More than Fort Greene’s newest café, Kofee NYC is a quiet force, redefining how coffee, community, and care can belong in the same space.
In a city that practically runs on caffeine, coffee shops are everywhere, dotting corners, filling blocks. And lately, many of them feel exactly the same. There is a café across the street, another just down the block, and most blur together. The lighting is good, the coffee passable, and the food often forgettable. The baristas are somber, sometimes rushed. The welcome? Transactional at best.
Kofee NYC: A Café That Feels Like a Pause, Not a Performance
But walk into Kofee NYC, tucked along Fulton Street in Fort Greene, and you will sense immediately that this is not just another café. There is a quiet energy here, a kind of curated calm that does not scream for your attention but rather holds space for you to stay awhile. It is not just the aesthetic—it is the atmosphere. You are not just served here—you are seen.
Founded by Rohan Duggal in 2024, Kofee NYC was created with a rare purpose: to bring genuine hospitality back to the coffee experience. In Fort Greene, where high-rises meet brownstones and the old rhythms of Brooklyn give way to the new. Kofee offers a small, steady presence. It is not flashy or loud. It is thoughtful.
For more ways to explore Brooklyn’s evolving café scene, you might enjoy our DUMBO Neighborhood Spotlight—another look at how thoughtful spaces are shaping the city.
Kofee NYC: The Atmosphere – Clean Design, Genuine Welcome
The space is bright, warm, and intentional—designed more like a lived-in moment than a backdrop for your next selfie. Curved wood chairs, globe pendant lights, and white walls create an airy, calming atmosphere. A ceiling-hung ivy installation and mirrored circles lend texture and quiet character. There is strong Wi-Fi and plenty of seating for solo work, quiet conversations, or simply lingering over a second cup.
The playlist hums low in the background, adding rhythm without distraction. On a weekday morning, you might spot a few creatives typing away, a couple sharing a corner table, or someone pausing mid-errand for a matcha. It does not feel crowded or rushed. It feels considered.
What stays with you is the quiet attentiveness of the team. The staff does not simply take orders—they offer suggestions and check in without hovering. It is a tone that mirrors the café’s stated vision: to create a space where guests enjoy high-quality drinks, connect with friendly staff, and find comfort in a personalized, welcoming environment. That intention is not just written. It is felt.
Meet the Heart – Chef Josie and Her Zero-Waste Mission
During our visit, I had the pleasure of meeting Chef Josie, who approaches her work not simply as a chef, but as a steward of thoughtful food. She brings a quiet confidence to the kitchen—present, hands-on, and fully engaged. Her commitment to a zero-waste philosophy goes beyond buzzwords; it is a mindset. She spoke about rethinking how ingredients are used, finding ways to stretch and repurpose—like incorporating leftover fruit into syrups or layering flavors in unexpected ways.
There is creativity in it, yes, but also restraint and intention. Watching her move through the café—assisting the team, checking on guests, finishing plates with precision—felt like witnessing someone wholly in tune with their craft and their values. Her presence does not command attention, but it undeniably shapes the atmosphere.
At Kofee, sustainability is not a trend—it is lived. And in Chef Josie’s hands, it becomes something personal. Something quietly nourishing in every sense of the word.
What We Ordered [and Loved]
We began with a honey latte and a strawberry matcha—beverages that felt crafted rather than assembled. The matcha was a quiet revelation: lightly sweet, gently earthy, and indulgent enough to feel like a treat. The honey latte was equally memorable—warming, balanced, and subtly floral, with a soft richness that lingered.
Then came the food.
I have lived in New York City for over 30 years, and in all that time, I had never had a bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich. They always looked too greasy, too heavy, and never quite appetizing. But that morning at Kofee changed everything.
Served on a flaky, buttery croissant, their take on the bacon, egg, and cheese was the definition of elevated comfort. Rich but not oily, satisfying without excess—it was layered, well-seasoned, and quietly luxurious. If this is what New York’s most iconic breakfast sandwich is meant to taste like, I had clearly been missing out.
We also tried the prosciutto and arugula sandwich—a harmony of salt, pepper, and freshness tucked inside a crusty ciabatta roll, layered with provolone and finished with a whisper of balsamic. It was the kind of sandwich that makes you slow down between bites.
A freshly baked almond croissant followed—golden and crisp on the outside, with a tender, almost creamy center that delivered just the right touch of sweetness. It was, without exaggeration, the best and freshest almond croissant I have had in a long time.
And then came the bacon, egg, and cheese frittata, crowned with finely chopped chives and served alongside slender toasted baguette slices—breadstick-like in form, with a crisp edge and a warm, airy center. The presentation was stunning: simple, intentional, and composed with the same care as the food itself. The baguette slices were sturdy enough to scoop up every savory forkful.
K0fee NYC: Made In-House, With Intention
Every item we tried was made fresh in-house—from the croissants to the syrups to the frittata—and you could taste that care in every bite. Even more notable: at the end of each day, Kofee partners with the Too Good To Go app to offer any remaining pastries or dishes at a reduced price, ensuring nothing goes to waste. It is another subtle but intentional decision that reflects the café’s ethos: generous, thoughtful, and always one step ahead.
Each dish reflected what Kofee quietly excels at: taking something familiar and making it feel entirely new. The food does not try to reinvent—it refines. Even the croissant speaks to Chef Josie’s touch: golden, nuanced, and intentionally made.
The Humanity Behind the Counter
What stays with you is not just the food. It is the feeling.
Kofee NYC is not just about great coffee and unforgettable food. It is about intention. And that intention is clearest in the way the staff treats every guest. Kindness here is not a performance—it is part of the culture. The team moves with ease, never hurried, never cold. There is warmth behind the counter and a quiet generosity in how they hold space for everyone who walks through the door.
In a city that often feels rushed and transactional, Kofee slows the pace. It offers not just quality, but care—a sense of calm and welcome that does not need to be earned. There is no spectacle. No pity. Just simple, human respect.
And that, in itself, is reason to return.
Kofee NYC: The Story Behind the Name
Behind this thoughtful café is Rohan Duggal, a Westchester native with Indian roots. The name “Kofee” is a nod to the way coffee is pronounced in Hindi—a small but meaningful gesture that connects the brand to its founder’s heritage.
But the name is not just linguistic—it is symbolic. It reflects the layers of culture and care that shape the space. From the menu to the mindset, Kofee is about more than beverages—it is about creating a place that feels personal, intentional, and quietly connected to something deeper.
From Fort Greene to the Bronx – What’s Next
And this is only the beginning.
Kofee NYC recently opened a second location in Mott Haven, Bronx, with a soft launch on May 10. The grand opening is slated for May 31, located inside the Maven residential tower at 2413 Third Avenue.
The new café promises to bring the same spirit of hospitality, food craft, and intentional design that defines its Fort Greene flagship—this time to one of the Bronx’s most dynamic and rapidly evolving neighborhoods. While the setting is new, the commitment remains the same: thoughtful service, quality offerings, and a space that invites connection.
A Café That Offers More Than Coffee
In an age of curated sameness, Kofee NYC offers something rare: a place where care is embedded in every detail. It is not just a café—it is an experience built on thoughtfulness. One that lingers longer than the last sip.
Whether you stop in for a latte or settle in over a frittata, you leave feeling quietly restored.
We did.
And in a city that moves fast and rarely makes room to exhale, that kind of feeling is hard to come by.
Kofee NYC is a reminder that sometimes, the most memorable part of the day is a quiet corner, a warm drink, and a place that simply lets you be.
For more than thirty years, I have experienced New York City not just as a place to live, but as a city to feel—layered with stories, culture, and community. From quiet corners in Brooklyn to the ever-evolving energy of Manhattan, I am drawn to what’s often overlooked. Through Brooklyn’s Lifestyle, I share curated recommendations and insider discoveries that reveal the depth and beauty of everyday life here—helping locals and visitors alike uncover a more meaningful New York.
