If you’re a Brooklynite, then you are definitely no stranger to coffee. However, in lieu of getting the usual Starbucks order, why not try one of the city’s best indie shops?
From a farm-to-table location in Williamsburg to a comfortable stop in DUMBO, here are some of the most ideal places to grab a cup of Joe in BK.
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Manhattanville, Crown Heights
Manhattanville Coffee promises to deliver “big city coffee with small town service.”
At their Brooklyn space, you get awesome nitro cold brew, espresso con panna and Intelligentsia Coffee. Also, add an artisanal sandwich or a cranberry and cream de cassis scone to your order. You can sleep it off on their leather sofas. 🥙
Daily Press Coffee, Bed-Stuy
Just a few aces away from the Franklin C train, you’ll find Daily Press Coffee, one of the most frequented coffee shops in the entire neighborhood. Take a stroll in here and you’ll find an airy, brick café with a hand-written menu and wooden table.
On the counter, you’ll see a little glass case with delicious Belgian waffles, biscuits, etc. The shop has some of the most amazing selection of seasonal pours, including golden turmeric lattes, gingerbread and maple. In addition, the ambience here is awesome. ☕️
Cup of Brooklyn, Bed-Stuy
Cup of Brooklyn is an intimate shop in Bed-Stuy, perfect for a quick cup of coffee before work or a place to work for awhile (if you can find a seat.) But what you really want to do is order breakfast.
You can choose from an expansive menu of bagels and sandwiches with pricey (but scrumptious) add-ons like avocado and smoked salmon.
Grade Coffee, Bed-Stuy
It seems some of the best coffee shops in Brooklyn are found in Bed-Stuy. Add Grade Coffee to the list. This little cozy coffee shop is unassuming, but has a lot of great options for Ethiopian and Columbian coffee. The shop is also right next to a barber shop if you need a quick haircut. ✄
Smith Canteen on Carroll Street
If you regularly use the Carroll Street Subway station, Smith Canteen should be a regular for you. They don't use plastic (which is awesome), so if you're trying to minimize your carbon footprint and still get awesome coffee, this is the spot for you.
Grab a coffee and a pastry settle in for awhile.
Burly Coffee, Bed-Stuy
Burly Coffee (two locations) has great coffee, but also delicious breakfast pastries and doughnuts to choose from. There's a lot of seating, which makes it popular with remote workers/nomads. In the summer, it's the perfect place to escape the heat and grab a cool drink.
356 Throop Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11221
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The Brooklyn Roasting Company, DUMBO
Some of the most discerning coffee overs in Brooklyn will definitely find the Brooklyn Roasting Company to be one of the best in the area. With awesome prices as well as organic, Rainforest Alliance- certified beans from some of the most renowned locations in the world, this place is truly as artisanal as you can imagine. Also, for comfortable couches, a communal work space and a place where you can relax, this place definitely does proper justice.
Plus, if you haven’t tried their nitro cold brew yet- a version of the old brew that’s velvety and nitrogen-infused- then you really should.
Multiple locations, try 25 Jay St, Brooklyn, NY 11201 (near John Street Park.)
Devocion Café, Williamsburg
There are actually two Devocion locations in Brooklyn (with one still in the works), but the company has its heart in Colombia. The shop’s coffee is dry-milled in Bogota and shipped to the United State so fast that “the cup you’re holding still breathes the Colombian campo mists.”
At their location in Industrial Grand Street, you’ll find glass and raw steel doors, as well as recessed hallways that will exhibit the history of the brick building. When you’re done with your South American cup, feel free to check out their website for tips on poring over a moka pot and a French press so as to be able to get your Joe on when next you’re in a pinch.
Sweatshop Coffee Brooklyn, Williamsburg
This Aussie-inspired café on Metropolitan Avenue in Williamsburg has something of a unique aesthetic, with the geometric shelves being lined by idie mags, houseplants and succuents.
Pair a flat white or cold brew with an avo smash, a brekkie bun or a co-yo, and just relax next to a repurposed milk crate table. When you’re done, you can also browse through the shop’s merch.
Gorilla Coffee on Bergen Street
If you are looking for a place to take your favored cup of organic coffee in Brooklyn, this is it. Established in 2002, Gorilla Coffee had its first shop on Fifth Street, a stone throw away from Barclays Center.
Simply check in early in the morning and order for your favorite latte or almond croissant. It is one of the best coffee shops for writers or people who just need to relax and read the day’s paper.
BÚÐIN NYC, Greenpoint
Got a hankering for a Scandinavian cup of coffee? Then BÚÐIN, “the shop” in Icelandic, and pronounced “booth-in,” is definitely where you want to be.
The coffee shop/wine bar/ retail shop features a lil Modbar espresso system, where a minimalist design meets beans from Finland, Sweden and their environs. Drop in and get a tarot card reading or check out their event schedule for a movie screening.
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