the absolute best!
All the coffee is imported from different regions of the world, especially Peru (where Dan previously started a coffee export business). Once the fresh green coffee beans make its way to NYC, they are then roasted throughout the week and then used for all of Uptown Roasters coffee drinks!
This is probably the freshest roasted coffee you’ll get in Manhattan — one of few places that roasts they’re own beans locally.
Everything tastes great — especially the scones and bagels.
Stop by when you’re on the way to work in the AM, can’t miss them right outside he subway!

I love Uptown’s coffee. They constantly try to make great flavor. For instance during fall season, they sold pumpkin flavored coffee, for winter nutty flavor and these days, uptown is experimenting to create fruity flavored coffee.
I really enjoy drinking their iced coffee. The cold brew is full of flavor. Uptown also has great pastry selection. Their almond croissants, cream croissants, and chocolate croissants are amazong. Uptown has bagels from Bo’s and their breakfast bars are selected from Brooklyn’s.
Everybody from Uptown’s coffee is so sweet and nice. I really like the cozy interior of this place. Highly recommend to try their coffee for those who haven’t but live around the town. Also highly recommend to pick up a cup of coffee and walking upper part of the central park.

I love coffee and I miss my favorite places in Puerto Rico. The coffee in NY is tragic. Uptown Roasters, however, has become my haven. The coffee is delicious and the cortado is deeply satisfying. The owners and staff are genuinely kind and polite – again, another haven in NY. I also love that the beans are roasted locally in the Bronx, it is so nice to see something artisanal from the BX and not BK.

really cute coffee shop that has quickly become my morning go to spot on my way to work.
super friendly staff and good, affordable coffee.
try the cappuccino with almond milk – it’s money!

What can I say about this place? I live in Los Angeles but every time I meet my husband out in NYC this is my go-​to place. This is everything that you would want from a coffee shop. Disclaimer: I am not a coffee connoisseur by any means… I’m not going to talk about the nuanced «aftertaste» or the «boldness» of the coffee. I don’t even know what that means. I am just the average coffee drinker who appreciates not just a good cup of coffee but the ambiance of the coffeeshop.
The coffee– it’s good. The baristas take great care in making sure that you get the perfect cup of coffee. Also, I do know that the beans are roasted in the bronx (it says so on the zarfs… or would it be «zarves» like «scarves»?) Either way, I love that they support local businesses.
The ambiance/​décor– the coffeeshop itself has personality. Coffee aside, the decoration reflects the local community and has a certain quirkiness that Starbucks tries to create but can’t because it has to stay within its corporate lanes. I asked a barista the other day about the new chalkboard sign they got with their menu and she said «Oh, do you like it? My friend made it.» Can’t think of a more DIY/​organic way to personalize a neighborhood coffeeshop. And they’re always improving on their interior design, like the laptop bar I’m currently typing on.
and finally…
The baristas– can’t say enough good about these guys. I don’t know how they did it, but every barista behind the counter is just an extension of the theme of the coffeeshop: quaint, quirky, friendly, and make you feel welcomed. Bailey, Josh, the owner Dan, and his wife are the quintessential «mi casa es su casa» type of person.
This little gem makes the neighborhood better. Thank you Uptown Roasters for being you!

I love this place~!! So great quality of coffee with even awesome pastries. Plus very friendly staffs from there. Thanks god I have this place around my house :)

No one was happier to see Uptown Roasters in el Barrio. A beautiful sight for a coffee-​loving gal like me who refuses to partake in bodega coffee as most people in this neighborhood do on their miserable way to work in the morning. The sign spray painted in bright orange «Fresh Coffee here,» a peculiar sign indeed, but it worked and lured me in as I chuckled at the sign.
«Oh, yeah. The sign. We just put that there.» Clearly they were trying to attract customers and it actually worked.
You roast your own coffee? Yes– the owner does.
Where’s the roastery? In the Bronx.
In the Bronx?! Yes– in the South Bronx.
This owner is certainly thinking outside the box which is cooler than the actual coffee although the coffee is quite good. The roasts vary and often times the drip is not the African fruity variations I tend to go for so I usually opt for an espresso based drink (an 8 oz latte) and though latte art isn’t their strong suit the baristas are super chill and friendly, especially Bailey, and the expresso hits the spot as I head into the pit of hell… I mean: work.
Uptown Roasters is usually a combination of coffee and friendly conversation, the best way to get your morning brew!

My sanity was restored this morning after flying in from Sydney (Australia) and searching for a decent coffee for 5 days.
Beautifully made by the welcoming owner. Will be telling more Australians about the hidden gem