I'll preface this by saying I really want to love this place. Roasting and serving single-origin coffees is unique in Carroll Gardens and is a welcome addition to the coffee landscape. I get really excited to try new coffees, so it's wonderful that E1 cycles through their offerings on bar rather than sticking to an "old faithful" roast.However, my experiences in visiting have been really lacking. Today, for example, I was served a lukewarm espresso that had been sitting on the bar for a while (at least 2 min, I had seen it when I walked in, perched under the steam wand), which I was served immediately after ordering. This was disappointing especially considering the upscale prices, which I'm usually happy to pay in exchange for high quality. I considered asking the Barista to remake the drink after I realized that it was lukewarm, but I decided to save myself the trouble, at risk of being ridiculed or judged by the Barista. Leading to my next point:E1 has an attitude problem. The café atmosphere cultivated by the staff is unwelcoming, alienating and suffocating, with many baristas exhibiting a sort of "holier than thou" attitude about coffee. As a customer, I've felt like I'm inconveniencing the barista by ordering a drink. In past visits I've tried striking up conversations about the coffee being served or recommendations for home use, most of which have been ignored, so I've stopped bothering entirely.Again - this place has so much potential. Unfortunately, attitude problems are more endemic than coffee issues. The world of specialty coffee is gate-kept as it is!
There’s something inhospitable about protecting tables, even when there not I demand. And here’s the problem: the cafe has too few outdoor tables while the restaurant seems to have excess. Being told to move only *after* my coffee was gone, only *after* I’d been allowed to get comfortable, comes off as poor management (servers don’t care). The outdoor setup is so ambitious it feels like a trap and puts employees in awkward situations (for which they aren’t tipped for). I’m sure I’m not the only person angsty about this.
My fiancé bought coffee from here I ordered an iced tea. It was tasty. Nice setup inside outside seating seems busy. The windows open up to the street which is nice.
I’ve been a frequent and returning customer of East One for years. Their roastery is top tier and their coffee ranks among the best in the city. That’s why I return. They could EASILY be a 5 star establishment but their service is just so poor. The employees are often cold and aloof. I’ve been coming for years and it remains the same so this seems to be a consistent culture rather than one or two employees. Many of the positive and negative reviews all mention that the service NEEDS to be improved.Also let me be clear: I think this is a management problem NOT an employee problem. The problem is so consistent that it surely comes from the management and can only be solved by the management.Coffee: incredibleService: badAlso a small glass of chilled sparkling water should be standard with all orders of espresso ;)
Always high quality food & beverages. Wish they still had the kombucha on tap but the yummy Bloody Mary was a nice alternative. Try the ‘just right sized’ avocado toast for a healthy treat.
One of the best, if not the best, coffees/espressos in Cobble Hill. Service could be a lot warmer, but the coffee is just so good.
Stopped in here for a latte and an iced tea mid morning on a Saturday. The service was a) pretty dismal and b) very slow considering it wasn’t busy at all. In fact, it almost seemed that we were inconveniencing them by ordering drinks during business hours. On top of that the hibiscus iced tea was dreadful - one of the worst that we have tried. The latte wasn’t terrible but it won’t knock your socks off either. I will not be returning.
Really nice place for coffee, breakfast, and brunch. The food was delicious and hearty, and the pancakes are exquisite.
Local honey latte is a must try! Leaves an aromatic honey essence in your mouth after each sip.
Pretty good but if you charge this much the food should be better. Good service and pretty place to sit