Roast Masters

Kudo Beans Featured in New York Magazine
March, 2003

When New York became Starbucks Central, neighborhood delis lost serious caffeinated ground to the dark-roasted, fresh-brewed competition. A company called Kudo Beans leapt into the breach, marketing greengrocers a better grade of java from Dallis Bros., the venerable Ozone Park roaster that also supplies Babbo and Aquavit. Last week, Kudo opened a spiffy East Village coffee shop of its own, where a dizzying selection of 28 estate-grown blends (including a super-dark roast called Burnt Ember, catering to fans of that West Coast monolith, no doubt) are fastidiously ground and French-pressed to order. Wisely resisting the urge to put all its beans in one filter basket, Kudo also servers loose-leaf tea, gelato, hefty panini and wrap sandwiches, and – to start ‘em young, we presume = a kids' menu (49 1/2 First Avenue; 212-353-1477).