New York is known for its specialty coffee. Overpriced lattes and watery matchas are easy to come by, but every once in a while, you might stumble upon a true gem. When I first moved to New York City in the summer of 2024, a little coffee shop tucked away in the entrance of a billiards hall in Williamsburg won my heart. Buddies Coffee is a humble yet mighty operation where co-owners Rachel and Taylor make incredible lattes, roast their own beans, and sell their own coffee. Rachel, a native New Yorker and Puerto Rican, has made Buddies known for their coquito lattes that use her family’s secret coquito recipe.
Now, I don’t want to expose my special secret spots in New York City, but Buddies Coffee went viral this spring when one of Rachel’s videos went crazy (I’m talking over 7 million views crazy) on TikTok. You can watch the video here. In it, Rachel shares an emotional and vulnerable moment of frustration involved with being a small business owner in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. She opens up about the specific struggles of being a Puerto Rican business owner, and the unstoppable, sometimes hopeless, feeling that comes with the modern wave of gentrification in the area. After this video, there’s been endless lines out the door, filled with thousands of people coming from near and far to support Rachel and show their love for small businesses. They deserve every very bit of success and recognition they’re getting—their coffee (and matcha) is truly that good.
The Snacks
Despite never-ending lines out their door for weeks at a time, they have never skimped on the quality of their coffee, matcha, or beverages in general. All of their matcha is fresh-whisked and the coffee is still their signature Buddies coffee (which is roasted by Rachel, by hand, at a Brooklyn roastery space). Here’s what I order:
Coquito latte. The creamy, nutty flavor of coquito pairs perfectly with dark, rich coffee. I ordered an almond milk latte (the almond milk also adds a touch of nutty smoothness that I love, but suit yourself) with coquito. This works either hot or iced. Thank me later.
Coquito matcha. Call me crazy, but if it's your first time at a new coffee shop and you just waited in a long line, you need to try more than one thing. Their matcha is hand-whisked (no batch prepping matcha around here) and they use Rocky’s Matcha, which is incredibly high quality, silky smooth, and has a nuttier flavor profile compared to other ceremonial grade brands (which can be a bit more salty or savory). When you first try that frothy, thick matcha paired with the sweet coconut and cinnamon flavor combo of coquito, there’s no going back.
Coconut and chocolate macaroons. This day I got extra lucky and they still had some treats in their pastry case. It can vary in offerings, but these little desserts were from Little Rico, another phenomenal Puerto Rican owned cafe located in Hudson, New York.
If you’re really dedicated, head to Buddies on the weekend and try to make it early enough to get a guava quesito or the occasional pop-up bake sale cookie. Stay up to date on their Instagram story for special weekend events.
Final Rating
It’s no secret that I think Buddies is perfectly rated. If you asked me a few months ago, I’d have told you they were incredibly underrated, but it’s amazing to see them finally get their flowers. Don’t be scared by a potential line; No doubt, Rachel and Taylor will greet you at the door and you’ll be forever changed by one of their lattes.
If you’re reading this and you have a suggestion for a Snack Shop in the city that I must visit and (honestly) rate, leave a comment here or on our Snack Shop TikTok video. I love suggestions!
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