Coffee options abound at an airport as massive as New York Kennedy (JFK), but great options are few and far between. Thus far, I’ve managed to find three.
Best Coffee At New York JFK Airport
The best coffee at JFK is by Chicago-based Intelligentsia coffee, located in the lobby of the TWA Hotel outside Terminal 5 (JetBlue).
TWA Coffeebar by Intelligentsia
1 Idlewild Drive (TWA Hotel lobby)
New York, NY 11430
929.299.0233
7:00 am – 3:00 pm (daily)
Thankfully, this coffee shop is now open daily, though only until 3:00 pm. Twice I have been at JFK this year and was unable to enjoy a coffee because of the limited operating hours (it used to be closed on Monday and Tuesday).
The Intelligentsia Black Cat Espresso blend is one of my favorites and I enjoyed a strong cortado after my Kenya Airways flight from Nairobi to New York.
Pastries, juice, and yogurt were also available for purchase.
I appreciated that the coffee was sold at “street” pricing and not inflated even further.
Lovely coffee. And what a beautiful building:
As far as publicly-accessible places, this is it…I cannot in good conscience recommend Duncan Donuts, Starbucks, or Pret A Manager that you can find in the passenger terminals.
However, if you do have lounge access, there are two more decent options.
First, the Alaska Airlines lounge has a barista coffee service. Even though the coffee is from Starbucks, the excellent coffee machine somehow makes it drinkable.
You can access this lounge with a Priority Pass card or if you are flying in paid first class on Alaska Airlines from JFK.
> Read More: Alaska Airlines Lounge New York (JFK) Review
Second, the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse in Terminal 3 also offers great coffee. A full coffee menu is available and also made by a barista with strong beans and a great taste.
This is not a Priority Pass lounge, but if you have a Capital One Venture X or American Express Platinum or Centurion card, you can enter this Plaza Premium-operated lounge.
> Read More: Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse New York (JFK) Review
CONCLUSION
For an airport as massive as JFK, I find decent coffee options few and far between. That said, you cannot go wrong at the TWA Hotel and if you have lounge access, the coffee is certainly decent at both the Alaska and Virgin Atlantic lounges.
What is your favorite coffee shop at New York JFK?
I didn’t know Amex Plat holders could enter VA Clubhouse. I was just there yesterday but killed time in Terminal 8 finding a remote spot.
With so many full lounges these days I’m finding it more relaxing not entering.