It was on the recommendation of New York lover Seth Shezi that I visited Devoçión coffee Roastery in Williamsburg in Brooklyn, New York yesterday. It claims to be the only ‘farm-to-cup coffee in the world’. 

Devoción roasts Colombian coffee beans, and one smells the roasting of the beans when one enters the building, non-descript and grey from outside, but vibrant and warm inside. One passes the roasting room immediately on entering, and then passes a poster with the timeline of producing farm fresh coffee, a ten day period. It describes the stages as Dry Milling (removing the skin, pulp, and parchment) in Colombia on day one, flying the beans to New York on day two, roasting the beans in Brooklyn on day seven, and serving the coffee, rich and strong, on day ten.

Devoción is a large space, with small round tables on the side of the room, and leather couches in the centre. Almost everyone is on their laptop, and it clearly is very popular, one grabbing the first available seat. One orders at the counter, and then collects the order once it has been made.  The long walls have been left as rough brick, while a third is a green wall with plants. I loved the music, being Cuban, reminding me of Buena Vista Social Club. The walls are covered with photographic prints of people with character written into their faces, by Johan Lindeberg, which are for sale.

The coffee menu offers espresso and Americano at $3,25, macchiato ($3,75), Cortado (Espresso with a small amount of warm milk to reduce the acidity, at $4), Cappuccino ($4,25), and Latte ($4,75). Ordering the coffee with soy or almond milk commands an extra 50 cents. As the assistant I dealt with initially made it clear that their milk  (not full milk) does not lend itself to frothing, realising while writing this that it probably means more work and time to prepare the coffee, I chose to order a ‘Cold Brew’ iced coffee, literary coffee and ice, the Kyoto blend being the stronger one, and more expensive at $5.50. It was very strong!

In conjunction with Davey’s ice cream, they offer Affogato (ice cream with a shot of coffee) at $7,50, and a coffee float.

On the counter is a selection of treats, beautiful blueberry muffins, chocolate brownies, pain au chocolat, croissants, banana bread slices, and scones, at around $4. They offer sandwiches, at around $9, but I didn’t see any ordered in the time that I spent there.

Assistant Nicky very kindly called a car service for me, using her phone, as Vodacom has left me without roaming, despite having had it switched on for the trip!

It is clear why Devoción is so popular, serving excellent coffee, and creating an enjoyable space in which to work and to socialize.

Devoción, 69 Grand Street, Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York. Tel +1 718 285 6180. www.devocion.com Twitter: @DevocionUSA Instagram: @devocionusa Monday – Friday 7h00 – 19h00, Saturday – Sunday 8h00 – 19h00.

Chris von Ulmenstein, WhaleTales Blog: www.whalecottage.com/blog  Tel +27 082 55 11 323 Twitter:@WhaleCottage  Facebook:  click here Instagram: @Chris_Ulmenstein