Cafe Grumpy

193 Meserole Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11222

Cappuccino

Greenpoint Grumpy

It’s a great day for coffee. It’s a simple phrase that keeps me waking up feeling motivated and waiting until I get that first sip of the day. If there is one place I can stay rest assured that this statement will remain true, it’s Cafe Grumpy. Let me begin by saying it has been quite some time since my last write up, but I can assure you that it is not because I have lost any sort of passion. There just comes a time and place where I feel the need to login and share my experience on here.

Cafe Grumpy is located in the quiet neighborhood of Greenpoint in Brooklyn, NY. They have 3 other locations in New York City, including stores in Chelsea, Lower East Side and Park Slope. Before even moving to NYC, Cafe Grumpy seemed more or less like a household name for coffee lovers, and I have learned after many experiences why they have built such a strong name for themselves. For locals looking to find this hot spot, it can be accessed by either the Nassau Ave or Greenpoint Ave stops on the G train. This location is specifically described as the “home” of Grumpy. They have dedicated the whole back of the store to a roasting facility in which they provide all the beans for the 4 locations across NYC. Using a restored Probat roaster, you can enjoy a cup of their freshly brewed coffee as you watch the masters of the craft working hard to make the flavors of your favorite drink come alive. Not to mention, they don’t hold a pretentious halo over their head with things like not allowing the customer to pre-grind the pounds of beans they are buying, or trying to control whether or not they are allowed to order a drink “to go” like some other Brooklyn enthusiasts. The atmosphere of Cafe Grumpy is one that brings in students and friends together at a place where you can get lost in a good book or conversation. The cafe also offers a book exchange for anyone looking to get rid of an old book and pick up a new read. The door here at this cafe seems to be revolving from open to close, and it’s not just because of the free wifi and plenty of seating to find your spot and get some work done.

The cappuccino from Cafe Grumpy was one of the best drinks I’ve had since living in Brooklyn. The consistency of their “Heartbreaker” espresso is one that doesn’t seem to fail with whatever style of drink you are ordering. The flavors of the espresso can be distinguished with traits of lavender, raspberry, citrus and mollasses. You can clearly pick up on these floral notes with a straight shot of espresso or macchiato, where the sweeter citrus and berry flavors seem to prevail themselves in this cappuccino today. This is a preferred and a great balance in my opinion. A nice smooth berry and fruit flavor shot can be nice when enjoying an espresso, but shops seem to concentrate so hard on obtaining these traits today. Cafe Grumpy has brought a great balance in their espresso to be used in a variety of drinks across their menu and have found a way to remain consistent. I’m looking forward to running into their other shops across the city, and I hope you can find a minute for yourself today to take a break and enjoy a drink.

- John, itsagreatdayforcoffee.com