Grady's Cold Brew

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Grady’s Cold Brew is a New Orleans–style coffee concentrate that’s brewed and bottled by hand in Brooklyn, New York. Hand-brewed daily, Grady's Cold Brew guarantee freshness and a super smooth taste. Follow Cool Hunting as they visit Grady's new space to get a behind-the-scenes look at how New York's tastiest cold brew is made.

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Tasting Tease

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UNIQUE's Coffee & Whiskey TastingLast Thursday evening 45 lucky ticket buyers got the chance to experience our exclusive Coffee & Whiskey Tasting and Tour... Wow, it was a truly delicious night! The amazing founders and staff of Handsome Coffee Roasters hosted the intimate event, giving people the chance to not only go behind-the-scenes in their coffee bar but also the roasting facilities. And on-hand all the way from New York to take the crowd through a series of five (!) whiskey tastings was Gable Erenzo, the co-founder of Hudson Whiskey. Guests also got to munch on goodies from Gotta Have S'More. These folks truly understand UNIQUE's passion for quality, craft and design - and of course producing a great product!

This was the very first in a new series of small events that UNIQUE will start holding around the country, so stay tuned for the next one. If you don't already subscribe to our weekly newsletter, get on the list today so you don't miss out on the fun!

Take a peek at the amazing night in our video below... And make sure to check out the entire album of tasty event pictures here.

HANDSOME from UNIQUE LA on Vimeo.

Secret Squirrel Giveaway

What's the easiest way to make a perfect glass of iced coffee? The Secret is out! Enter for a chance to win not 1 but 5 bottles of Secret Squirrel Cold Brew and make up to 30 cups of the smoothest coffee in the comfort of your home!

Details & Rules: Contest ends October 17th, 2012; one entry per email address; by submitting your entry we’ll add you to our weekly newsletter (if not already subscribed) filled with exclusive deals, design interviews, studio tours, special discounts and more.

Contest Closed

Coffee & Whiskey Event!

An Exclusive UNIQUE Tour + Tasting with Handsome Coffee and Hudson Whiskey UNIQUE LA is excited to bring you an exclusive and intimate night of tastings, education and tour of the Handsome Coffee roasting facility. Whether you're a coffee geek or a newbie, a whiskey connoisseur or amateur, this will be a fun evening for all! I created this unique event because I was inspired by the guys at Handsome Coffee, who over the past few months have managed to teach me (a non-coffee drinker) about great coffee. That intimate, and yes perhaps nerdy, attention to detail is what to expect at this super-rad event.

The evening includes all cocktails, tastings, tours of the Handsome Coffee Bar & Roasting Facility, bites of food (including some amazing treats from Gotta Have S'more), a patio/parking lot party at the end of the evening, and a killer gift bag with goodies worth $35 (includes a 12 oz bag of tasty Handsome Coffee, a cocktail glass from Hudson and a gift from UNIQUE LA). This is no doubt going to be a tasty evening, good to the last drop! There are only 45 tickets available, purchase yours online now!

Tour #1 Espresso Take an inside look at the technique behind crafting a Handsome coffee espresso and milk drink with 2010 world barista champion Michael Phillips. From pulling a shot just right to steaming perfect milk this section will show you how it is done.

Tour #2 Roasting Step inside the Handsome roasting facility to get a demonstration of coffee roasting along with a tasting of the effect of roast. Learn the whys and hows of the Handsome Coffee Roaster philosophy and style with Co-founder Chris Owens.

Tour #3 Brewing Tips on how to select coffee and proven recipes for brewing will be covered by Handsome Coffee Co-founder Tyler J Wells. Learn how to make that same great cup you had in the coffee bar in the comfort of your own home.

Tour #4 Whiskey Tasting Join Tuthilltown Distillery founder Gable Erenzo for a history of Hudson Whiskey. We will taste Baby Bourbon, Manhattan Rye and Single Malt. Gable will speak about locally-sourced grain from farms within 10 miles of the distillery. He will also reveal Hudson’s brash mix of Scottish, American and some one of a kind whiskey-making traditions. After the tasting, Gable will demonstrate how to make a classic whiskey cocktail.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ About Handsome Coffee Roasters: Handsome Coffee Roasters is a celebration of the simple things in life. Good service, great company and amazing coffee. Firmly planted in the Arts District of Downtown Los Angeles, Handsome has become a gathering place for this neighborhood on the move. Providing seasonal delicious coffees from all around the world, there is sure to be just the right cup for you. About Hudson Whiskey: Gable Erenzo and his father Ralph bought a farm in New York’s Hudson Valley in 2001 intending to build a rock climbing ranch. After fighting a losing approval battle with neighbors, they instead opened a distillery in 2003. Since then, they have been making Hudson Whiskey by hand, one small batch at a time from locally-sourced grains. Hudson Whiskey is 100% sonically aged, non-chill filtered and bottled on site at a generous proof.

Buzzed: NYC Coffee Guide

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 New York is filled with great fashion, music, art… And coffee! In the city that never sleeps, there's nothing quite like relaxing at a café with a delicious cup of coffee while reading a magazine (or these days an iPad). Here is a round-up of our fave coffee spots. Enjoy!

#1 Abraco - 86 E 7th St, East Village Tucked away on a quiet corner of the East Village, Abraco is our number one spot to get a truly well done caffeine jolt. Though tiny, the place boasts big flavor in their espresso drinks made from state-of-the-art equipment. We also love their iced coffee for a strong but refreshing and rejuvenating pick-me-up. The best part of Abraco? They offer a variety of options for a quick bite, ranging from cakes (must try the olive oil cake) to frittatas and decadent pastries. Heads up: they don't offer skim milk or artificial sweeteners. Its also cash only.

#2 Blue Bottle Coffee - 160 Berry St., Williamsburg SF transplants will appreciate the familiarity in the New York shops of this Oakland original. We like Blue Bottle's Williamsburg outpost the best, where you can grab a cup of coffee expertly crafted in one of their Japanese halogen-powered siphons, and follow with a lazy stroll through the neighborhood. It's a nice change of pace compared to Blue Bottle's other shop located in the heart of bustling, tourist-heavy Chelsea.

#3 Gimme Coffee - 228 Mott St., Nolita Venture down to Nolita for a great espresso from Gimme Coffee, a New York state exclusive coffee shop with heavy roots in philanthropy. They also sell a variety of their coffee blends, which serve as great gifts in the holiday season. Our favorite is the ever-popular Java Kayumas, a rich roast with caramel notes.

#4 BlueBird - 72 E 1st St., East Village If you're lucky enough to snag a seat in this little shop, it is a very pleasant spot to sit and sip an artfully created latte, complete with perfectly composed swirls of milk, as you read a book. Be sure to enjoy one of Bluebird's deliciously moist muffins as you take in the quaint, rustic bluebird-motif decor.

#5 Mud Truck - MudShop, 307 E 9th St., East Village You can't come to New York and not have a cup of Joe from Mud, one of the original food trucks of Manhattan. Stop by their truck stationed on Astor Place beside the uptown 6, or better yet, visit their cafe on 9th St, one of our favorite streets in the East Village. Cozy up on one of the seats by the window, or grab a hippie blend to go and check out the many shops on the street (Verameat and the Upper Rust are our faves!).

#6 Cocoa Bar - 21 Clinton St., Lower East Side This LES spot has a mellow vibe, enough chocolatey treats to satisfy the sweetest of sweet tooth's, and an assortment of wines if you're looking for a different kind of buzz. But the hands-down best thing about Cocoa Bar are their iced coffees, preserved cool and strong with coffee ice cubes. Need we say more?

#7 La Colombe - 270 Lafayette St., SoHo We first discovered La Colombe in it's native Philadelphia, and were thrilled to learn of three New York locations. We can't think of a better lifesaver for staying alert through a busy morning than their bottled, cold pressed "Pure Black" iced coffee. An instant wake up call and staple in our refrigerators!

#8 Bel Ami - 30 E 68th St., Upper East Side If you find yourself in the Upper East Side, stop by this French cafe for a latte and a quick bite. It has just the kind of inviting ambiance that makes it a perfect place to spend a rainy Sunday, or to take a break from a stroll in nearby Central Park. If you want to know what keeps us coming back to this gem, we'll tell you a secret: their salted caramel macaroons are so decadent, they're levels above the ones at the nearby Laduree!

#9 Cafe Grumpy - 383 7th Ave., Park Slope Brooklyn-ites swear by the Park Slope location of Cafe Grumpy, a coffee shop with a steeper price tag than most, but with the beans to back it up. Each cup is individually brewed with expertise and care from impressively sourced beans. This spot is mostly a grab it and go place - for a coffee hangout with a bit friendlier service, we'd opt for their LES joint. Either way, you can't go wrong with their espresso.

#10 The Smile - 26 Bond St., NoHo If you're looking for ambiance, this is it. Nestled on quiet Bond Street beneath the sidewalk, The Smile is perhaps our most beloved place to leisurely converse over a steamy cappuccino and a small bite or two. It is warm, embracing and relaxed - the ideal place to catch up with a friend or two on a lazy day.

Cuppow!

Thanks to KC (of MakeShopLive) I've got a great new product for you... I introduce the (switch to Super Hero voice) Cuppow! Made in the USA, the Cuppow allows you to turn a canning jar into a travel mug/beverage container! The idea is so simple, it's genius. Plus they've executed the design and packaging perfectly. I'll be using mine all spring/summer to take homemade lemonade along in the car. I also tested using it for hot tea and simply used an old tennis wristband as a cup sleeve.

Put that in your canning jar and sip it.