Hoboken’s Black Rail Coffee Has Something for Everyone

STYLE

A great stop for breakfast and coffee before catching the Hudson-Bergen light rail on Ninth Street. The family-friendly spot has indoor and outdoor seating and a quirky corner with books and toys for children. 

THE SCOOP

The café got a makeover in 2019 when Jin Hong and HeeBin Yoon, a young married couple, took it over from family friends. Black Rail had already established a rep for compelling coffee, so the couple focused on redecorating and expanding the food menu. To the café’s sleek, industrial look, Yoon added books and trinkets, which she regularly updates. 

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THE MENU

The café offers both classic and unique breakfast sandwiches, wraps and bagels with a diverse blend of house-made sweet and savory ingredients. Pressed sandwiches on breads from sourdough to nine-grain to challah are available for lunch, including a special sandwich of the month. All bread is baked daily at Hudson Bread and Hoboken Hot Bagels. The café is still best known for its coffee, with its distinctive house blend combining hints of milk chocolate, mandarin and apple. Also available: pour-over coffee, cold brew, Kilogram organic teas, matcha, lemonade and seasonal favorites such as the s’mores latte, peppermint mocha latte and lavender hot chocolate. The house blend and cold brew can be purchase by the gallon. 

HEADS UP

Be sure to check out the café’s sandwich of the month. If it proves very popular, Hong says, it is added to the daily menu.