Since beginning my maternity leave with Hudson, I’ve increased my latte expenditures considerably. It’s especially dangerous having some of the best coffee houses in New York within a few blocks. (In fact, I’m getting to know the blocks around the East Village better than ever these days and there’s a lot of “dangerous” spots I’ve been meeting or revisiting, all worth mentioning.)

Ninth street espresso is famous for both its unyielding quality and its unyielding ways when it comes to serving the perfect espresso. Seriously good stuff.

Yesterday, I walked Hudson over to Tompkins Square Park and to the Ninth Street Espresso location across the street (this branch is actually on tenth, between aves A and B) and then one block down to eat the most delicious, freshly fried donuts at the Brindle Room’s sidewalk bench. Yes… dangerous.

(Check out Oliver Strand’s map of the best coffeehouses, for the NY Times; Thank you, Mr. Strand. Now I’d like a version cross-referenced with Free Wifi Hotspots, please.)