Perhaps Henry James described it best in The Great Good Place, his short story about a harried writer who dreams of a simple yet special spot to get away from life’s grueling demands and regain a little peace of mind. Where do you go to escape the fast-paced anonymous city life? Exactly.

We also happened to notice a shortage of welcoming neighborhood coffee shops. You know, the kind where you can chat with familiar faces, stash your chipped Guatemalan ceramic coffee mug or borrow a book in exchange for the one you just finished. So, we opened our own in the Flatiron District’s bohemian Gershwin Hotel and called it Birch Coffee.

We like the planet, and, well, most of its inhabitants. We also like to know where our food comes from. Birch specializes in Rainforest Alliance and bird-friendly coffees and teas, and serves only organic beers and wines, harvested locally when possible. We’re also proud to say that all of our food comes from local farmers and socially and environmentally conscious purveyors.

And, in stride with the ever-expanding green revolution, our innovative aesthetic and architectural design seeks to achieve a gold rating from the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), the U.S. Green Building Council’s rating system. Birch is the first of its kind in New York City.

Our Mission
With a commitment to sustainable practices, a passion for coffee and some good vibes, we hope to cultivate a positive and friendly environment. We invite you to make Birch Coffee your “great good place”. Our mission isn’t to simply create just another coffee shop, but the ultimate coffee shop - a coffee community.

Jeremy Lyman & Paul Schlader, The Birch Guys