A dream of opening a coffee house
I just got back home from grabbing a slightly burnt regular 12oz coffee at the new "I have a dream to open a coffee house" between 11th and 12th street on 7th avenue. This new coffee place is called Grumpy. As a former coffee house manager, I am dismayed. So now, we don't even know how to brew a pot of coffee? I am sure it's in a book somewhere …
The first thing I noticed when I entered was how hard the front door was to open. Really? No testing of the doors to see if they work? There was nowhere to sit, even though the place is at least 400sqft, and nothing on the walls, giving the place a strange empty feel. The food selection is a handful of unappetizing muffins, and there wasn't even a standard coffee price and list board on the wall. Furthermore, banning use of the internet is no way to make friends. (They actually have a sign that tells patrons not to use the internet on their premises).
Returning recently from Europe, I realized how oppressed we are in the states concerning a decent cup of coffee. For the love of god, the Italians get better coffee and espresso from the vending machines at their train stations!
I had a dream once too, but I knew building a rocket ship in my backyard was probably a bad idea. Unless this place gets professional about their coffee making, I give them 4 months.
The first thing I noticed when I entered was how hard the front door was to open. Really? No testing of the doors to see if they work? There was nowhere to sit, even though the place is at least 400sqft, and nothing on the walls, giving the place a strange empty feel. The food selection is a handful of unappetizing muffins, and there wasn't even a standard coffee price and list board on the wall. Furthermore, banning use of the internet is no way to make friends. (They actually have a sign that tells patrons not to use the internet on their premises).
Returning recently from Europe, I realized how oppressed we are in the states concerning a decent cup of coffee. For the love of god, the Italians get better coffee and espresso from the vending machines at their train stations!
I had a dream once too, but I knew building a rocket ship in my backyard was probably a bad idea. Unless this place gets professional about their coffee making, I give them 4 months.
Comments
-
I don't really understand what you mean when you refer to Grumpy as the "I have a dream to open a coffee house". There are two other locations (Manhattan and Greenpoint), so it's actually a pretty successful local business.
I'm with you on the door, the spartan decorating sensibility, and the lack of even one or two stools. I wasn't aware they forbade internet usage, which seems especially strange since there's no seating; it's not like you could set up camp in there for hours. Plus, it's pretty meaningless in an age of internet phones... are they going to snatch my Pre away if I try to access Facebook in the shop?
At any rate, their coffee is really good and very professional. And that's what matters. Brewing pots of coffee isn't their schtick. Single pull coffee on the Clover and espresso is their game... don't knock them for something they're not trying to be.
Oh and, per the Red Horse discussion, everyone is always really nice. -
Well the name of the place isn't "I have a dream to open a successful coffee house"
-
You want some cheese with that whine?
-
Subject: Re: A dream of opening a coffee house
charlesbklyn wrote: I just got back home from grabbing a slightly burnt regular 12oz coffee at the new "I have a dream to open a coffee house" between 11th and 12th street on 7th avenue. As a former coffee house manager, I am dismayed. So now, we don't even know how to brew a pot of coffee? I am sure it's in a book somewhere …
did you actually get a cup of coffee, or just raise your nose and walk out? I'm thinking the later because, if you did, you would really have liked it. Yes, you can critique the lack of food (which, by the way, is actually quite good), the no Internet, the price, and the front door... but really, the coffee is delicious. Way better than any coffee I got in Europe.
The first thing I noticed when I entered was how hard the front door was to open. Really? No testing of the doors to see if they work? There was nowhere to sit, even though the place is at least 400sqft, and nothing on the walls, giving the place a strange empty feel. The food selection is a handful of unappetizing muffins, and there wasn't even a standard coffee price and list board on the wall. Furthermore, banning use of the internet is no way to make friends. (They actually have a sign that tells patrons not to use the internet on their premises).
Returning recently from Europe, I realized how oppressed we are in the states concerning a decent cup of coffee. For the love of god, the Italians get better coffee and espresso from the vending machines at their train stations!
I had a dream once too, but I knew building a rocket ship in my backyard was probably a bad idea. Unless this place gets professional about their coffee making, I give them 4 months.
And giving them 4 months... please... go back to dreaming about rocket ships. -
Meager reserve and without mythical coffee stature- your not that in the know, really.
Don't let the door hit you on the way out. -
Open one of these and you won't be disappointed. http://www.joetheartofcoffee.com/index.htm
-
charles:
apparently you're in the minority about how you feel about this place:
http://newyork.timeout.com/articles/eat-out-awards/73158/eat-out-awards-2009-best-coffee-a-cafa-grumpy -
Let me tell you what you do. Go to Damicos on Court Street, buy a bag of their house colombian dark or their house espresso or their regular house roast, all roasted right on the premises. The Colombian dark is my favorite and goes for $6.79 a pound. Buy it whole bean if you have a grinder. If you don't have an espresso pot, get a melita filter. For each 6 oz of water one level tablespoon of coffee. You can experiment with that. Measure just enough water for your cup size, boil it and pour it through. Stir gently as it drains through to get that nice crema color. Use a little non fat 1/2 & 1/2, I guarantee you will have many cups of the most delicious coffee you will find anywhere in Brooklyn. You can actually buy paper cups with lids if you so desire so that you can leave the house. Let's see coffee in a cafe at say $2.50 a pop. Or a one pound bag of coffee and you can make dozens of cups for $6.79. Sounds like a winner to me.
-
Subject: You can always go across the street to Naidre's...
In all fairness, I will disclose that I am the owner of Naidre's, which I purchased from the original owner 2 years ago. Naidre's, directly across the street (for 9 years), has really excellent organic/FT coffee (from Porto Rico), and a great menu, most of it homemade or baked on the premises. Our baristas are adorable, friendly, very skilled and do some pretty latte art, our coffee is reasonably priced, and the wi-fi is free. I think Naidre's used to be known mostly for it's food, and the coffee was secondary, it was just kind of there. But the past 2 years we have (perhaps too quietly) focused on bringing our coffee and espresso drinks to a much higher level, hired more skilled baristas than the original owner had, and developed our own organic espresso blend with the roasters at Porto Rico. Add to that organic/FT house blend, many other coffees (sumatra, kona, yirgacheffe) individually served in a french-press, cold-brewed iced coffee, 25+ organic/fair trade teas, and french pastries from Ceci-Cela, among other changes. I hope you'll give Naidre's a try, we've even got a few seats for ya'! -
youbetcha wrote: Use a little non fat 1/2 & 1/2,
what? if you want corn syrup in your coffee, have a coke.
otherwise, your instructions sound nice. but fat free half-and-half? just use milk, if you can't have the real stuff. -
Subject: Reply
charles:
Well, I suppose, maybe. Majorities have been known to be wrong, from time to time, and in a country with a generally awful coffee culture, I would not discount the minority opinion. Just because everyone runs one way doesn't mean you should run that way too. Furthermore, just because Grumpy has two other branches doesn't mean jack. Three times of nothing special is nothing special.
apparently you're in the minority about how you feel about this place:
To be honest, Grumpy made me Grumpy. There is nothing worse than paying a buck 1/2 to get a sub par cup of coffee. I usually brew at home, but I also like to patronize local businesses.
THERE IS A GREATER ISSUE, HOWEVER. (To Manhattan transplants and Manhattan people living now in Brooklyn). (Yes, I'm looking for a grumpy reaction
)
Nadra's and The Rocking Horse are stellar coffee houses, with depth and feel for the neighborhood . They give the surrounding community more than just a place to pick up coffee. They give us the reasons why we all cheerish living in this part of New York. This is Brooklyn, not Chelsea. Unless Grumpy gets this, along with making a decent cup of coffee, I predict, they will be out of business in 4 months. (Just like the last coffee place adjacent to their space that last: about 6 months). I don't want them to fail; far from it. I'm just keeping it real.
Oh, and as for the "I don't understand your post" replies, I suggest you drink stronger coffee. I am not here to do the thinking for you, just myself. -
Having experiencedd coffee in South America I can relate to Charle's frustration. Finding a decent cup can be a futile search. So far the best coffee I've had in Brooklyn has been at Frankie's 457 (sp?) and Egg. I make my own now or days anyway.
In a sort of tie-in with Sweet Tea's comment about whole milk, it always amuses me when outside of the Quad-State area, Northeast in general, whole milk in one's coffee is an alien way of life. You can get powdered/fake cream, half & half and low fats but ask for whole milk and you get looked at like you're nuts. -
cafe grumpy is one of the better cups of coffee i've had outside of europe and south america. i've been about 10 times since they've opened, and i will be a regular there.
naidres i don't like at all. -
Losers. You are the reason this neighborhood sucks now. Low brow, no quality drones.
-
Have any of you guys been to 9th St Espresso in Chelsea Market? I wish I could get a cup like that around here.
-
Idlewild wrote:
no kidding! I started drinking my coffee black or w/ sugar on a trip to the midwest...it's funny to have someone look at you in a dairy state and quizzically and say "milk?"
In a sort of tie-in with Sweet Tea's comment about whole milk, it always amuses me when outside of the Quad-State area, Northeast in general, whole milk in one's coffee is an alien way of life. You can get powdered/fake cream, half & half and low fats but ask for whole milk and you get looked at like you're nuts.
New favorite near the Union St "R" stop:
Root Hill Cafe at 4th Ave and Carroll. They have a hitching post for dogs in full view of the coffee counter, so morning walk can double with coffee pickup, yeah! Not a high bar around here, but it's better than the bagel place on Union/4th. And they have a mini farmer's market Friday and Saturdays - we got greens on the way home last week. Woo!
http://newyork.seriouseats.com/tags/Root Hill Cafe -
Idlewild wrote: amuses me when outside of the Quad-State area, Northeast in general, whole milk in one's coffee is an alien way of life. You can get powdered/fake cream, half & half and low fats but ask for whole milk and you get looked at like you're nuts.
Not alien on the West coast. So maybe you mean outside of US... -
Just my 2 cents to all the Clover aficionados... I may own a coffee shop, but I'm not going to profess to coffee being my ultimate life's passion (for that I paint), and I'm not rich enough to go fly down to Costa Rica to meet the growers (it would be a great experience though). But I do love and appreciate a great cup of coffee, which is why I wanted to own a cafe.
I have focused the past 2 years on bringing the coffee at Naidre's to a much higher standard as far as product and baristas, I believe that coffee should sell for a reasonable price, and it must be Fair Trade. I think from Starbucks marketing on down, people have been led to believe that a great cup of coffee and expensive are an unavoidable reality. I don't think so. I get that some people are more sophisticated than I in their tastes and knowledge, and maybe I'm shooting my own profits in the foot by thinking this way, but that's just me.
That being said, the Clover is basically a $15,000 inverted french press, for which you are charged quite a high premium for your coffee... to umm.. pay for the Clover. I've done my taste-testing in several places throughout the city, and in my most humble opinion, one or two places where the baristas really knew how to use it, the coffee was only marginally better than a french press in terms of flavor, but has less mouthfeel... it felt kind of watery to me, consistently wherever I tried it, and I didn't like that. I felt like adding cream to compensate, and I like my coffee really dark or black. So maybe that part is personal taste, and I guess some people accept the watery feel, for the taste. In my opinion, a french press doesn't compromise one for the other.
If it was really drastically better, we'd have one in a heartbeat, instead of the french presses we use now. Our coffee roaster has 3 of them in storage collecting dust, I could have one installed next week. I just don't think the end justifies the means in terms of what people have to charge (and what I would have to charge) to make up for the expense of the machine.
Don't take my word for it, you don't even need to come to Naidre's... you can get a nice Bodum french press on Amazon.com for about $15 bucks. Get some good coffee and try it yourself at home. Clover vs. French Press? Taste? Price? It's an interesting debate. -
Gorilla coffee.
-
I agree, Gorilla is good.
-
Of course, Gorilla (brewed at Gorilla) is best.
-
...and they don't use a Clover!
-
Naidre'sParkSlope wrote: Just my 2 cents to all the Clover aficionados... I may own a coffee shop, but I'm not going to profess to coffee being my ultimate life's passion (for that I paint), and I'm not rich enough to go fly down to Costa Rica to meet the growers (it would be a great experience though). But I do love and appreciate a great cup of coffee, which is why I wanted to own a cafe.
I will say yesterday that I had a great iced coffee from Naidre's... they use cold drip, which is actually quite easy to do (I do it at home myself)... and makes a way better cup of iced coffee. Everyone who enjoys iced coffee should try it at home.
I have focused the past 2 years on bringing the coffee at Naidre's to a much higher standard as far as product and baristas, I believe that coffee should sell for a reasonable price, and it must be Fair Trade. I think from Starbucks marketing on down, people have been led to believe that a great cup of coffee and expensive are an unavoidable reality. I don't think so. I get that some people are more sophisticated than I in their tastes and knowledge, and maybe I'm shooting my own profits in the foot by thinking this way, but that's just me.
That being said, the Clover is basically a $15,000 inverted french press, for which you are charged quite a high premium for your coffee... to umm.. pay for the Clover. I've done my taste-testing in several places throughout the city, and in my most humble opinion, one or two places where the baristas really knew how to use it, the coffee was only marginally better than a french press in terms of flavor, but has less mouthfeel... it felt kind of watery to me, consistently wherever I tried it, and I didn't like that. I felt like adding cream to compensate, and I like my coffee really dark or black. So maybe that part is personal taste, and I guess some people accept the watery feel, for the taste. In my opinion, a french press doesn't compromise one for the other.
If it was really drastically better, we'd have one in a heartbeat, instead of the french presses we use now. Our coffee roaster has 3 of them in storage collecting dust, I could have one installed next week. I just don't think the end justifies the means in terms of what people have to charge (and what I would have to charge) to make up for the expense of the machine.
Don't take my word for it, you don't even need to come to Naidre's... you can get a nice Bodum french press on Amazon.com for about $15 bucks. Get some good coffee and try it yourself at home. Clover vs. French Press? Taste? Price? It's an interesting debate. -
pitu wrote: Of course, Gorilla (brewed at Gorilla) is best.
Have you tried 9th St Espresso in Chelsea Market? It is really amazing. -
Carnivore wrote: [quote=pitu]Of course, Gorilla (brewed at Gorilla) is best.
Have you tried 9th St Espresso in Chelsea Market? It is really amazing.
No, but next time I'm over that way, I'll look for it.
gotta make some cold extraction coffee now . . . mmmmm summer -
Naidre's-- You are looking very petty commenting like this about your new competitor. I am very happy that they are here now-- besides them bringing very good coffee to the neighborhood, I think it's making you and your worker's step up a little bit more. Just my 2 cents.
-
Hey Puck... you're right. Nothing like a little competition to get you juiced up! As for the that though, they have affected my sales zero, or helped us increase sales, because people are coming over to me who don't want to pay their prices. It's a different audience, different crowd who would go there.. to each their own. I was commenting more about the overblown hype on the Clover in general.
Howdy, Stranger!
Categories
- 40K All Categories
- 27.1K Neighborhoods
- 5.1K Crown Heights/Prospect Lefferts Gardens
- 7.1K Prospect Heights
- 2.3K Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Bed-Stuy
- 8K Park Slope
- 549 Williamsburg, Greenpoint, Bushwick
- 442 Flatbush/Midwood/Ditmas Park
- 657 BoCoCa (Boerum Hill, Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens)
- 151 Red Hook
- 104 Gowanus
- 304 Bay Ridge/Bensonhurst
- 130 Coney Island, Brighton Beach, Sheepshead Bay
- 270 Brooklyn Heights, DUMBO and Downtown
- 598 Windsor Terrace / Kensington
- 673 Greenwood Heights and Sunset Park
- 749 Brooklyn and Beyond
- 6.3K Stuff
- 86 Brooklyn Back When
- 1.2K Brooklyn Pets
- 257 Brooklyn Kids
- 241 Brooklyn Eats
- 51 Brooklyn Booze
- 3.6K The Lounge / Random Stuff
- 611 Brooklyn Politics
- 122 Brooklyn Sports and Fitness
- 111 Brooklyn Photos
- 339 Site Issues
- 8 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- 6.2K Listings
- 1.1K APARTMENTS and REAL ESTATE
- 1.3K Sales Openings Events
- 2.3K The Classifieds