Stacks Espresso Bar
275 Lark St, Albany, NY
Crema's Take
“Stacks Espresso Bar is an Albany favorite where skilled baristas craft thoughtful drinks like their sage house syrup lattes and inventive mocha variations that keep people coming back for more. The spacious venue welcomes everyone from quick coffee grabbers to folks settling in for hours across indoor, upstairs, and outdoor seating, all while pairing your drink with freshly baked pastries and quality food. What really shines through in every visit is the genuine warmth of the team—they're the kind of baristas who remember you and make personalized recommendations that actually hit the mark.”
What to expect
Google Reviews
Tried some place new for my afternoon coffee. Got a mocha latte with cinnamon. Oh my goooooodness! It was so delicious, made perfectly! The barista was so sweet, really great people skills. An hour or so later I realized I was highly caffeinated too. So definitely strong, and definitely did the job! I'll be returning for sure! ☕️
Great coffee and experience! I had wonderful recommendations and service from Elisheva. 😊🙏🏼 Enjoyed their sage house syrup in my Oat Milk Latte! Large space with outdoor and upstairs seating!
Their coffee is the best coffee. I ordered the latte and I really like it. The utensil is not clean and I decided to not use them. The salad is delicious. The Salman Benedict is available during Saturday as the special. It has two eggs and tastes great.
I was hoping to get a feel for the downtown location—but parking is a major challenge. I've visited Lark location twice. First visit, I tried a BLT on a croissant. Honestly, it wasn’t great. The combo of salty bacon, mayo, and croissant just didn’t balance well, and there weren’t any other sauce options like chipotle to cut the saltiness. I don’t blame them too much for the flavor, but it wasn’t a hit. Second time, I ordered a single-cinnamon bagel with cream cheese. The bagel itself was fine, but there wasn’t enough cream cheese—definitely needed more spread for a satisfying bite. Coffee, though? Always solid. They do that part really well. One big letdown was the menu. When you walk in, there’s this large menu board that gets you excited for things like French toast—but that’s only available on weekends. During the week, the options are much more limited: mostly bacon, egg & cheese or open-faced sandwiches. I was disappointed to find out there’s no hash browns, no French toast, nothing hot and hearty during the weekday breakfast hours. Lastly, the back hallway near the restrooms still smells like a bathroom—like they never fully updated the space after taking over from Café Hollywood. It's not a deal breaker, but it definitely takes away from the experience. Great coffee, decent concept, but a few misses that need some attention.
Ordered a 8oz mocha (special syrup not an item), and cold brew with the coffee cake. Great pricing. Wait time for drinks was
Crema Reviews
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