There is a Matto on Columbus Avenue just below 86th. I havenвЂ™t heard back yet, but I went on a quick quality control reconnaissance mission. The Website did say, вЂњContact Us,вЂќ so I fired off an email enquiring how is it that they sell everything from lattes and profiteroles to California veggie burgers and cheescake in a cup for $2.00. Were there gangs or the mob behind the proliferation of this seeming Job Lot of espresso joints we wondered? Is the name a sly jab at New Yorkers who are crazy for paying $3.00 for espresso when itвЂ™s only в‚¬1 in Italy? Certainly, one could say MattoвЂ™s is a crazy way to do business in New York City on avenues where big name businesses are shuttered every day because of the colossal rents. To my knowledge there is The Fool, but not The Crazy One. How had I never ever seen this place? I had to Google the meaning of вЂњMatto,вЂќ which is Italian for вЂњCrazy,вЂќ and the logo on their bags and cups, which I saw on their insta, looks like a Tarot card. No proud вЂњAbout usвЂќ and вЂњour Italian rootsвЂќ and no вЂњOur teamвЂќ or вЂњOur story.вЂќ There was simply a link to their i nstagram and a list of 11 Matto locations in NYC, from 8th St. I went on the website, which made me even more suspicious. How can they offer lattes for $2.00 when everywhere else offers them for $4.00 and up? A wedge of cake for $2.00 when that same wedge of cake is $5.00 at Irving Farm or Fika or Joe? I had to find out. вЂњThereвЂ™s this place,вЂќ she told me, вЂњWhere EVERYTHING is $2.00.вЂќ вЂњEverything?вЂќ I asked, incredulous, and Lydie, said, вЂњEverything!,вЂќ and вЂњTheyвЂ™re all around.вЂќ We mused over their business model. So of course it was my city walker and snack spotting friend Lydie who told me about the phenomenon of Matto.

Matto espresso