Gridskipper

Fight the power! Or drink a latte while talking about fighting the power! Class warfare is now a theme for a cafe. Oh socialist politics, you are so delicious when you're co-opted for a capitalist enterprise. MAP »

Most of us can't function without our morning cup, and it shows. Coffee is the world's second-most traded commodity, and the average American drinks about three cups of liquid motivation each day. That's three cups of toxic sludge brewed from one of the world's most chemically treated crops. These days you can hardly walk a block without encountering a Starbucks or Coffee Bean, but for those willing to go out of their way for a more interesting and less poisonous punch, the following Los Angeles coffee houses and cafes brew organic, fair trade joe. MAP »

Ten years ago, you'd have been hard pressed to get a cup of coffee in London that wasn't a suspect, murky beverage made with instant granules. Times have changed thanks to the Starbuckization of the old tea and two sugars culture. Now of course, you can't swing a cat without hitting one of the generic chain cafes. You may be within 50 meters of your closest caffeine fix at any one time, but wouldn't you rather go somewhere with a bit of atmosphere and charm? The traditional cafes serving egg and chips are also closing at an alarming rate -- the most recent victim being the New Piccadilly. But you don't want egg and chips anyway do you? You want to linger over a perfect cup of coffee and perhaps a croissant that isn't three days old. You want to read the newspaper and take in the ambiance. We've put together a guide to London cafés with a bit of character where you'll be happy to stay awhile and smell the coffee. MAP »

London provides a plethora of opportunities for taking a food or drink break whilst shopping. However, sometimes it's easier and more convenient to plop yourself down at the in-store cafe or restaurant of the shop you're visiting. Once the preserve of department stores, there are an increasing number of in-store dining options in smaller and more specialized stores too. So if you want a latte with your t-shirt, a salad with your whisk, or a mojito with that biography of Bismarck, look no further. Of course, the department stores have fought back with new, innovative wining and dining experiences for their customers. After all, we're all more likely to spend a lot more on something once we have had several glasses of champagne. MAP »

Everybody knows that the afternoon café is a Paris institution. And while the best coffee is rare, the streets are nevertheless spotted with cafés ranging from down, out, and dirty PMUs to fancy high-class fashion spots. But what not everybody knows is that you can get your shot of espresso (and other beverages) for at least 50 eurocents cheaper at the comptoir, the café's bar. A line-up of men ranging from the bodega owner to the Prada-wearing real estate agent take their turns leaning against the counter, exchanging gossip and perusing the day's news. The following recommendations come from Henry de Laguérie, a native Parisian, journalist, and news junkie who takes his café at the comptoir as religiously as a Muslim praying towards Mecca. MAP »

Though these are the best San Francisco breakfasts regardless of context, they're particularly great for couples sharing a morning after spending the night. Some are busy, while at others you'll be the only ones inside. At all of them, you'll be glad you didn't cut out at 3 a.m. MAP »

There must be a café for every day of the year (and then some) in this city, all of them offering a variation on the same classic Berlin menu: kaffee und kuchen, hot milk with honey, tea served in a glass, herbal brews, Ovaltine, hot chocolate, beer, booze, platters of cold cuts, and soft-boiled eggs in cups. The quality, the decor, and the customers may vary, but the template is established. Small wonder that a handful of establishments are striking out and offering something new alongside the brötchen and snitty service. After the cut, some cafés with a difference. MAP »

Tourists are often too distracted by the ambiance to notice that Paris brew tastes funny -- but connoisseurs abhor the sludge that's on offer in the everyday Paris café. It sucks for many reasons, including the frequent use of robusta (not arabica) beans, chalky water, sterilized milk, dirty machines with low pressure and temperature, and untrained baristas who almost never tamp their shots. And while French drinkers don't seem to know what they're missing, our refined readership most certainly will. For those who want a jolt without the dirty mouth (or conscience), we present our top spots for a decent cup of coffee in Paris. MAP »

There are three things that make for a truly authentic Sydney café experience: a great coffee, the weekend paper, and the right neighborhood. It's hard to find, but unlike any capital city in the world, you either have to know someone that lives there or possesses a nose for what's good and where to go. Cafes in Sydney don't discriminate; there is no one type of customer. Yet, the most amazing thing about coffee in Sydney is that the baristas in this city truly care about their brew. It's become an art form, and you won't find comparable java anywhere in the world. Here's a few places to get properly caffeinated. MAP »

Where does the boyish creator of Digg like to girl-watch? Where do the South Park startuperati like to lunch? I asked them; they answered. Also see the favorite cafe of Google's most charming blogger, the dot-com scene's most popular open-bar venue, CNET's second office, and the midtown bar where House of Shields owner Schlomo Rabinowitz drinks when he's not videoblogging. MAP »