The trifecta is complete. The perfect addition to any subway stop, Winfield Street Coffee’s newest shop inside the 72nd Street-Second Avenue subway station is now open, becoming the company’s third underground java spot on the Upper East Side and the first to offer fresh-brewed espressos served with a smile steps from New Yorkers’ morning commute.
Inside the turnstiles at the East 72nd Street entrance, Winfield Street Coffee launched its smallest — yet, most complete — coffee shop on Monday, serving drinks from its espresso machine, drip coffee and nitro cold brew on tap. They also offer small bites, including fresh sandwiches, salads and pastries delivered from their locations in Fairfield County, Connecticut.
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More than a year in the making, Winfield Street makes the most of the small space inside the UES subway station to serve customers in the biggest ways, like lugging in five-gallon jugs of bottled water to brew every cup, because the water matters just as much as the coffee beans, according to Ezra Vallecillo, manager of the three UES locations.
“We really pride ourselves in making these proper,” Vallecillo explained, noting that the coffee shop’s location, nestled within a New York City subway station, tends to bring out the skeptic in people, “We’re just trying to take care of [commuters’ needs] because we get it.”
While the Upper East Side has plenty of suitable cups of coffee, Vallecillo says what makes Winfield rise above the rest is their strong brews and the outstanding customer service his team provides — empowering his baristas to be creative, be their best selves and brighten peoples’ days.
“It’s such a lost art these days,” Vallecillo said, noting how the pandemic has stripped away many of the pleasantries in retail, “I know it can feel weird or uncomfortable to be present and jolly with strangers, but someone’s got to do it.”
“It’s dumbfounding. This is a city of millions, yet millions still feel lonely here,” the actor-turned-hospitality professional explained to Upper East Site on Tuesday, mirroring a warning from the U.S. Surgeon General that same day, revealing the physical health risks of what the nation’s top doctor describes as an ‘Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation.’
“The world is already on edge. We’ve got to do our best to leave it a little better than how we found it,” Vallecillo continued, adding that Winfield’s CEO ensures his company’s priority is serving people.
Winfield Street Coffee is also now brewing its own blend for drip coffee, dubbed Take Two Coffee. The beans are specially sourced from a farm in Brazil and roasted to the company’s specifications.
“This is our baby right now,” said Vallecillo, “This is Winfield’s first batch of coffee.”
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While Take Two Coffee is Winfield’s first, it will not be the only batch. Winfield grinds Counter Culture Coffee’s sustainably-sourced beans for its espressos right now, but the company plans to switch to its own beans in the future.
To focus on the launch of the new coffee shop inside the 72nd Street subway station, Winfield has paused service at their kiosk at 96th Street this month. The new 72nd Street-Second Avenue Winfield Street Coffee and 86th Street subway locations are open daily from 7:00 am to 1:00 pm.
All three Winfield spots will be back open until 7:00 pm on weekdays starting in June.
