My Bedford Area Coffee Review

Being the coffee shop junkie I am, I've passed almost every New York day nibbling on bagels with cream cheese, sipping blended teas and scoping out the atmosphere of whatever cafe I happen to be in. I've deeply explored (and judged!) the Bedford coffee shops for over six months now, and decided I've gained enough knowledge to share my opinions on them, which I'm sure you all want to hear.

Verb Cafe: Oft criticized for its interesting smell and uber hipster environment, Verb Cafe is actually my favorite of the currently open cafes. Their prices are cheaper than anywhere else and their menu is wonderfully extensive. They offer all types of coffee drinks, a large variety of tea, soups, sandwiches, salads, many a bagel option, and BEER. They also stay open until 1 a.m., offering their full menu and an outdoor seating area until close. The employees are warm and friendly, despite their reputation of being too cool, and always choose awesome and diverse music (I've heard old timey blues, gangsta rap, punk rock and Feist all in one day). The customers are friendly and chill as well, frequently striking up conversation with one another. The space itself is slightly minimalistic in a good way, and usually loud but still inviting.

Read Cafe: The Read Cafe is closed right now because the landlord kicked them out and they're renovating a new building. But if the new place turns out anything like the old one, it beats Verb for number 1 in the Bedford area. The new cafe, located further down Bedford at South 3rd, is a converted apartment modeled after the old shop and opening soon. But when?!? The updates are few and far between. Let's hope the new version has as many books as the old, as many weird bagel toppings, and Harpoon UFO on tap. Also let's hope the same staff returns because they were complete oddballs who showed obvious care for the place and its customers. Ooh, and the outdoor garden with Christmas lights, too!

Bliss Cafe: A "Meat Free Zone" that offers an all-day, protein-filled brunch along with fresh salads, soups, and large, satisfying dinners, Bliss is a good place for a meal with a friend but definitely not for hours of drinking tea and working alone. First off, they have no internet nor do they pick up the free signal other Bedford business manage to find. Also, their music choice is terrible and not conducive at all to productivity. Usually the "lite FM" station is playing (106.7 for those of you with bad taste), or the server has picked a bad pop CD like Britney Spears or Christina Aguilera. But, the food is good and cheap, and usually a hot Polish lady is working.

Roebling Tea Room: A cafe by morning, restaurant by evening, and bar by night, this place offers excellent food and a wide variety of drinks over 14 hours a day. However, it also offers a complex. Are we a bar, or a cafe? Sit-eat-and-go type of restaurant, or curl up with coffee and chill? Weekends are slightly off-putting with the crowded tables and signs exclaiming, NO LAPTOPS, but this is a great weekday spot. Their extensive tea selection (including Lady Grey), Americanos instead of drip coffee, and fresh, homemade food (like $3 potato salad smothered in delicious dill) can definitely put one in a relaxed mood while sunken into their huge couches. The employees play great music that matches the dark but upbeat atmosphere, and during warm weather, a large, outdoor garden is opened up. But beware that drinks and sides are sensibly priced, but meals are on average $9-$12.

Ella's Cafe: Located on Bedford Avenue not even a block from the L train, Ella's is convenient and diverse with multiple vegan options including paninis, soups and pastries. However, their prices are high and the mood too sterile. The tables and chairs are made from uncomfortable metal, and though the color scheme is bright, I changed my order from Here to To-Go because my tiny, railroad apartment felt much more inviting.

Oslo: Hands-down, Oslo offers the best, tastiest and strongest coffee in the area. Since their tea costs $3 and up, I settled with a small coffee and was jazzed 'til the next day. Their chocolate croissant was also well made, with a nice crunch on the outside but gooey goodness in the middle. Even though it was busy both times I've visited, the baristas remained on top of every order, but lacked any smiles or thank you's (though I suppose it's not required to be happy). Also, the main sitting room is home to a huge machine that looks really cool even though I have no idea what it does, or used to do, or will do. They also offer a second, smaller location on Bedford near Grand Street that sells equally as lethal coffee.

Fabiane's: Snooty McSnoot's only can apply! Must have a pretty nose that looks best thrust upwards, must speak French, and never must smile. However, must also know how to bake incredible egg pies with any veggie or any meat, and know how to precisely decorate pastries that are so beautiful, one has difficulty destroying it until one actually takes a bite and then can't stop until it's all gone.

Blackbird Parlour: My opinion of Blackbird is tainted due to their lack of bagels along with their lack of Earl Grey tea. But oh, wait, they do have Earl Grey tea, sitting right there on the shelf! PSYCHE! You have to buy it in bulk, you can't just buy it for one pot, please refer to our minimal tea menu for other options.
My bitterness aside, Blackbird is rustic and old-fashioned, creating a cozy atmosphere with candles and well-chosen decor. Their Americanos are to die for and the food is tasty but over-priced. They always play awesome rock music and the employees maintain their contagious cheeriness throughout their shifts, at one point even dancing and encouraging me to do so (of course I joined in). However, they don't serve Earl Grey tea, even though it's on their shelves.

Gimme Coffee: This place isn't exactly in the Bedford area but deserves a mention. Located by the Lorimer stop, Gimme specializes in coffee and tea, serving noticeably better tasting drinks than most other places. Complete with weird art, red benches and no bathroom, Gimme is the perfect place for a genuine but brief espresso.

Cafe Grumpy: Grumpy's is really not exactly in the Bedford area at all, but it's a phenomenal cafe. Located in Greenpoint at Diamond and Meserole, Grumpy's offers loads of vegetarian dishes along with meat-lover's sandwiches and yummy Asian noodle salads. The space is divided into two rooms, a front area with couches, coffee tables and multiple board games (including Scrabble and Hungry, Hungry Hippos) and then a back area with cool tables, Christmas lights and funky ball sculpture things hanging from the ceiling. The decor is an inspiring mix of these items along with original art, complimented by a simplistic touch that keeps it from feeling too cluttered. Also, I've never seen a staff member not smiling.

So, that's what I have to offer. If anyone has an alternative opinion or a new cafe to add, feel free. Hopefully those Brooklynite friends of mine can find these statements to be true, and those visiting friends of mine can find these statements to be helpful.

Long live coffee and tea! "You can sleep when you're dead."