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Neighbor News

5 Flavorful Brooklyn Coffee Stops With Connoisseur, Jonah Engler

Popular Destinations for Those Looking for World Class Coffee

Brooklyn is home to many coffee joints all over – coffee culture is literally woven into the fabric that makes up the borough. We’re not just talking about the typical grab and go establishments, instead when you have time out of your busy work schedules, why not go explore the various unique caffeine hubs around the area. Today, philanthropist Jonah Engler is here to guide you on his top unique coffee shops, putting his own special twists into the classic beverage. Jonah Engler is a person of many talents and expertise, especially when it comes to Brooklyn’s favorite morning drink, coffee. Jonah plainly enjoys relaxing at and talking about the many fine coffee establishments around the borough.

First up is a unique twist between classic local coffee vibes with elegant Japanese flavors. Café Usagi features coffee brewed using 95 RPM, a local micro-roaster company that provides the perfect custom blends. In addition, Café Usagi features the best Matcha Tea around. Matcha Tea may not be exactly coffee, but it packs a caffeine punch and tastes amazing. Café Usagi does not stop there though, featuring abstract and contemporary art along with a distinct book collection.

Sometimes it is justified to buy that latte from Starbucks for $5, you say in your head as you begrudgingly hand the barista your money. Now, imagine paying $18 dollars for that same latte. Would you still want it? Most would pass on that opportunity, but what if the coffee was worth it? That’s where Alpha Dominche Extraction Lab comes in and schools you on the perfect cup of coffee, literally. Their unique brew technique is technologically advanced, yet the finished product appears simplistic. However, the full-bodied, flavorful blend of black coffee that is produced is purely euphoric. If you’re looking to take a step out of the ordinary and into the extraordinary, visit Alpha Dominche Extraction Lab for an enjoyable and educational experience.

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Nestled on the corner of BARC Ave and Grand St. and a location downtown, Devoción Café offers the feel of Bogotá right in Brooklyn. Devoción offers delicious twists on classic espresso and coffee with a South American style. Devoción has a ten-day turnaround on locally shipped Columbian coffee beans where they tout a fair and sustainable farm to cup initiative. Their bold flavorful coffees are well worth the efforts they put into brewing them. Above their unique coffee, Devoción has a very pleasant, cozy atmosphere with towering coffee plants right in the café. If you’re looking for fantastic flavor with a cozy feel and background, visit Devoción now!

Sey Coffee is one of the new kids on the block, located between Bushwick and Williamsburg, Sey has dedicated baristas who accent the natural flavors and aromas of their coffee. Sey takes the usual coffee brew style and adds superior talents into their products. The minimalistic café stands out from the many other cafes due to their dedications to coffee and the environment of the café itself. The baristas remind me of touring a craft brewery, very proud and pure dedication to their products. If you’re looking for something different from the norm of cafes in Brooklyn, make sure to visit Sey Coffee and learn some new things.

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Offering tons of crop to cup options from all over the world, East One Coffee Roasters has been around for awhile and does not intend to change. Perhaps that is part of their allure, the roaster has been around for some time and brings the classic Brooklyn feel. Their coffees are part of the many items to choose from, so it may be a bit over shadowed. However, don’t let that fool you, the coffee is simply outstanding and simple. Their bold, classic take on the Brooklyn coffee with international tones is worth it. Stylistically, the shop has the classic feel of an old coffee shop turned restaurant.

The businesses above all have excellent coffee; however, great coffee is not the only trait needed to maintain a successful café. Numerous aspects must be planned and implemented to maintain a profitable business. First and foremost, planning the types and quality of products that are going to be marketed is key. All planned products play into budget and logistics. Not having a decent plan to implement can lead to early closure or not even leaving the launch phase. Next, location and how that location plays into space or floorplan. As with most businesses, location is a vital aspect, especially if you’re looking to host in a wonderful place like Brooklyn. The proper location must to be picked with how much space is available too. One cannot have much of an open floor plan with 900 square feet available. Next, know your potential customer base, do you want a unique niche shop or have a variety for any type of customer. Knowing your customer opens the door for better marketing plans and potentially a hit location. Finally, the best way to maintain a great coffee related business is to have excellent products coupled with excellent employees. There is nothing simpler than that, providing great services and products can go a long way.

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