In a city overflowing with great coffee shops, it’s a bold statement to claim you have the freshest beans — not just in New York, but in the whole country. That’s exactly what Botica del Café in Williamsburg is trumpeting thanks to their supplies from luxury Colombian coffee company Devoción. The latter has a special relationship with Federal Express, meaning their green beans can be flown into the States weekly and at a much younger age than standard “fresh” beans — 10 to 30 days old, as opposed to the standard which ranges from three to 12 months. We can’t confirm if they really are the freshest in the country, but they’re pretty damn fresh.
On to the café itself, which is located at 69 Grand Street and greets customers with a grand frontage that’s worthy of the address and the high-end coffee being prepared inside. The former meat-packing plant has the industrial aesthetic and dimensions that make it perfect for the theatrical processes happening here; a glass-fronted roasting room and visible brewing laboratory are two of the notable highlights. The main space is pretty lovely too, with a living wall and two great leather Chesterfields holding court as a central focal point.
