I asked Doug to pick up coffee and allspice berries for Thanksgiving, and in the overwhelming nightmare that is pre T-Day Whole Foods, he forgot to get them. Luckily, I figured that Eagle Provisions, the awesome Polish/Euro grocer in my hood, would have allspice berries. When I didn't find coffee there, though, I remembered that there was a little coffee shop somewhere nearby.
Has Beans, a tiny, modest little coffee drink and bean outlet, is on the same block of 17th St. and 5th Ave. in Brooklyn. I picked up 1/4 pound of organic mocha java and a 1/4 pound of decaf house blend, figuring it would be disappointing coffee but probably better than Cafe Bustelo. After all, how good could coffee from some little nondescript shop on some little nondescript, unhip Brooklyn block be?
Well, as it turns out, the organic mocha java was really excellent coffee. I mean, really good. So good that we had to pull back after a sip and talk about how good it was. It's very dark and smooth, with chocolate tones and a slick syrup texture, but none of that sourness I hate in some lighter blends.
Now I know that, like my beloved Peet's coffee, it's roasted on the west coast, in Mt. Shasta, CA. And at $9.50/lb., it's a whole lot cheaper than the $14.99 bags of Peet's I've been picking up at Whole Foods. AND I can pick it up in Brooklyn, at a shop that's practically in walking distance of my house.
Right now I'm working on a bag of Gorilla Coffee's Sumatra Gayoland blend, and it's good too; obvs it's roasted a lot closer to home, and I like that they buy fair trade beans (though I don't really know what that entails). But if you're in my hood, save yourself some bus fare and check out this unassuming little shop on one of the South Slope's great culinary corners.
Has Beans
5th Ave. between 16th and 17th St. in Brooklyn
Don't you just love unexpected discoveries like so? :)
Don't hate on Cafe Bustelo. It's la bomba. Gorilla Coffee is right down the road from me, but I just can't bring myself to fight that crowd.
Gillies Coffee is even closer--they roast somewhere off 3rd Ave., maybe on 20th? Not sure if you can pick up beans there, but give them a call and see, or ask for retail outlets near you: (718) 499-7766. D'Amico's on Court St. in Cobble Hill also roasts good coffee. And if you're in Park Slope, Bierkraft sells Peet's and other good brands, and their prices are better than Whole Foods. (Can you tell I don't like WF so much?)
I think that Java Joe (7th Ave and 9th Street)is the best in the neighborhood. Brazilian Santos -- yum yum!
beth: Thanks for the tip. I resent WF and try to keep my shopping there to a minimum. It's so darned convenient for me though.
Anyway, I googled Gillies and came upon a wacky Chowhound thread about roasting one's own green beans from Gillies. I mean, I would do anything for love, but I won't do that.
jbSlope: Java Joe...is that the place with the bread in the window? I'm rarely in that corner of the world, but if I ever have a morning walk of shame round those parts (unlikely), I'll check it out.
Hey thanks for the tips! We must be in the same hood--I've often wondered how Has Beans is when I ride the B63 on my way home.
You should try Cafe Sutra between 18th and 19th...kitty corner from Eagle Provisions, great coffee and they sell it by the pound.