ONLY THE BLOG KNOWS BROOKLYN COFFEE_AGAIN

Apparently, the strong outcry for Mojo and Connecticut Muffin from some OTBKB readers really got to food writer, Paul Leshen, who left his apartment at approximately 5 p.m. on Friday afternoon to see what all the fuss was about.  But not before he posted this on OTBKB.
OK, OK…I’m on my way to Mojo. I’ll drink a half cup of coffee from Mojo and half cup from Connecticut Muffin. My apologies for leaving them off the list…I’ll have to make it over to Prospect Heights as well. Remember, coffee is often a matter of personal taste; many people prefer Dunkin’ Donuts coffee to the strong, locally roasted stuff at Gorilla.

Some of my favorite coffee places are outside the neighborhood, including Atlas and Gimme Coffee in Williamsburg, Fall Cafe in Carroll Gardens, and Joe on Waverly in the Village, which has what I believe to be the best drip coffee in NYC. More later!"

Clearly, our man Paul takes his job writing for OTBKB seriously. At 6:17 p.m. Paul sent this missive after sipping coffee at both the Mojo and Conn Muff, as it’s sometimes called in these parts.

"I’m back. And high on caffeine. Congrats, OTBKB. You’re right…I approached Mojo with the same trepidation as George did, and came away similarly impressed. They have great coffee. They’re at least in the top three on the list now. I gave Connecticut Muffin another shot, and I think they’re headed south in the rankings.

"Heights Coffee Lounge, on Flatbush Avenue, uses Kobricks Coffee, which has improved a bit over the years, but is still not very strong or distinct tasting. Seems like a good place to hang out and surf the web."

Later, when I spoke to Paul on the phone he said, "I really owe you an apology! Mojo is the second or third best coffee in the Slope." I was pleased that Paul and I are on the same page when it comes to coffee. My husband hates the coffee there and schleps all the way to Conn Muff for a Hazelnut iced coffee or an expresso, which he says is top- notch.

Clearly, making lists can get you in lots of trouble. But it’s a great way to get readers involved. Because EVERYONE has opinions about coffee in Park Slope. That’s for sure.

When I first read Paul Leschen’s list of Slope coffee spots, I was
surprised, if not dumbfounded, that he left off two OTBKB faves: Connecticut Muffin and Mojo. I e-mailed our intrepid food reporter and he responded by same. "I guess I should amend it to include Connecticut Muffin after Ozzie’s," Leschen wrote. So here goes:

Connecticut Muffin. I once drove to Norwalk to
try some real Connecticut muffins, which are actually shaped like a
hexagon and contain rosemary, chocolate chips, and dried figs. I’m not
a big fan of the drip coffee, and I’ve not yet had a cappuccino there.
The Prospect Park West location is a suitable place to kill time before
a film and chat with local seniors. I don’t know much about Mojo…is that the place with the Carvel ice cream and the big patio?

Yes, Paul, it’s the place with the Carvel ice cream and the big patio. Seems that Mojo, a
veritable Third Street institution, isn’t on Leschen’s radar. But why
should it be: he doesn’t live on Third Street or have children at PS
321. It may be hard to believe that a cafe crossed with a Carvel could
be any good at all, but Mojo, against all odds, does a nice cup
of Joe. For my summer coffee needs, I like their light iced coffee. And
the morning staff, especially Cory, who has been there for years, is
excellent.

While I’m thinking about it, it does seem only fair that Cousin John’s, probably the oldest coffee and pastry joint on Seventh Avenue, deserves
a mention for their coffee, lattes, and cappuccinos. Their large
selection of breakfast pastries, muffins and croissants is really good and very buttery.  The whole wheat croissant is also worth a try.

And while I’m at it, an honorable mention might go to the coffee cart on Lincoln Place and Eighth Avenue,
right in front of the Montauk Club. The coffee is, well, not much to
speak of. But the guy in the cart is quite good natured and he’s got a
good selection of classic New Yawk breakfast fare: buttered hard roll,
french cruller, non-Krispy Kreme glazed donuts

It seems that OTBKB readers also have strong feelings about their
coffee. Here are some of the places they think Paul Leschen left off
his list. The ommission of Connecticut Muffin seemed irksome to many.
Readers also added lists of their own. In some cases they didn’t
remember the name of the place.

Zak wrote: Don’t forget the little french bakery next to Steve’s C-Town
on 9th Street between 5th and 6th ave. They have some tasty coffee
options. And any comprehensive list should probably also include Connecticut
Muffin, Java Joes, The Charcuterie, Dizzy’s (lot’s of people grab a
Dizzy’s cup before descending into the F train), Little Red Hen, and of
course, the cart in front of Barnes & Noble on 7th Ave. Sometimes you need a cup of Joe just for it’s basic "joe-ness!"

Michael Bradley wrote: How could you leave out Connecticut Muffin, across the street from Starbucks?
not only is the coffee better, but the atmosphere is less oppressive..
and they deserve a lot of credit for not folding before the monolith.

Susan wrote:
How sad is it that Park Slope has changed so much since I lived there,
that I don’t know one single place you mentioned. How long has there
been a B&N on seventh ave??? I do know where Connecticut muffin is,
so I guess I could find the Starbucks if I needed it the next
timeI visit friends.You are right about the coffee in the south though.
After drinking Carluccio’s while living in London, the NC coffee places
just can’t make it strong enough for me.

Stephanie wrote: Ansade on 5th is pretty good. And free wireless, too.

And someone named Daybird wrote: The new place on the Prospect Heights side of Flatbush at 7th Ave
is really good. Strong coffee, free wireless. Forgot the name dammit.
It does say "Heights" in the name; of that I am sure. You Slopers
better keep yo’ asses on the SPF 50 side of Flatbush and not ruin this
place!

Thanks to all you OTBKB readers who responded to Leschen’s call-out. This is not the end of the story. Only the beginning….

Keep those cards and letters coming. We want to hear from you about….

Coffee.

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