Blumie, I went to check out your suggestion of Aroma since I was running errands in the neighborhood. My conclusion is that, as you said, it's better than Starbucks, but if I were in Soho at a normal hour and really wanted a well-made espresso I'd go to the branch of Joe that's around the corner on Greene in the Alessi shop.

Pluses: open 24 hours, free wifi, plentiful seating, free chocolate with coffee, has a food menu
Minuses: no latte art, espresso is very acidic, chocolate is milk rather than dark (that's just all wrong in my world)

It is also stroller central at lunchtime. Whether this is negative or positive depends on my mood and my company.