Some History with That Cappuccino?

New York City is full of coffee houses.  There are the national chains: Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts.  And, of course, there are a plethora of small neighborhood coffee houses that serve cups of Joe.

I am not a regular drinker of this energy filled beverage.  Yet, the rich culinary and cinematic history of Café Reggio, coupled with its interior and ambience that can easily make one feel that he is in the first half of the 20th century has lured me to this café on a few occasions.

The exterior shot of Cafe Reggio located on MacDougal Street in Greenwich Village.  

I relish in the fact that whenever I am sipping on a cappuccino at Café Reggio, I am sitting in the very café that introduced the drink to America.  For that reason, I always try to sit as close as possible to the first cappuccino machine in America on display.  

I wonder if the original machine was still in use when then presidential candidate John F. Kennedy gave a campaign speech in front of the cafe in 1959. 

     

While the original machine is no longer in service, Cafe Reggio's cappuccino is still quite pleasing.  

 

Cafe Reggio also boasts a strong cinematic tradition.  The café’s entrance appears in the movie poster of Next Stop, Greenwich Village (with a young Christopher Walken).

The entrance to Cafe Reggio is located to the left. 

Shaft stopped by in 1971. 

Issac Hayes recorded a song named after this small cafe. 

Francis Ford Copolla filmed inside of Cafe Reggio for The Godfather Part II (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caffe_Reggio) for scenes between Young Vito Corlene and Young Peter Clemenza.

Interior shots show the early 20th century feel featured in The Godfather II.