Todd Nisbet

Great community space for coffee and cycling enthusiasts!! I’ve frequented this shop for years and always feel welcomed. The coffee is great in person, but I’ve also purchased some brands they stock to make at home brew!!

Simon Schulz

The owner put together an amazing space that delivers more than just coffee. But it also delivers some of the best coffee around! Together with hosting a communal bike tool library to fix your bike on the fly, bike advocacy, events for all walks of live, it is open to all an treats their workers well. Come for coffee, stay for the community.

Nick Emrich

My new favorite coffee shop. I’m sort of a coffee nerd and this is hands down the best brewed coffee I’ve had in the city. Reminds me of the cool shops I used to hang at in Chicago, Baltimore and Portland, sort of bike messenger meets co-op vibe. The donut I had today was so fresh and delicious and everyone there is very friendly and chatty. Great spot!

Jordan Ross

Probably one of the best coffee/community shops in the whole borough. Obviously the coffee is great, but the business model and community focused aspect is what really makes it stand out. These are the types of businesses that are worth supporting and what make neighborhoods so great. Love all of focus on bikes, cycling and vegan stuff!

Melissa Buckingham-Adams

I’ve loved silently watching Principles grow from the early soft opening to the bike crew back in 2022 to the beautiful community space it is today. I first met Katie while riding bikes that same year, and it’s been such a joy to see them pour their heart into this place. ❤️ The coffee is incredible, the vibe is welcoming, and you can feel how much care and honesty goes into every detail. They carefully curate all of the beans and baked goods from other businesses they value, which makes every visit feel that much more intentional and community-driven. They’ve always been refreshingly real about what it takes to run a small business and that authenticity makes Principles stand out even more.

Irina Alexander K-y

An open loft space with truly unique character, it is full of wonderfully weird found and made objects, artisanal merch, local art. has a vibe of a Brooklyn backyard and a last-minute co-working hangout. All are welcome. I would bring a curious tourist here. A geeky date. A depressed friend. Sip and stay for a while.

mike

This is, without question, my favorite coffee shop in the entire world. They care about the quality of their coffee and it shows because I haven't had better tasting coffee anywhere else in the city. There are plenty of places in the shop to sit, relax, and do work. It's generally quite enough to stay focused if you want but lively enough to feel like you're in a bustling environment. 100% recommend you check this place out.

katie bishop

pay-what-you-want option for basic coffees is amazing. no tipping tipless policy is great. wonderful donuts. amazing bean selection. the most gowanus cafe in brooklyn. katie the owner is super cool. the staff are perfect. two bathrooms free for everyone and free water. bike and bicycles everywhere. great to bring bikes inside. the best coffee and pourovers. excellent espresso curation. all vegan. super queer space. very neighbourhood neighborhood vibes. comfortable couches. spacious. biggest cafe around. great for meeting new friends.

+6

Brieana Fortner

Love this place! Finally visited for the first time today & can’t believe I haven’t been here yet! It’s super bike friendly with tools and pumps and events. They have fabulous drinks and vegan treats (it’s all vegan!). Definitely try the donuts if they’re available- they’re from Duh Donuts & they have a bunch of gluten free/vegan snacks too from other vegan bakers. It’s a huge space so plenty of space to work &/or hang out and enjoy your drink in a real cup/mug.

+1

Nick Anastasiades

As hipster as it gets - but I love it! Such a cozy, relaxing and genuine space with friendly staff and quirky decoration. It’s spacious and feels like part workshop part bike shop and part living room. Make no mistake, they are serious about their coffee with an exquisite selection of special, rare and eclectic beans. It’s not cheap but definitely go for the pourover.

+2

Rodrigo Marino

After hearing about this place for a while, I finally stopped by while biking in the area to grab a coffee. The owner was the only one working at the time and unfortunately didn’t seem welcoming. The owner appeared rushed and uninterested in offering even basic service. When I asked where the trash can was, i was vaguely pointed to the back — not exactly the vibe you’d expect on a relaxed Sunday. In a city like NYC, specially in Brooklyn, with so many great coffee shops that value atmosphere and customer experience, this one really fell short. It’s surprising this place has lasted as long as it has, especially considering how the owner responds to feedback. From what I’ve seen (and now experienced), there seems to be little interest in improving or engaging with customers in a meaningful way. If you’re looking for a good vibe and quality service, I’d recommend looking elsewhere.

Msm Survivors

The coffee is genuinely good, which makes this experience frustrating. I ordered items that I know are regularly served here and was told by the owner that she simply wasn’t in the mood to make them, not that they were unavailable. The interaction felt dismissive and judgmental, and the way it was handled made me feel singled out rather than treated like a customer. Combined with the amount of explicit political slogans displayed throughout the space, the environment felt uncomfortable and unwelcoming to me, despite having previously supported this shop. Great coffee, but the lack of hospitality and the atmosphere left me feeling unsafe and unlikely to return.