Remember the Gorilla Coffee walkout of last spring? Two weeks after all of their employees abandoned the Park Slope mainstay due to a “perpetually malicious, hostile, and demeaning work environment," they reopened with new staff and a positive, if unapologetic, attitude. Now, according to Fucked In Park Slope, Gorilla Coffee has filed suit against the New York Times, a NYT reporter and eight former employees for participating "in the preparation and publication of [a] false, defamatory, malicious and libelous article." more ›

After a mass employee resignation forced it to shut down for more than two weeks, Park Slope coffee shop Gorilla Coffee reopened today, with a new paint job and refinished floors. City Room saw customers getting their lattes and spoke to co-owner Darlene Scherer. She said the walkout was "unexpected" and that other neighbors and businesses were supportive of them, "From a business owner’s standpoint, we feel like we’re doing everything right: paying everyone well, and setting up health benefits and encouraging learning in coffee and sending people places and paying in full. So now we’re kind of just getting back to basics. I said to everybody, ‘Let’s learn about coffee and do a good job and be happy.’" more ›

Gorilla Coffee, the Park Slope coffee joint that closed almost two weeks ago thanks to a staff walkout over a "perpetually malicious, hostile, and demeaning work environment," may be open for java junkies soon. City Room reports that it will be open on Monday, "So said the smiling woman inside the half-rolled-up gate of the shop at Fifth Avenue and Park Place at 7 Friday evening." Guess they have rebuilt and restaffed accordingly. more ›

Four days after the entire staff walked out on Park Slope's Gorilla Coffee, they finally put up a sign explaining their future plans. They write, "Gorilla Coffee will be closed temporarily as we rebuild and restaff this store. We feel committed to open soon out of love for this neighborhood, our regulars and great coffee." The workers walked out after not being able to stand the "perpetually malicious, hostile, and demeaning work environment" anymore. But for anyone in the area willing to endure months of rigorous training, they're hiring! [Via Brownstoner] more ›

Good news for everyone who walked out on Park Slope's Gorilla Coffee this weekend: you may not be unemployed for long! A new cafe in the East Village posted an ad on Craigslist promising to pay "top dollar" for former Gorilla Coffee employees. It says, "We would love to offer you a new opportunity at a new coffee house which promises fair management." EV Grieve suspects the new cafe may be the New York Film Academy Cafe, which has help wanted signs up... and if all goes well, their inspiring story will soon be told in indie dramedy form. more ›

After Saturday's walkout and subsequent closing down of Gorilla Coffee, the former staff has said this is not a strike and they have no intention of going back. Diner's Journal has a full statement from the former staff, which alludes to issues with a "business partner," most likely co-owner Carol McLaughlin, and "a lack of mutual respect" between the owners and the staff. It accuses McLaughlin of creating a “perpetually malicious, hostile, and demeaning work environment," and when she wouldn't resign the staff decided to quit. Other owner Darleen Scherer said the walkout was "a complete surprise." more ›

In response to the annual Fancy Food Show taking place July 8-10 at the Jacob Javits Center, Marlow and Sons buyer and fromager Tom Mylan, along with artisanal cheese expert Sasha Davies, will be staging the first ever New York Unfancy Food Show, to be held at the East River Bar in south Williamsburg this Sunday afternoon from 1 to 7 PM. For a $5 suggested donation, attendees will be able to sample a score of products from mostly local producers. It should be a day of small batch, hand-made, farm-to-table, heirloom, and award winning food; all just steps away from the illustrious East River, and definitely free of the blitz that occurs when anywhere from 19,000 to 32,000 food industry folk descend on Jalepeno Popper Pavillion at the Javits Center every year for the golden-fried, cream cheese and bacon flavored kind. The smaller scale, Unfancy Food Show participants include Mateo from Jasper Hill Farm, Roger Rephol from Bronx Bee Honey (made in the South Bronx!), and Jon Orren from Wheelhouse Pickles. Representatives from Gorilla Coffee, Consider Bardwell Farm, and Taza Chocolate will also be on hand with samples of their products, and it is likely that some grass-fed beef will be grilled up by Josh and Jessica Applestone from Fleischer’s Meats. As if the mere prospect of attending the culinary underdog event of the summer season isn’t compelling enough on its own, some assorted trophies (size, shape, meaning and purpose as yet to be determined) will be given out to best-in-show participants; all purveyors currently signed on for the Unfancy Food Show seemingly qualify for the title. It is needless to say that eating local is a win-win situation, and this is a great, no nonsense opportunity to meet the people who actually produce local food. It's also taking place at a bar. Go and talk about sustainability, washed rind cheese, or just the weather. Mark your calendars now. more ›

How much thought do you give to the origins of your daily dose of java? Not the origin of the purchase (mega-chain vs. local joint), but the origin of the beans themselves. And not just country of origin, but the labor and trade practices of the growers and workers who got those beans to you, no matter where they end up. Many of us don't think about this, but the owners of Vox Pop, a coffeeshop in Ditmas Park, Brooklyn, proudly trumpet the fair trade origins or their coffee varieties, and the customers are rolling in. more ›

Ugh. more ›

Gothamist is here at Joyce Bakeshop in Prospect Heights, where we’ve secretly replaced Scott Lindenbaum’s 12 oz. Fair Trade Gorilla Coffee with a cup of freshly brewed David Lynch Signature Cup Coffee Organic House Roast. For good measure, we’ve also selected one of each flavor cupcake from the Joyce Bakeshop glass case display, and a toasted hazelnut mini financier to accompany the hot beverage. What we found may surprise you. more ›

Park Slope is filled with people who match the prime Starbucks demographic, and coffee shops abound here. It may well be the one New York neighborhood with the highest concentration of coffee houses—per capita at least. The trend has reached a high point with Patisserie Colson, which opened this week after a long delay blamed on the nefarious ConEd. All manner of coffee drinks, hot and cold, are available, made with a smooth, well-balanced Danesi roast. But what distinguishes this café from all the other java joints around is the remarkable array of house-made pastries, both savory and sweet. more ›

And a Starbucks barista was beat up earlier this year but not because of the prices. more ›

Gorilla Coffee in Park Slope was voted best espresso in NY by NY magazine; other coffee picks from NY Mag here. Another option is the Mud Truck. And for the rest of us working in areas without mom-and-pop specialty coffe joints, Starbucks locations in NY. And the Times had an article about high-end consumer coffee makers being all the rage with the Humvee set. Plus Adam Gopnik's essay about NY coffee shops, via MUG. more ›

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