Espresso Mi Cultura at Beaner Bar Coffee Shop in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

About a year ago Diego and I went to Olvera Street in Los Angeles. It was flooded with tourists as always but I keep going because I love the sellers and the artesania (art in different forms).  I also love Diego to see Mexican culture anywhere we go and this is where you can see food, arts, culture and community in one place. 

I found this great coffee shop there.  I forget the name of it but they had the most beautiful coffee mugs painted with typical Mexican design, great décor and of course, Mexican Hot Chocolate.  Sadly, they did not serve any sweets, not even churros (the soft sweet bread that melts in your mouth with sugar).  I was shocked!  How in the world could they not have churros?  Churros are one of the signature Mexican desserts.  That is when it hit me, if I ever opened a coffee shop in NYC I would have to call it Churros y Chocolate and the one thing customers would always be able to depend on would be the Mexican Hot Chocolate and delicious soft and fresh Churros.

A few weeks after that visit to California I stumbled onto The Beaner Bar in Brooklyn and thought …wow, I don’t have to make my own Mexican Culture Coffee Shop I can just come here.

This past week Diego and I visited Beaner Bar after school.  We found Chiclets (gum), Dia de Muertos Calaveras everywhere, Talavera (Mexican Titles), De la Rosa Mazapán (Mazapán peanut confection), Choco-late and more.  Diego drank a Gringo (Hot Chocolate without Mexican Spice) and I had their signature drink, the Mexican Moca (Spicy Hot Chocolate with two shots of espresso).  Together we shared “the favorite”, Jamon y Queso (the ham and cheese croissant).  We were not impressed with the food this time because our croissant tasted as if it had been out on display all day.  We have had their almond croissants in the past and they have been delicious, fresh and moist (maybe because we came earlier).  Diego was not impressed at all because he stuffed his face with the cinnamon and spearmint flavored Chiclets before his hot chocolate.   He did however devour his choco-late and asked me to make him more at home.  The food is not amazing every time you go here but the place is like nothing in New York so you forgive them because they are so cool for bringing México to Nueva York.   

This is a fabulous place to bring a 5+ child.  You can come here and teach kids about different culture and cuisine.  Chicken and cheese tamales are served on weekends with salsa verde (green salsa) and elote (corn).  Research about Mexico before hand so that you can offer info about everything in here that explores Day of the Dead, Lucha Libre (Mexican Wrestling), candy from different parts of the world, the different forms of art in Mexico (tiles and more).   If you don’t know ask the staff, they are so excited to offer up information. 

Ok, so I did not find the churros I was looking for but I found a little piece of mi México here to share with Diegito.

Beaner Bar is located at 447 Graham Avenue between Frost in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.  One can arrive by taking the L Train to Graham Avenue and walking north.  

 

Perks are that they still serve iced coffee in the winter, they have decaf espresso, have over 11 teas to choose from and they serve “Mellita”, brewed to order coffee for those who want to explore coffees one fresh ground cup at a time (most popular is the “Diablo”).  For more info visit: www.beanerbar.com

Atmosphere-5 Stars

Pastries-2 Stars

Coffee-3.5 Stars

Service-Amazingly Warm

Price- $$