☕ Coffee culture in the Capital Region is hotter than ever

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Hey 518 readers! Apologies for the late evening send. It’s been a slog of a day. You know the feeling.

Today, we’re taking a look at the local coffee culture boom: more beautiful spaces, more neighborhood energy, and more excuses to order an afternoon latte. Let’s get our caffeine on…

—Phat X. Chiem & Karley Sullivan

☕ The Capital Region coffee culture is hotter than ever

The local coffee scene in Albany and Troy is buzzing right now with recent additions. Here’s what’s brewing…

🚒 Station Six rolls up in Albany

A long-vacant firehouse at 125 Jefferson Street in downtown Albany underwent a massive, two-year makeover, and lit up social media during their soft opening.

Station Six owner Jordan Cambron has turned the historic brick building across from the New York State Museum into a bakery and café that hits all the right aesthetic notes. The joint went a bit viral on TikTok for their adorable takeaway cold-brew latte cans (the kind that’s sealed and you pop it like a soda). The banana and pistachio lattes are especially popular—both were sold out when we dropped in to chat with Jordan. Full story coming soon!

☕️ Jacob Alejandro gets its dream upgrade

Capital Region favorite Jacob Alejandro now has a bigger home that’s even more beautiful than the last.

After six years at 274 River Street, the husband-and-husband team of Alejandro and Jake Griffin-Diaz moved their specialty coffee shop to 9 First Street in mid-May. The new space nearly triples the seating, adds a bigger kitchen, and brings in a new espresso machine. 

“It’s a huge transformation,” Jake tells the TU. “This new space feels like the dream coffee shop we always wanted.” And man, does it look stunning.

🏆 Stacks Espresso bets on downtown Albany

The folks at Stacks seem to be bullish on Albany’s downtown core.

The Capital Region chain celebrated its second downtown location, inside the gorgeous Abraxas apartments at 90 State. It’s a 1,100-square-foot space and marks Stacks’ fourth Capital Region location, serving up the espresso drinks and breakfast sammies you know and love. We especially love what this signals about the direction of downtown—we’re also bullish on what’s happening there.

🦕 Stacks also lands at the NYS State Museum

The New York State Museum finally has a cafe again, and Stacks is pouring the java.

The Carousel Café by Stacks is now open on the museum’s second-floor mezzanine. Visitors can refuel with Stacks’ coffee, teas, hot chocolate, pastries, made-to-order sandwiches, and kid-friendly options. Be sure to stop at the cafe after seeing the awesome new Expedition: Dinosaurs exhibit on the fourth floor.

The café’s reopening is part of the museum’s larger first-phase transformation, tied to the state’s $150 million investment in the institution.

🧑🏾‍🌾 Kha & Mel finally get a shop of their own

Brewing inside the Love Albany Center, Kha & Mel’s Coffee and Tea Room is the culmination of a dream for two Black entrepreneurs who have been slinging coffee at the Troy Waterfront Farmers Market for several years now.

They finally opened their brick-and-mortar spot at 8 Kate St in the up-and-coming Delaware South neighborhood—we told you about it a couple of months ago.

Albany Mayor Dorcey Applyrs stopped by to celebrate the new locally owned business. Da mayor called out owners Kha and Mel for “filling a neighborhood need.”

Drop in for fan favorites like the brown sugar oat latte or cold brew!

🐻 Lastly, did you know that Bear's Cup Bakehouse, the viral sensation that opened in Saratoga in late 2025, is opening a third location in Wilton at 631 Maple Avenue. It’s currently under construction. However, the TU’s critic wasn’t too impressed.

A word from our sponsor

Good Friend Ecological Gardens is what happens when environmental stewardship and responsible design reshape the relationships between people and place. Plan your tour of our Niskayuna Learning Gardens, shop our locally-grown flower bouquets, or bring Good Friend home though our garden design service.

Read about us in The 518: The Nisky gardener creating beauty with purpose.

🧝 After five months in business, The Lost Gnome, a fantasy-themed café and game shop at Slip 12, is throwing an official ribbon-cutting party on Thursday.

🍕 The owners of Sovrana Pizza are opening a new eatery called Gemelli’s Pizzeria, located in Albany’s Colvin Avenue corridor that’s seeing tons of activity of late. Keep your eyes on this neighborhood! [Albany Business Review]

🇮🇹 Sorrentino’s Delicatessen & Market in South Glens Falls has sadly closed after 20 years in business. [News10]

⚽️ Drink up, World Cup fans! Last call for New Yorkers is extended to 4 am nightly starting Thursday through July 20. [WAMC]

Nestled beside a gentle creek on 1.2 wooded acres, this petite Catskills retreat is full of cozy charm, promising easy living with a laid-back connection to the outdoors. With a manageable footprint and inviting spaces throughout, it’s got the perfect vibes for a serene cabin hideaway that’s less than an hour away from Albany.

Outside, the property opens to a grassy lawn, stone patio, fire pit, and two outbuildings including a workshop and storage shed, perfect for hobbies, projects, or extra storage. At this point, the only thing missing is a sauna, and that sunroom sure looks like a promising spot for it!

The deets: 2 bd, 1 ba, 1324 sf. Asking: $238,000. Days on market: 7. See the full listing  here.

Note: The 518 Weekender now publishes on Thursdays. Watch your inboxes! 

SUMMER FUN

👩‍🎨 Go find our friend Victoria van der Laan’s new downtown Albany mural, in collaboration with Albany Center Gallery. Hint: It’s inside the parking structure with the whale mural.

THURSDAY

☠️ It’s Emo Night at Alive at Five, featuring We The Kings (w/ Side B).

♦️ Putnam Place hosts a Texas Hold'em tournament to help cover the production costs of Saratoga's annual Flag Day Parade.

FRIDAY

👩‍🌾 Good Friend Ecological Gardens kicks off the summer season with tours of its lush learning garden, plus the flower shop will be open. Come see why we featured this Nisky gardening in The 518.

⚽️ Kick It In Troy gets you in the spirit with public viewings of the World Cup all tournament long.

🎸 TV Doctors (Evan Conway, Bob Morris, Josh Witmer) plays the Wolf Hollow Brewing Co.

🤠 Country cover band Big Sky Country headlines Electric City SummerFest.

SATURDAY

⚔️ The NY Capital District Renaissance Faire promises two packed weekends of medieval fun like real jousting, an artisan market, pub crawl, and a “kids’ kingdom.”

🚴‍♂️ Online registration closes Wednesday for Saturday’s Tour de Cure, which raises money to help people with diabetes. Day-of registration will be available.

🐑 The Summer Craft Fair at the historic Shaker Heritage Society brings 75+ vendors, plus a petting zoo and sheep shearing! Sat-Sun.

🍓 The Mayfield Historical Society’s annual Strawberry Festival is a great reason to head out to Gloversville.

✊ The FlagSSS Day collective formed in 2019 after International Flag Day ceased celebration in Troy. On Sunday, the event continues with costumed marchers.

🪥Join artist Ottavia Huang for an intro class to watercolor and ink.

🐟️ Via Aquarium hosts a 90s murder mystery among the fishes. Costumes highly encouraged!

SUNDAY

🏳️‍🌈 The Capital Pride Festival and Parade kicks off at 11:30 am in Washington Park. See the full schedule here.

🖼️ The Beekman Street Art Fair features a juried fine art and craft show featuring 60 artists—and music by Caffè Lena. What an excellent combo!

🔈️ Expand your audio appreciation when experimental Japanese sound artist FUJI|||||||||||TA comes to The Egg. How does one pronounce that name actually?

🧘‍♂️ Pints & Poses is an hour-long vinyasa flow class with Amy S. from The Hot Yoga Spot! At Wolf Hollow Brewing Co.

🛍️ Come out to support businesses throughout the Capital Region at the free 518 Business Expo.

ON VIEW

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