Hutch and Waldo

the espresso here is the move if you're on the upper east side and want something done well without overthinking it. hutch and waldo sits on 81st street, which puts it in that quieter residential stretch of the neighborhood where the coffee spots either hold their own or don't last. this one holds its own. you get the sense the sourcing and the pull are both taken seriously, not performed. the roasting operation means what ends up in your cup has a shorter distance to travel than most, and that consistency shows. if you're passing through before heading into central park or after a morning on the block, the espresso-based drinks are where to put your attention.