Ecopolis Cafe on the Border of Boerum Hill & Cobble Hill

This past Earth Week, Brooklyn Ecopolis opened its' eco-coffee shop on the border of Boerum Hill and Cobble Hill.  Ecopolis Cafe is a coffee shop welcoming people to the sustainable building on Smith Street that has taken over 5 years to plan and build.  The brand new building is on the corner of Smith and Warren Street above the Smith Street train station, and one block away from the corporate coffee giant that I need not mention. 

"We are focusing on sustainability", said co-owner Patricia Simino Boyce. "If you notice the wiring in the shop you will soon see that we will be using it to show videos on sustainable living.  The café will help support the mission by using local sustainable food and drink vendors.  Famous City Bakery is providing the sandwiches and some baked goods, and "this is something they have never done before".  Patti said, "we are not reinventing anything".    

Diego and I starred at what we thought were solar panels while we shared an amazingly crunchy chocolate chip cookie from Birdbath Neighborhood Green Bakery. I delighted myself in one of their specialty drinks made with espresso beans from PT's Coffee Roastery (based in Kansas but thinking about doing coffee business in New York soon).   Patti mentioned that they also plan on expanding the coffee menu and feature a menu of local roasters soon. 

The Café uses high efficiency heating, biodegradable and recycled paper supplies and focuses on recycling and composting as a strong aspect of waste management for local sustainability.   Ecopolis Cafe is located at 180 Smith Street.  Take the F or G to Smith Street.  For more info call: (718) 488-7401.

     
http://www.brooklynecopolis.org

My Way Cup Coffee Shop in Murray Hill/Gramercy

My Way Cup coffee shop, on 23rd Street between Park and Lexington in Murray Hill (but claimed to be in Gramercy/Flatiron by Yelp) opened a couple days ago.   It is a teeny tiny coffee spot for a quick caffeine buzz. The place is "85% done", said owner Sufi Graziani.  I thought it looked quite complete with its' black and white "soho" feel.  While I was there people ordered the strong, "mini cappuccino".  Sufi requested the photos of the shop not be published until the place is done so you will have to wait until next week to see what the place looks like.   
www.mywaycup.com

Photos of Blue Bottle Coffee Bar in Williamsburg

Blue Bottle Coffee Co. bar at 160 Berry Street in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

Japanese slow-drip devices for iced coffee at Blue Coffee Co. 

Here is the "pour over" coffee bar where one cup of coffee is made at a time. 

Half pounds of coffee from parts of Ethiopia and Indonesia 

The "chocolate financiers"

Clean. Dirty. Sugar.

For more info on Blue Bottle Coffee in Brooklyn click here: www.bluebottlecoffee.net

Vox Pop Cafe in Ditmas Park

If you love coffee shops then jump on the Q Train to Cortelyou and head to Ditmas Park now.  Ditmas Park is one of the most diverse neighborhoods in the United States with the coffee shop of coffee shops.  Serving Caribbean East Flatbush, Jewish Midwood, and Borough Park, Chinese and Mexican Sunset Park, the South Asian pockets along Coney Island Avenue and Victorian Flatbush residents, Vox Pop is a marvelous place that you want to visit simply because it has electrifying energy and people.  

In December of 2009, the business was shut down by the New York State Department of Taxation for unpaid bills and on New Year’s Eve of 2010, the people in the surrounding neighborhood united to save it by purchasing memberships and shares (the coffee shop has over 190 shareholders).   Manager Debi Ryan was one of the many that helped organize the save.    

Now everything artsy happens in this community-owned café.  Any given day can include film screenings and movie nights, jazz and blues concerts, open mic sessions, art exhibits, performances, poetry readings, classes like Rolie Polie Guacamole for little ones, Stitch & Bitch sessions for knitters, and the list goes on.  A café, gallery, music venue, screening house, independent bookstore and printing house, this kid-friendly space is the place where one could say that no republican belongs.  It is the place of “yes”.

Vox Pop serves Equal Exchange fair trade organic coffee and food from all local vendors.  The brownies are great (they went thru fifteen different ones before they found the “perfect” one).  They are open late and in the summer the place does not close at all. 

One can arrive by taking the Q Train to Cortelyou or the F Train to Ditmas (at MacDonald Avenue.  Vox Pop is located at 1022 Cortelyou Road (corner of Stratford & Cortelyou).  For more info please check out: www.voxpopcafe.com

Atmosphere-5 Stars 

Pastries-4 Stars

Coffee-4 Stars 
Service-Chill
Price-$