In the city that never sleeps, coffee isn’t just a morning staple, it’s part of the fabric of our lives. But in recent years, that fabric has felt increasingly threadbare.
These days, most coffee shops resemble busy train stations: all sharp elbows and bellowed orders. It’s a place you need to stop in to get from Point A to Point B, but not a space in which you’d like to linger, staffed by interchangeable baristas, not a consistent team of people who care how your day is going, or really want you to try the new breakfast sandwich they whipped up.
Kofee, which has its original branch in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, and another in the Bronx, is the antithesis of the corporate coffee hustle culture. Each store is distinct, and reflects the flavor and feel of the neighborhood in which it is nestled, but they both share the same foundational ethos: love of community, emphasis on warm hospitality, scratch-made food, great coffee.
And guess what? People don’t just stop in, grab a cup of Joe and run to their “real” destination. Kofee, increasingly, is the destination.
We sat down with cofounder Rohan Duggal to find out more about what’s percolating behind the scenes.
Question: What gave you the idea of opening Kofee?
Answer: I worked in my father’s liquor store in Manhattan when I graduated from college, and while I didn’t take it seriously at first, I developed a real love for the culture of wine. I opened my own liquor store in Washington Heights in 2013, and my wife, Monica [Noel], joined me there in 2017. We wanted to grow our business because we loved what we did, but liquor laws are so complicated in New York you can only open one store in your name. We wanted to do something similar, so we decided to open a coffee store, but one with more of an Indian community vibe. I grew up in Westchester, but I have Indian roots and I always felt very connected to that culture of hospitality.
Q: What do wine, Indian, and coffee cultures have in common?
A: They all celebrate community, place, and flavor. My wife and my sister Rhea [Duggal] cofounded Kofee with me, and we all bring different skills to the table that reflect the type of business we wanted to have. My wife works in both of our stores and does all of the buying and staff training. My sister is very innovative and creative, and she is always coming up with new concepts that really engage our customers in a new way.
Q: What inspired you to create a different kind of coffee shop, and why did you name it Kofee?
A: My wife, sister, and I missed the coffee shops of the ’90s. We wanted that back! And we wanted to give it an Indian twist, which is why we named it Kofee, which is how coffee is spelled in Hindi and Arabic. We don’t lean into the Indian roots with the coffee flavors, just the vibe of the community we offer. We want to be a “third space” for people and for the nonprofits and community groups in our neighborhoods. We open the door and offer spaces for nonprofits; we have a pastry chef who makes all of our food; and we genuinely want people of all ages to come and stay, and hang out.
Q: What do your regulars order?
A: We have several favorites. We work with a dark roast with chocolatey notes, so even a plain cup of coffee is good. But our Tiramisu Latte has been a favorite from the beginning, as has the Strawberry Matcha. But recently, we’ve been attracting a young, fun crowd with our Chocolate Cocoa Puffs Latte, Fruity Pebbles Latte, and Corn Flakes Latte. All of our pastries are good, especially the almond croissant. And our breakfast sandwiches—even the simple bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich—are super popular.
Q: What’s next for Kofee?
A: We’re in conversations to open another branch in Yonkers or the Bronx. But if we could find the right space in Manhattan, we’d love to do that. Recently, my sister Rhea came up with the idea of having a DJ and a small rave, and it was so much fun. We’re going to do that again, but this time we may start it later than 5pm.
Find Kofee at 711 Fulton St. in Brooklyn and 2413 Third Ave. in the Bronx. Follow Kofee on Instagram to find out about new specials and fun events.
All images courtesy of Kofee
