The Coffee Landscape

The Finger Lakes is wine country, beer country, and increasingly cider and spirits country. Coffee is the beverage category that has been slowest to develop. There is no local coffee culture in the way that Portland or San Francisco has one — no regional roaster with name recognition, no latte-art competitions, no coffee-specific tourism. What exists instead is a scattering of genuinely good coffee shops in the larger towns, a few small-batch roasters doing serious work, and then a lot of gas-station drip and hotel-lobby pods filling the gaps.

This guide covers the shops that are worth a detour — the places where someone behind the counter cares about the beans, the extraction, and the experience.

Ithaca

Ithaca has the deepest coffee scene in the Finger Lakes by a wide margin, which makes sense for a city with two colleges and a progressive food culture.

Gimme! Coffee: The closest thing the Finger Lakes has to a specialty coffee institution. Gimme! has been roasting in Ithaca since 2000 and operates multiple locations: the original on Cayuga Street near the Commons, a shop on the Cornell campus, and a roastery on Pier Road. The beans are sourced direct-trade, the roasting is careful, and the espresso is consistently well-pulled. The Cayuga Street shop is the best location for atmosphere — a long, narrow space with exposed brick and a neighborhood feel. Pour-overs, cortados, cold brew, and single-origin espresso. If you drink one coffee in the Finger Lakes, drink it here.

Collegetown Bagels (CTB): Not a specialty coffee shop, but the coffee program at CTB is better than it needs to be for a bagel joint. They serve Gimme! Coffee, the espresso drinks are well-made, and the drip coffee is fresh and strong. Three locations; the College Avenue shop has the most energy.

Press Cafe: On the Ithaca Commons, Press serves well-made espresso drinks and light fare. The space is bright and modern, good for working or reading. A reliable option if Gimme! is crowded.

Ithaca Bakery: The coffee bar at this sprawling bakery-deli on North Meadow Street handles volume without sacrificing quality. Not a destination for coffee geeks, but a solid cup alongside their excellent pastries and breakfast sandwiches.

Geneva

Cafe 55: The breakfast-and-lunch spot on Exchange Street serves good coffee alongside its food menu. Not a specialty roaster, but the drip is strong and the espresso drinks are competently made. The real draw is the breakfast — the coffee is a reliable bonus.

Lake City Coffee Roasters: A small-batch roaster in Geneva producing single-origin and blended coffees. Available at some Geneva shops and restaurants. If you see the name on a menu, order it — the roasting is careful and the beans are fresh.

Skaneateles

Heritage Hill Brewhouse: A combination coffee shop and brewery — coffee in the morning, beer in the afternoon. The coffee program uses quality beans and the espresso drinks are well-made. The setting, in a historic building on Genesee Street, is pleasant. A good stop during a Skaneateles village walk.

Penn Yan

Amity Coffee: A small, locally owned shop on Main Street serving espresso drinks, pour-overs, and pastries. The quality is above what you would expect in a village of 5,000. Good beans, careful preparation, and a cozy space with friendly staff. The best coffee on Keuka Lake. Open daily, reasonable hours.

Corning

Card Carrying Coffee: A specialty shop in the Gaffer District on Market Street that takes coffee seriously. Well-sourced beans, precise espresso, and a knowledgeable staff. The space is small and focused — no food menu to distract from the coffee. If you are visiting the Corning Museum of Glass, this is the coffee stop.

Poppleton Bakery: More bakery than coffee shop, but the coffee pairs well with their croissants, scones, and sourdough bread. On Market Street in the Gaffer District. The pastries are the real draw — the coffee is good enough to deserve them.

Watkins Glen

Wildflower Cafe: The cafe on Franklin Street serves good coffee alongside its farm-sourced breakfast and lunch menu. Not a specialty coffee shop in the strict sense, but the beans are quality and the drinks are made with care. The best coffee option in the village, and a natural pre-hike stop for Watkins Glen State Park.

Canandaigua

Simply Crepes: A crepe restaurant on South Main Street that serves quality espresso drinks alongside its food. The lattes are well-made and the setting is charming. A good breakfast option in Canandaigua.

Trumansburg

Gimme! Coffee at the Ithaca Farmers Market: On Saturdays, Gimme! Coffee has a stand at the Ithaca Farmers Market. If you are at the market (and on a Saturday in season, you should be), this is the best coffee you will find outside of Ithaca proper.

Atlas Bowl: A combination bowling alley, pizza shop, and coffee bar in Trumansburg. The coffee is surprisingly decent for a bowling alley. Trumansburg is a small village with limited options; Atlas Bowl fills the gap.

What to Expect (and Not Expect)

A few honest notes about Finger Lakes coffee culture:

• Ithaca is the exception, not the rule. Gimme! Coffee is a legitimate specialty roaster. Most other towns have one decent coffee shop and several mediocre ones.
• Hours can be limited. Small-town coffee shops may close by 2 or 3 p.m. Do not assume city hours.
• Winery tasting rooms do not serve good coffee. If a winery offers coffee alongside its wine, expect hotel-lobby quality at best.
• Hotels are mostly disappointing. Unless you are at a high-end property, hotel coffee is Keurig pods. Bring your own beans and a portable pour-over if coffee matters to you.
• The best coffee experience in the region may be buying Gimme! beans at the roastery on Pier Road and brewing them at your rental cabin with a proper kettle and grinder.

For more on dining and drinking in the region, see our brunch guide, Ithaca restaurant guide, and distillery guide.