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[title]Kyoto at Blue Bottle Coffee
It can take up to 18 hours to cold-brew Blue Bottle's single-origin iced coffee—the stuff is filtered through a complex Japanese slow-dripper that extracts the flavor drop by precious drop. But the resulting drink is worth every second: smooth, bright and brawny with enough caffeine to fuel a small army—or one exhausted New Yorker. 160 Berry St between North 4th and 5th Sts, Williamsburg, Brooklyn (bluebottlecoffee.net). $4.25.
Pourover coffee at Kickstand Coffee
Plenty of spots serve top-notch beans, but few draw out their flavor as meticulously as this bike-drawn mobile coffee stand, where every cup is ground with a hand-cranked mill and prepared via customized Chemex beakers. Beans rotate frequently but look out for our favorite, Stumptown Ethiopian, which yields a low-acid brew that tastes round and fruity. Follow Kickstand on Twitter (@kickstandcoffee) for schedules and locations; Sat at Hester Street Fair, Hester St at Essex St (kickstandandglobal.com). $2.50.
Iced coffee at Cafe Pedlar
Stumptown commands major cachet in this caffeine-addled city, and Cafe Pedlar's simple iced coffee properly shows off the Brooklyn-roasted beans: They're steeped in cold water for 18 hours, resulting in a smooth, chocolate-and-caramel-tinged pick-me-up that's perfect with a splash of organic milk. 210 Court St at Warren St, Cobble Hill, Brooklyn (718-855-7129) cafepedlar.com. $3.
The Summer Road at The Randolph at Broome
This balanced blend of malted-milk powder, Oaxacan chocolate and your choice of nerdworthy beans (rotating purveyors include Oslo and Brooklyn Roasting Company) bears the mark of a thoughtful mixologist. Order it over Kold-Draft ice cubes at the bar—which by night serves classic cocktails—and watch the improved mocha come to life in a pint glass. 349 Broome St between Bowery and Elizabeth St (212-274-0667, randolphnyc.com). $4.50--$5.50.