Three Great Cups Of Coffee

I'm always searching for good, strong coffee and an inviting atmosphere in which to enjoy it. Here are three cafés where I like to linger over an espresso:

Manhattan: Kiva Café is a surprising oasis of calm right above bustling Canal Street. It's a pleasure to sip from the beautiful mugs sculpted by owner/artist Beebe Okaye. The coffee, made with beans from Red Hook's Espresso Emporium, is terrific, as are the fresh-baked chocolate-chip cookies. There's also a full menu of sandwiches, savory tarts, and salads. A changing installation of original local artwork provides visual stimulation.
Kiva Café, 229 Hudson St., (212) 229-0898.

Queens: Munch Café & Grill (CLOSED), which occupies a quiet corner of Forest Hills, is the place to "eat, drink and unwind." I've enjoyed many a morning with a cup of their French press coffee, brewed with Queens-roasted Kudo Beans. For an extra-strong cup, try the Kenya or Ethiopian Harrar roasts. A jumbo egg sandwich on a roll is only $2.00, and according to the owner, there will soon be a new menu featuring various rice-based dishes.
Munch Café & Grill: 71-60 Yellowstone Blvd., Queens, (718) 544-0075.

Brooklyn On weekends, the popular Half Wine Bar Lounge becomes a lovely spot for a latte, opening at 9 a.m. If you like the coffee at 71 Irving Place Coffee and Tea Bar in Gramercy Park, you'll also enjoy it at Half, because the café uses the same beans. The chocolate croissants and wild blueberry muffins are baked at the nearby Blue Sky Bakery. But if you're still thinking about wine after your muffin and coffee, the tiny shop and library offer a collection of books to educate your inner sommelier.
Half Wine Bar Lounge: 626 Vanderbilt Avenue, Brooklyn, (718) 783-4100.