Guide: Standout Long Island coffee shops

Indie coffee houses and local chainlets are draws for more than a quick caffeine fix. In many cases you can settle in to get some work done and find light bites, too. Here are some standout coffee spots around Long Island.

Aldo’s, Greenport

Founder Aldo Maiorana started roasting beans (and baking biscotti) in 1987 and, since then, his shop has become a star attraction for Greenport visitors who need a jolt of joe or a bag of beans. (Aldo's "Orient espresso" is one of the North Fork's great treasures.) Last year, a group of former customers bought the shop, pledging to do nothing to disturb its legacy.

More info: 103-105 Front St., Greenport; 631-477-6300, aldoscoffee.com

Campground Craft Beer & Coffee, Sea Cliff

Campground is essentially an all-day bar: Start with a caffeine fix in the morning, do some work on your laptop in the afternoon and crack open a beer in the evening. The house roaster is Little Seed out of Vermont, and they’re also featuring for-purchase selections from shops including Invisible Force in Brooklyn, Panther out of Miami, and Sey in Manhattan.

More info: 208 Sea Cliff Ave., Sea Cliff; campgroundbeer.com

Coffeelombia, East Patchogue

This casual strip-mall joint sells short cups of Colombian coffees called tintos, alongside Colombian burgers and hot dogs piled with potato chips and pink sauce. The smaller the coffee, the thinking goes, the more you can drink throughout the day.

More info: 711 Medford Ave., East Patchogue; coffeelombia.coffee

Druthers Coffee, Stony Brook

Coffee, espresso and cold brew are now fueled by Druthers' own brand of coffee, and specialty creations include espresso tonics (aka spronics), hazelnut cortado or pumpkin chai cocoa. Pastries are baked every morning, whether pumpkin-pecan scones or brown-butter cinnamon rolls or olive-oil muffins.

More info: 1113 N. Country Rd., Stony Brook; druthers.coffee

Flux Coffee, Farmingdale

One of Long Island's only hipster coffee shops, Flux in Farmingdale fits the bill. Owner-roaster Arsalan Pourmand roasts single-origin beans inside this cheerful, slightly retro café, and constantly pushes the envelope with innovative drinks as well as robust cold brew.

More info: 211 Main St., Farmingdale; 516-586-8979, fluxcoffee.com

For Five Coffee Roasters, multiple locations

This Queens-based chain of sleek cafés is a great option for remote work. Their menu is more creative than most. Espressos, flat whites and cappuccinos almost seem humdrum compared with the more involved drinks. Gotham Mocha, for instance, is blended with chocolate ganache created by Manhattan’s Gotham Bar & Grill. Baked goods such as croissants, spinach and cheese pies, and churro cookies are some of the best on the Island. 

More info: Three locations in Garden City, Manhasset and Port Washington; forfivecoffee.com

Georgio’s, Farmingdale

Glass cold-drip contraptions create a lab-like vibe inside this modest spot, which is presided over by longtime roaster Georgio Testani and his wife, Lydia. Their house brews are the bar against which many others are measured.

More info: 1965 New Hwy., Farmingdale; 516-238-2999, georgioscoffee.com

Hampton Coffee Company, multiple locations

This small coffee chain is like the Starbucks of the East End, with locations in half a dozen towns. There is a full lineup of espressos and their caffeinated cousins, and some of the pastries are baked on the premises. 

More info: Six locations in Water Mill, Westhampton Beach, Southampton, Aquebogue, Montauk and Center Moriches; hamptoncoffeecompany.com

Kismet Coffee Co., Bay Shore

Founded on Fire Island (where there are seasonal shops in Kismet and Ocean Beach), this cozy café offers two tables for seating, as well as standing room around wine barrels within Fire Island Vines. Laced with Golden Grahams, the cereal milk latte pairs perfectly with the chewy, oversized cinnamon sugar cookie.

More info: 17 E. Main St., Bay Shore; kismetcoffeecompany.com

Mongo's Coffee, Syosset 

At this sprawling warehouse café tucked into a nondescript parking lot, owner and lifelong roaster Mitchel Margulis churns out robust blends. The latte art here is unparalleled, and it also serve pastries and savory lunch items sourced from local bakeries.

More info: 170 Michael Dr., Syosset; 516-584-6464, mongoscoffee.com

Muni's Coffee Joint, Lindenhurst

Owner Alice Bopp came to the United States from Rio de Janeiro in 2002, fell in love, and eventually, a few years back, moved east to Lindenhurst and opened Muni's in 2019. The shop offers a wide selection of teas and coffees, including seasonal lattes. Don't miss the pay-it-forward acts of kindness board, launched during the pandemic, where fellow java drinkers leave sticky note messages that include pre-paid coffee drinks for those in need of a pick-me-up.

More info: 222 N. Wellwood Ave. in Lindenhurst; 631-412-5085

North Fork Roasting Co., Southold

Since it opened in 2015, North Fork Roasting Co. has become a North Fork meeting place not only for the fine coffee — professionally prepared or bagged for home brewing — but for the menu of homemade pastries, sandwiches, salads and more. Ant there are few more congenial spots to chill out than at this charming little wood-shingled house comfortably furnished with whimsical industrial-rustic chic and original artwork.

More info: 55795 Main Rd., Southold; 631-876-5450, noforoastingco.com

One Trick Pony, Westhampton Beach

In the mornings, you can get a drip, cold brew or latte like the Bee Sting, espresso with honey and steamed almond milk. Pair with stuffed breakfast sandos including the bun, which is a fried egg with bacon and avocado on a toasted potato bun. In the evenings, don’t miss the espresso martini. A spicy version can be paired with a tasting of Parmesan and dark chocolate.

More info: 59 Main St., Westhampton Beach; onetrickponycoffee.com

Purple Elephant Café, Northport

The coffees and teas here are organic, sourced from small roasters Hamptons Coffee and SerendipiTea. Food options include local pop-up brands, as well as pastries and desserts, most of which will be made on-site and be vegan and/or gluten-free.

More info: 81B W. Fort Salonga Rd., Northport; 631-651-5002, thepurpleelephantny.com

Rivers Cafe, Floral Park 

This small Salvadoran coffee shop is owned by Abby Rivera, who sources beans from her family farm in Chinchontepec, El Salvador. In addition to hot coffee, she also serves a full menu of latte drinks and cold brew, in addition to Salvadoran breakfast staples like pupusas and egg dishes. 

More info: 304 Jericho Tpke., Floral Park; 516-502-2500, riverscafeusa.com

Southdown Coffee, multiple locations

Hipster but with multiple locations, Southdown is a great place to enjoy a pour-over. The local roaster puts a lot of emphasis on its sourcing, highlighting single-origin coffees from Mexico, Brazil, Peru and more. The pastry selection is small but fierce, with cinnamon buns baked each morning along with a selection of breakfast sandwiches. Beware, not all locations have Wi-Fi.

More info: Seven locations in Glen Cove, Huntington, Northport, Oyster Bay, Port Jefferson, Patchogue and Point Lookout; southdowncoffee.com

Tend Coffee​​, Shirley

The hamlet of Shirley is not a gustatory hot spot, but it boasts Tend Coffee, one of Long Island’s best roasters. Susan and Dan Kennedy began roasting beans in 2011 and opened this shop two years later. All pulled, dripped and poured-over drinks are excellent, and you can also purchase expertly roasted beans, among them the light "Day Break," medium "Weekender," dark "Special Prep" (a bestseller, developed for restaurants and cafes) and the deepest, richest, darkest, yet low-acidity "Rhino Chaser."

More info: 924 Montauk Hwy., Shirley; 631-772-4707, tendcoffee.com