Patch Picks: Best Places to Get Coffee

Every week Patch picks the best in Hoboken. Whether it's the best place to get a cup of coffee, or best place to take a date, we'll tell you about the Mile Square's finest (in no particular order, of course). This week: Patch picks the best places to get a cup of coffee.

Hoboken has a close relationship with coffee. We used to package it here, in factories like the Maxwell House, but we also have many coffee shops. If you need someplace to read a book, relax, stay warm, quench your thirst, perk up before work, recover from a hangover, meet with friends or a date, stay productive or talk business, these are some of your best locally owned options here in town:

• A good place to start as any is , 338 Bloomfield St. Empire has some seating inside and more outside during warm weather. You can also grab a cup to-go and sit in Church Square Park one block over. It's also an ideal place to sit and read after loaning from the Hoboken Public Library nearby.
• Staying in midtown, there's , 638 Willow Ave., which features a bar counter with stools and two low tables paired with interesting Trivial Pursuit puzzle piece shaped seats.
• If you're shopping or strolling on Washington Street, seek refreshment at the centrally located , 423 Washington St.
• Stop by for a cup of coffee on your way to the waterfront. You can find it at 111 River Street. They also serve ice cream.
• , 86 Garden St., which has a lot of seating, could shut down its whole coffee operation and you'd still have a reason to go there. That's because in addition to hot java they also serve slow cooked, hickory smoked barbecue, notably pulled pork, ribs, brisket and chicken.
• Downtown there's , 305 First St., which is notable for being socially conscious about its products, and the owner plays good reggae music.
• Uptown you have , 1500 Hudson St., on the first floor of the Hudson Tea Building. If you go, get some gelato. And, who knows who'll run into here - Eli Manning maybe?

Most of these places will sell coffee in-house or to go, and many offer packages of beans for sale. And that's just regular coffee, to say nothing of espressos, lattes and the like. Many of these cafes also have food selections, whether its burgers like the Hoboken Gourmet Company or even pastries and lighter sandwiches like Maroon. Empire, Legal Beans, Ganache and Dames have wi-fi for you workers. Though they didn't make this list, many city convenience stores sell coffee too. Coffee is all over this town, so keep drinking it, Hoboken.

Have an idea for a Patch Picks column? Have a comment or a question about a pick? Send an email to alanskontra@hotmail.com, and be sure to check back every Thursday afternoon.