Very often right here on the Construct-Outs of Espresso we’re that includes manufacturers which might be model new to us—the function sequence features as a wonderful discovery engine, and lots of the espresso firms that present up within the sequence go on to do nice issues on the earth of espresso. However generally we’re afforded the pleasure of as a substitute taking a more in-depth take a look at new work from acquainted favorites. That’s the case right here, as Brooklyn’s Companions Espresso embark on opening a brand new espresso bar on the house turf of Williamsburg. We’ve adopted Companions intently during the last 14 years, as their progress has mirrored the continued primacy of New York Metropolis as one of many nice espresso cities on the earth. This new cafe on Bedford is beautiful—let’s take a more in-depth look.
The 2026 Construct-outs of Espresso is introduced by DONA, Pacific Barista Collection, and La Marzocco.
As advised to Sprudge by Claire Frost.
For many who aren’t acquainted, will you inform us about your organization?
Companions Espresso, based in 2012, is an independently owned, small-batch espresso roaster headquartered in Brooklyn, NY, dedicated to producing and sharing specialty espresso.
The unique flagship cafe and roastery opened in 2012 on North sixth Avenue within the burgeoning Williamsburg neighborhood. Now we have since developed a thriving wholesale enterprise, state-of-the-art training amenities, and 4 beloved neighborhood cafes.
With an unwavering dedication to espresso integrity and neighborhood on the heart of our observe, Companions Espresso has helped pave the best way for specialty espresso that’s for everybody in New York and throughout the USA.
Are you able to inform us a bit in regards to the new area?
145 Bedford Avenue is only a quick stroll from our first cafe on North sixth. This new cafe is a continued dedication to our Brooklyn roots, and a chance to share in our deep dedication to creating distinctive espresso with the neighborhood.
We have been intentional in showcasing the expertise of the espresso itself within the design of our new location. Seating on the giant marble pour-over bar invitations dialog throughout the counter and presents a close-up take a look at the brewing course of. We’re additionally thrilled to have the chance to spotlight our restricted and area of interest tons within the expanded single origin menu on the new cafe. The home windows speak in confidence to the wrap-around outside area with ample seating inside and outside, the place of us can keep to get pleasure from espresso and dialog within the coronary heart of the neighborhood.
Bedford additionally contains a full kitchen, permitting us to supply a extra considerate brunch menu and a good wider collection of signature drinks like our yuzu vanilla latte and espresso mint julep.
One in every of our favourite visible design parts of the cafe is a big {photograph} by Anders Goldfarb, depicting Belinda’s Lounge, which occupied the area within the Eighties. Goldfarb’s photograph captures two figures standing by the area, its partitions bearing the hand-painted message, “TOPLESS GO-GO GIRLS.” We love this nod to the area’s previous as we turn out to be part of the historical past of this beloved nook.
What’s your strategy to espresso?
Our espresso choice broadly displays our intentionality in sourcing. Our single origin choices are extra ephemeral than our mainstay coffees, however now we have structured our purchasing in such a method that we will prioritize high quality and seasonality whereas remaining steadfast in our commitments at origin. All of our coffees originate via long-term relationships or via producers we aspire to work with in the long run.
In deciding on single origin coffees, we’re at all times contemplating which coffees are a robust illustration of the producer, the range, and the place they have been grown. Most frequently we gravitate in direction of time-honored varieties—caturra, bourbon, Ethiopian heirlooms—and totally washed processing, however we’re not afraid to problem expectations so long as we stay trustworthy to our broader sourcing paradigm.
Suke Quto Secret Course of is a good instance of this, and it’s one of many coffees we launched Bedford with. We’ve bought totally washed coffees from Suke Quto (in Guji, Ethiopia) for 14 years, however this “secret course of” lot is certainly nonetheless a secret to us. What we do know is that the farm’s founder, Tesfaye Bekele, believes producing espresso to this stage of excellence can higher facilitate his forest conservation efforts, so we’re proud to help his extra experimental choices.
To that finish, Bedford permits us to warmly obtain the neighborhood we’ve already cultivated in Brooklyn, whereas narrowing our concentrate on wonderful coffees and the tales behind them.
Any machines, coffees, particular tools lined up?
On bar, we outfitted the area with a three-group, two-steam Modbar that includes a customized midnight blue paint job by Legacy Espresso Tech. Accompanying the Modbar are two Mahlkönig E80 GBWs and one E65 GBW. For batch brew, we’re operating a FETCO CBS-2232-NG paired with a Mahlkönig EK43. We additionally added a Marco FRIIA faucet system behind the bar for our tea and matcha station.
We opted for a Modbar Pour-Over 2.0 system to assist facilitate our expanded single origin checklist, which we paired with a Weber Workshops EG-1 grinder to ship a few of the highest high quality by-the-cup extractions attainable.
How is your venture contemplating sustainability?
We actually wished to emphasise espresso “to remain,” primarily to create a superb cafe expertise but in addition to cut back the quantity of waste directed to landfill. Apart from designing a snug cafe and inspiring gracious hospitality, we have been particularly selective within the ceramics we selected, together with Kinto pour over and tea serviceware and customized Service Initiatives drinkware for espresso drinks.
Extra broadly, our sustainability efforts are intertwined with our sourcing and roasting program. We comply with a relationship sourcing mannequin that’s constructed on the concept of complete buying—we perceive that each espresso farm produces a spectrum of various qualities, so we construction our buys in a holistic method: deliberately sourcing microlots via the identical particular person producers and communities the place we mix parts. We work with farms and producers who we imagine are producing espresso in a socially accountable, ecologically sustainable method.
One other espresso of ours from Suke Quto, a extra conventional totally washed choice, was named a winner within the 2026 Good Meals Awards — which celebrates meals and beverage merchandise which might be scrumptious, but in addition socially and environmentally accountable. To advance to the finalist stage we acquired a excessive rating in a panel of blind tastings, then handed a vetting course of that evaluated all the things from labor and environmental practices on the farm to waste discount in our roastery and cultural consciousness in our advertising and marketing efforts.
What’s your hopeful goal opening date/month?
We celebrated the grand opening of this new location on February sixth, 2026.
Are you working with craftspeople, architects, and/or creatives that you simply’d like to say?
For the buildout, we collaborated with Vural Design and LCM Development on the general design and execution of the cafe. Allie Caran helped oversee the venture from begin to end. Legacy Espresso Tech created the attractive customized paint work for our Modbar setup, whereas La Marzocco USA helped us convey each the Modbar and Pour-Over 2.0 methods into the area. The Pour-Over 2.0 is the primary put in within the US—the dial-in by Cary Wong was sophisticated to say the least. We additionally partnered with Weber Workshops, who outfitted us with the beautiful EG-1 grinder. Our uniforms have been customized by Helt Studios in LA.
Thanks!
Thanks a lot!
The 2026 Construct-outs of Espresso is introduced by DONA, Pacific Barista Collection, and La Marzocco.
