FINANCIAL DISTRICT — Down Under-style coffee has arrived Downtown.
Bluestone Lane Coffee, a cafe inspired by the coffee culture of Melbourne, Australia, opened its second city location on Wednesday, in a cozy first-floor space in Financial District high-rise 30 Broad St.
Serving premium roasts — with freshly ground beans for each new cup of coffee — co-owner and Melbourne native Aaron Cook said the cafe encourages customers to sit and stay awhile, to enjoy a little respite from their workday and the hustle and bustle of the city.
"Other coffee shops are sort of sanitized, and look more similar to perhaps your own office surroundings," said Cook, 32. "We want people to come into a different environment, a little oasis from the city."
The cafe, lined with quirky Australian memorabilia, serves premium drip and espressos coffees, some with an Aussie twist. A "flat white," for example — considered the unofficial coffee drink of Australia — is like a cappuccino, but not so foamy, Cook said.
Also on the menu is an Australian ice-latte — which is served with a scoop of ice cream.
The shop will also offer pastries from Balthazar, Bondi Bikkies, gluten-free Sans Bakery and the Downtown Cookie Company, as well as their own house-made avocado smash, which is toasted bread smeared with avocado and sprinkled with chili flakes and lemon juice. A menu of salads and toasted sandwiches is on its way.
Cook and his business partner and fellow Aussie Nick Stone, a former Wall Street banker, opened their first Bluestone Lane in Midtown in July.
The cafe joins a growing number of other Australian coffee shops across the city, from the major chain Pie Face to local establishments like Cafe Grumpy, Laughing Man and Smooch.
Cook said he is looking to open other cafes in the city, but isn't in a rush to expand.
"We're really focused on quality here, giving our customers the best coffee experience we can," said Cook. "We don't want to expand too quickly."
