A small cafe in New York City's West Village has achieved international recognition shortly after opening. Arcane Estate Coffee on Cornelia Street placed 12th on a global list of top coffee shops. The honor highlights its unique sourcing and quality in a competitive market.
In a city saturated with coffee options, Arcane Estate Coffee has distinguished itself rapidly. The cafe, located on Cornelia Street in the West Village, opened less than a year ago and was recently named among the 100 best coffee shops worldwide, securing the 12th spot overall. This ranking emerged from an evaluation of more than 15,000 establishments at Coffee Fest in Madrid, assessing factors like coffee quality, barista expertise, sustainability practices, and customer experience. Just nine U.S. cafes made the list this year.
The shop's founder, Edgar Acosta-Masferrer, brings a personal touch to its offerings. Some beans are sourced directly from his family's property in Panama, where he spent much of the past decade involved in coffee cultivation. He opened the New York location to roast the beans himself and share them more broadly. "It was more sort of figuring out how I can bring coffee from Panama, roast it myself, and really just give it out to friends and sell it in small doses and small quantities," Acosta-Masferrer said.
Customers have responded positively to the cafe's distinct profile. One patron described the coffee as "so smooth, so flavorful" and noted its great atmosphere. A former barista with 12 years of experience remarked, "There’s no shortage of good coffee in the world, but this one actually has a lot of character to it." Another added, "Once you get up to this level of coffee, it’s really hard to go down."
Acosta-Masferrer views the recognition as validating but expected. "It’s a pleasant surprise, but I think we knew that we were doing something different," he said. "We’re really happy that people are coming to us to sort of discover this, but also a lot of people are really into the approach. And I think that’s what keeps us going." For this quiet neighborhood spot, the accolade solidifies its appeal to local and visiting coffee enthusiasts alike.