Okay, I need to let you in on a secret that I probably shouldn’t confess, lest I lose any remaining shreds of “cool” left to my name: I love living in the suburbs. Driving, Target runs, ridiculous chain restaurants serving up $6 margaritas with 2,000-calorie salads…I’m here for it all. (Mainly, though, I enjoy not being shoulder-to-shoulder with people at all times. Maybe that’s just my inner curmudgeon coming out.)

I know I’m supposed to love New York City more than anything else, and after 10+ years here, be deeply convinced that no other city or place could satisfy me, but that’s not true. I like the five boroughs, sure, but I’ll get by just fine if I’m more of a commuter than a lifer.

Still, one challenge of moving out to Long Island was a distinct lack of decent coffee shops. It seemed like it was Starbucks or bust. Howie Schultz’s brand is fine and all, but there is a certain appeal to a cold brew stronger than gasoline in a little mom-and-pop (or, okay millennial hipster) shop. After exploring and testing out cafe after cafe, here are my top five places to grab a cup of joe.

5. For Five Coffee, Manhasset

• Where it’s Located: 292 Plandome Rd, Manhasset

• Instagram: @forfive

They may not serve dessert-plate-sized Duchess cookies anymore, but I won’t hold that against them. Their coffee is strong without tasting bitter, and while pricey, their menu features a ton of healthy-ish meals in addition to sweets. The 24-hour oats, topped with berries and cashew butter, is my go-to, along with a classic cold brew. It’s usually strong with a clean finish. (Nate prefers their Nitro.) My major con? The menu is pretty pricey—so much so that I rarely visit anymore.

4. Wired Coffee

• Where it’s Located: 3118 Lawson Blvd, Oceanside
• Instagram: @wired.coffee

Nestled right next to the Oceanside train station, this shop’s never short on fun takes on cold foam (just check out the French toast cold brew with Lucky Charms they sold around St. Paddy’s Day). The sandwiches and snacks are great too, though the one challenge can be parking on weekdays, when the lot in front of the shop gets filled with commuters. (Try parking on the street, in that case.)

3. Ground Central, Lynbrook

• Where it’s Located: 59 Sunrise Hwy, Lynbrook

• Instagram: @groundcentral

While this place can be bustling from 9 to 5, making it hard to grab a seat, this coffee shop is decently roomy and the seats that are there are incredibly comfy (especially the wingback chairs and Chesterfield sofas). It’s no wonder people camp out for hours with a laptop. While the pastry selection can be pricey, the frittata sandwich is unreal, and the cold brew is reliably strong and smooth. (The staff is very kind and friendly too, further cementing it as a place where you just want to hang out for a while.)

2. East Rock Coffee Shop

• Where it’s Located: 100 Long Beach Rd, Island Park

• Instagram: @eastrockcoffeeshop

Consistently refreshing, non-bitter cold brew? Yes. But it’s the combo of that with great seating and an incredible menu—the breakfast quesadilla, BEC sandwich and blueberry croissants are not to be missed—that really makes this place shine. I almost didn’t want to share it, because it’s one of the rare coffee shops in Nassau County where you can actually find a spot to sit (comfortably, at that!), but I can’t gatekeep.

1. Kookaburra, Malverne & Rockville Centre

• Where It’s Located: 324A Hempstead Ave, Malverne & 69 N Village Ave, Rockville Centre
• Instagram: @kookaburracoffeeny

While I sometimes grumble over its cash-only status, the bold, full-bodied cold brew is worth it. It’s so strong that it’s the one place where Nate orders his with oat milk, though he’s also a huge fan of the seasonal blood orange espresso tonic, which offers a sparkling, citrusy kick to the smooth espresso. I’m addicted to the egg white breakfast tacos too, with extra Cholula. If you’re looking for something sweet, the gigantic cookies have ribbons of chocolate in every bite, the PB&J bar is hearty, jammy and nutty in all the right ways.

Want more options? Here are a few others worth trying:

Honorable Mentions: Soul Brew (if you like more syrup-heavy concoctions), Flux (decent cold brew and seating), Southdown (great snacks, though it’s a little pricey), Long Beach Coffee & Tee (nice little backyard area with limited seating), Red Label Coffee Co. (cold brew can sometimes have a burned taste, but generally strong and full of flavor)