Blue Bottle Coffee

The siphon pot, an alchemical glass-bulb coffeemaker, takes center stage at the first Manhattan location from San Francisco roaster Blue Bottle. Like the Williamsburg outpost, this minimalist café sports maple wood, tall ceilings and poured-concrete flours, but the six-stool siphon bar on the back mezzanine takes coffee geekery to the next level. Grab a seat at the marble counter and watch the barista brew right in front of you—a halogen heater warms water in the implement's bottom bulb, then vapor forces it into a top chamber filled with grinds. When the heat source is removed, the coffee filters back into the bottom bulb, resulting in a crisp cup of joe that shows the bean's distinct flavors. Caffeine fiends who prefer less hoopla can order pour-overs, espresso drinks and pastries at the front coffee counter.