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| Courtesy of Little Collins |
Despite the somewhat
cold industrial interior— Edison bulbs, woods and metals—Little Collins, an Australian style coffee shop, is vibrant and
inviting. Perhaps it’s the easy to swallow beverage menu or the flavorful to
the point food options made with fresh ingredients. Or the smiles that greet
every customer even when the line is practically out the door and everyone is
in a rush. It could be that.
Little Collins is
not your average coffee shop where you grab a cuppa joe and a bite and
dash. It’s that and so much more. “We are doing our best to make specialty
coffee accessible to everyone. Coffee shops can be intimidating,” says Leon Unglik, an owner. “Our staff is
trained to be fastidious about coffee preparation but also to put customer
service above all else.”
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The pace is
fast, but time can also be relished with deep sips of aromatic coffee and
seasonal blends. Smells of coffee and baked goods are hypnotizing while the
tinkle of glassware is melodic. Counter seats are immersive as baristas move with
purposeful ease and tiny tables along the wall allow for slowed down snacks. Even
the rush is soothing.
“We want this to
be a place that people want to hang out in,” Unglik says. But, it’s also about
the coffee.
The midtown cafe
begins with high-quality Counter Culture
Coffee and brews with top of the line gear: the Kalita Wave brewing device,
Fetco for batch brewing and is the first in New York with Modbar pour-over taps and espresso equipment. Unglik describes the
flat white, popular both at Little Collins and in Australia, as a “thinner
latte in a cappuccino cup.” The warm drink is velvety, not abrasive for the
unaccustomed coffee consumer but Arnon
Magal, an owner, also says “coffee geeks and snobs say wow right away.”
The curated
menu, dotted with Australian staples, features 'brekkie,' soups, sandwiches and
salads with a focus on “flavor profile and execution,“ according to Magal. “We
are very much about fresh, seasonal ingredients and interesting yet simple
combinations,” Unglik says of the food program created by Magal.
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The food
philosophy is evident in the popular avocado smash, which recalls Down Under. A whole bright green avocado, mashed
with salty feta, lays thick on a toasted grainy bread. Red chile flakes and
herbs brighten the rich avocado, while earthy pepitas add a meaty savory note.
Definitely a hearty start.
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Sweeter, the
Sweet Uncle Fred is like a quick brunch, but tastes almost as leisurely. Warmed
banana bread is smeared with not quite savory ricotta and topped with strawberries
and blueberries, stripes of honey and toasted granola-like almonds. The fresh berries highlight the rawness
of the ricotta, but the crunch of the almonds echo the walnuts of the bread. Simplistic
beauty and refreshing unpretentious flavors make for a sweet beginning.
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| Courtesy of Little Collins |
With more to
wake you up than just java, Little Collins, boasting origins in Australian
coffee culture and featuring plush bites, brings something new to midtown and the
growing New York specialty coffee scene.
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Little Collins
667 Lexington
Ave
New York, NY
10022
ph 212.308.1969
