Coffee Project New York announces the opening of its newest outpost on the Upper East Side. Located at 1219 1st Avenue (at 66th Street), the store joins the brand’s growing portfolio of eight locations across Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn.
Founded in 2015 as a passion project by Chi Sum Ngai and Kaleena Teoh, Coffee Project New York is a premier coffee retailer, roaster, and education center. The company is dedicated to improving the quality of life for everyone across the coffee supply chain. Through sustainable sourcing, impactful community initiatives, and robust career growth for long-term industry professionals, Coffee Project New York actively expands economic opportunities for marginalized communities.
A three-time recipient of TimeOut New York’s “Most Loved Coffee Shop” award, Coffee Project New York is also currently ranked #3 in New York State by the prestigious World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops guide. The brand has built a reputation that bridges a loyal local community with national acclaim among coffee professionals. Celebrated for its expansive, seasonal, and specialty curation, Coffee Project New York sources directly from award-winning farms, highlighting niche varieties, experimental processes, and women producers. Beyond the cup, the brand drives industry excellence through The Academy at Coffee Project New York, the state’s very first Specialty Coffee Association-certified Premier Training Campus.
Coffee Project New York is dedicated to dismantling the barriers of traditional coffee service and spotlighting the meticulous craft behind every cup. The brand’s name embodies an ongoing exploration of coffee craftsmanship, approaching each beverage as a distinct “project” designed to showcase unique flavor profiles and technical barista skill. This philosophy is anchored by their signature debut creation, Project #1 (The Deconstructed Latte)—a foundational menu item that separates a classic latte into its individual components and serves them as a curated sensory experience on a single tray.
The Upper East Side location will be overseen by Managing Partner James D. Wang, a former student of the Academy at Coffee Project, who will curate the menu programming to feature a robust selection of daily pour-overs, including varieties from lesser-known regions, minority producers, and rare, single-origin beans. In particular, a natural process coffee from Samir Estate in San Jose de Ocoa, Dominican Republic, will be a location-exclusive offering on the pour over menu. The 700-square-foot space will feature an intimate seating area as well as a dedicated pour over bar attached to the coffee counter. Seasonal drink specials will also be a focus, as well as a daily selection of fresh pastries.
