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New York Times SVG

"SWEETLEAF IS WHERE SERIOUS COFFEE IS PREPARED ACCORDING TO PRECISE
TECHNIQUES AND METHODOLOGY AND SERVED IN A BAR-LIKE ATMOSPHERE"

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Sweetleaf coffee is the perfect blend of art and science. Sweetleaf was founded in 2008 by Rich Nieto, a Queens native who wanted to roast coffee that reflects New York City: diverse, sophisticated, and decidedly unique. Great coffee isn't just consumed; it's experienced. At Sweetleaf, we continually experiment and refine to create a distinct experience that sets us apart. Coffee can tantalize the senses and excite the palate. We play, sample, and experiment with various flavors to create something extraordinary.

We explore each coffee by testing different roast profiles and then methodically cupping each roast to record, understand, and replicate the best characteristics inherent in the beans. With certain coffees, you may want to accentuate a buttery, full-bodied mouthfeel, whereas others may require being more fruit-forward with lingering acidity. Some may boast rich, sweet notes of chocolate and honey, while others smack of juicy stone fruit and berries.

Working with such a dynamic, flavorful product means the creative possibilities are endless. In pursuit of the best coffee possible, we apply a scientific discipline to our work as well. This means using data, metrics and a systematic production process for maximum consistency.

We use refractometers to measure our coffee's TDS (Total Dissolved Solids), calibrate our espresso machines with profiles that achieve optimal extraction, use sophisticated software to compile roast metrics, integrate digital scales to standardize espresso shot servings and employ numerous other quality control measures along the way. We go through all these steps to be able to replicate the perfect cup of coffee again and again.