Hidden Gems: Jack’s Stir Brew Coffee, Sag Harbor

Defining a hidden gem can be a difficult task. How many Google reviews should it have? How many Instagram followers? Should only locals know about it?

Some may not consider Jack’s Stir Brew Coffee in Sag Harbor a hidden gem. The company itself has been around since 2003 and offers its organic, fair trade coffee and vegan baked goods at 10 different locations, eight of which are in New York City, while two sit cozy on the East End of Long Island: one in Sag Harbor and one in Amagansett.

Tucked away behind the UPS Store on Division Street, the Sag Harbor location has just 22 Google reviews, averaging a 4.6-star rating, but the company-wide Instagram page has nearly 6,000 followers. Jack’s Sag Harbor location has been tagged on Instagram less than 60 times since 2016, which is when it opened up shop on Division Street.

The space itself is small — admittedly, there’s nowhere to sit inside, and the interior of the coffee shop is set up so you can grab your coffee and go due to the restrained square footage. But there are benches outside, which, on a nice summer day, would be an enticing option for enjoying a relaxing cup of coffee. But what the shop lacks in space it makes up for in experience. The staff behind the counter is consistently kind and accommodating, leaving patrons feeling good about their choice in java.

The coffee shop calls 51 Division Street home, which is just a block east of Main Street village shops and restaurants. In my opinion, this location is ideal for a coffee shop like this because it’s still close enough to the heart of the village, but it’s a bit quieter and more reserved.

At first glance, the prices are a little higher than I would typically go for. However, considering the quality of the coffee beans that Jack’s chooses to use and their dedication to serving organic, fair trade, shade grown coffee, I would not by any means say that it’s overpriced. It’s priced as it should be. In this case, you’re getting what you pay for.

And more importantly, the coffee does not fail to impress. I got my typical order: an almond milk latte. It was smooth, strong, and the talented barista got the perfect foam on top — which can be difficult to do with this non-dairy option. I decided on a banana walnut muffin to eat with my latte, and it offered the perfect complement. This isn’t one of those situations where you pay extra for high quality coffee and leave feeling like you could have made a cup of equal value at home. In my opinion, Jack’s Stir Brew is well worth the money. Jack’s Stir Brew Coffee in Sag Harbor is open seven days a week from 7 am – 2 pm daily. The Amagansett location at 146 Montauk Highway is open seven days a week from 6 am to 6 pm.