Bite Of The Day: Coffee & Biscuits At Windsor Terrace’s Newest Cafe

On Saturday, a quiet, residential Windsor Terrace street got a lot brighter with the debut of Windsor Coffee, a new cafe on East 4th Street near Fort Hamilton Parkway.

And despite the gloomy rain on opening day, more than 100 people packed into the cozy, boldly colored storefront to sample the neighborhood’s new flavors.

Homey, smartly designed, and petite, Windsor Coffee was opened by neighbors Mark and Karen Newfeld. After working as an attorney for many years, Mark said he’s looking forward to running a low-stress cafe where people can gather, work, and relax with quality coffee and snacks.

Newfeld, noticing ‘for lease’ sign in the window, decided to open up the shop on a whim. And after retiring from a long career as an attorney, he’s going for a fun, stress-free environment. “It’s coffee, it’s not life or death,” he said with a smile.

But a friendly atmosphere is important to him, so they hired baristas who are happy to chat while they brew. There’s also a flatscreen TV for special screenings like football hours, (during off-work hours).

And despite the often-frenetic pace of opening a new business, Newfeld seems to be enjoying himself already, as he proudly points out details like the understated swan-motif chandelier hanging over the counter seating, and slices of the original exposed brick lining the walls.

The bold colors, large glass windows, and rounded edges of the furniture add to the shop’s spacious atmosphere.

In four months, the team completely renovated the boarded-up storefront, including adding a marble counter, coats of dark green paint, and a completely new bathroom, all designed by Sean Gold at dipt design firm.

The cafe is serving a coffee that no other neighborhood spot has claimed yet: Brooklyn-based Oslo coffee roasters (nearby Steeplechase and Der Pioneer serve Brooklyn Roasting Co., Parade Cafe serves La Columbe, and Lark has Stumptown.) What sets Oslo apart is its rich, chocolatey notes, and although it’s a strong cup there is no hint of bitterness, said Newfeld. And after drinking one on the spot, I absolutely agree, it had an almost buttery smoothness without any lingering sour or bitter taste.

In addition to a variety of coffee and espresso drinks, the cafe is serving pastries from Colson Patisserie, savory and sweet biscuits from Brooklyn Biscuit, bagels from La Bagel Delight, cookies, and more.

Welcome to the neighborhood, Windsor Coffee!

Visit Windsor Coffee at 144 East 4th Street between Fort Hamilton Parkway and Greenwood Avenue, from 7am to 7pm daily.