Champion Coffee in Greenpoint

Champion Coffee lies several streets from one of the loudest Starbucks in Brooklyn, one housed in an old movie theater with a massive marquee.  This mom and pop shop has been here in this part of Greenpoint for four years and it does not go thru the same amount of effort to lure you in.  The storefront is simple and deep blue and you may not know that it is a coffee shop right away but when you do you want to see what it’s about.  Inside the walls are crème and a tall blue rack separates the seating area from the tiny kitchen.  Magazines like The Economist, Art Forum, and Vanity Fair are just some of the many interesting reads available and the seating feels like mini-desks but this is all good because it serves many writers in the area that use this as temporary office space.  Even though Champion is not filled with couches to lounge in and talk endlessly, people still feel inclined to come here to play a game of chess or chill out to light sounds of alternative rock and jazz.

This place is opens at 7am everyday and closes at 10pm and in this part of Greenpoint nothing on Manhattan Avenue stays open until 10pm.   In addition to this, the impressive menu has several radiant options for less than 5$ and the tea list is like a wine list with detailed descriptions like Pu-erh Ginger-“the coffee drinkers tea… orange and ginger complement the rick smoky flavors of pu-erh.”  In Spring & Summer new menus arrive and you can peak at Brooklyn backyards through their open their spacious secret backyard.  The coffee is caffe-vita from Seattle.

Champion Coffee is located at 1108 Manhattan Avenue between Clay & Dupont.   The closest train is the G.
(718) 383-5195
www.championcafe.com

Atmosphere: 3.75 Stars

Coffee: 4 Stars

Service: Sometimes nice, sometimes indifferent

Price: $