I first saw Principles open front as I passed on rides to doctor visits while I recovered from a foot injury. I live a few blocks away and finally made my way over. The vibe is accepting of everyone in a way I have never seen, and I have made many cafe buddies I see there when I hang to write, read, or just enjoy the art of conversation! Great tea and coffee, great people! Since Tea Lounge closed, this has been my go to spot for a creative space to work and play. And the live shows are always great and take me back to my days in the East Village in the early 80s! read more

Yesterday I actually took a little craft lesson while I had my coffee and talked with friends -- it reminded me of artist bars from the 80's in Tribecca. Coffee is sublime ... If you are low on cash, just ask, non judgmental "pay what you wish," but you must ask. Don't be shy -- they will love you no matter what you pay. Probably tacky to pay less with a high end credit card. LOL Unique welcoming vibe -- and if you love cycling this is really a place you should not overlook -- a full do it yourself bicycle repair area with tools, EVERYONE is super welcome. The food is pastries, and they get a large order that slowly disappears all day, lovely stuff, but quantities are limited. Principals is Vegan, so no cow's milk. Just a note on the one star ratings... I'm sure principals is not for everyone, it like having coffee in a workshop or an artist's studio, it is most decidedly not upscale. (The many sofas are clean and comfy) Give it a try, if you don't find it fits you, just write it up as not to your taste, no need to pontificate. read more

Great fruit flavor coffee, knowledgeable barista, very chill vibes here. They have a bunch of different brands here to pick up. Would highly recommend for a visit! read more

Unique coffee house in Brooklyn Liberal hipster vibe. Very friendly to all Coffee was great. Feels like a lounge + garage basement apartment. Very large for Brooklyn Plenty of tables, couches, small nooks to hide in. When I went it was very busy so get there early if you want a table read more

This coffee place deserves your business. For one, they have a "pay what you can" policy for their basic coffees (there is a default cost if you don't say anything). The coffee itself was really good. I forgot to ask what beans they use. The space is so unique, a garage setup but with couches, tables, workspace for those with a computer, etc. The barista (Reina ?) was super nice. Also, the place embodies everything I hope for about kindness and empathy for people. read more

A very chill, laid back coffee shop in Gowanus. The coffee shop opens up like a garage and has an industrial feel. I met up with my sister and we hung out here for a bit. It's big and spacious, with comfy couches and several tables for seating. People were hanging out inside or just popping in for a quick coffee. It's a great spot to grab a quick coffee or small pastry. We came on such on such beautiful day, the weather was warm, and the garage door was wide open. My sister and I got an iced mocha latte and a vanilla iced latte, which we both enjoyed, while taking in the warm breeze. read more

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I really enjoyed this place, the coffee was good and included tax and tip. Power for working is plentiful, wifi worked, atmosphere was chill. I really enjoyed this place! Thanks for being an easy place to be, the art is great as well. read more

Principles GI Coffee House - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

The good: Lots of seating. Some small tables, some couches, some larger/more community tables, also some counter seats. Two bathrooms I've been there a few times and they don't seem to rush people or pressure anyone to order more than they are. It's a cute, casual, laid-back space. (They should get rid of the thatched seat chairs though and bring in more of the comfortable chairs) The okay/not sure I'm crazy about: Coffee seems fine, I think their coffee and specialty drinks are high-priced for what they are. Food options are limited, and not especially good. This seems more of a place to eat before you come (or after you leave) I'm not super-comfortable with pay what you can/want because IMO it's hard to speak up and ask for something different. Maybe it's not for some people though. Overall verdict: It's a nice place, I can see the appeal and if you're in the area it's worth stopping in for a cup of coffee and getting some work done. read more

Love the quiet chill vibes I experienced in what felt like your favorite neighbor's garage. Thanks for the friendly service and rice crispy treat. A good part of my day. read more

Cool new coffee spot with a friendly, coffee-passionate proprietor. They told me they only source only specialty beans, and the selection on sale would definitely back that statement up. My cortado had a solid flavor if crafted a bit too milky for my personal tastes. The spot is industrial--as befitting its Gowanus local--but also spacious and welcoming. A fine and welcome (and welcoming) addition to the neighborhood. read more

I accidentally came to Principle's today after mixing up my weekends. I was planning to go to their pop up with Parmagianni pizza which is happening on 10/21. I mentioned this to the barista at the register and they seemed oblivious to the upcoming event. Since I was already here, I ordered a danish and a latte. The prices are pretty high. I spent $14 just for those two items. The latte was great, the danish was just okay, not exceptional for the price. The baked goods are from L'imprimerie. This coffee shop is spacious! There are so many seating options for groups and for solo patrons. One of the most amazing things is that it 100% vegan and welcoming to the LGBTQIA+ community. read more

New York City has a lot of good coffee these days, but even in this rarefied enviroment, Principles stands out, partially because of its er.. principles. With a commitment to paying its employees a living wage ($25/hr currently), Principles also lets you pay whatever you wish, if you're down on your luck perhaps or forgot your wallet. Tips and tax are included in every purchase, and you'll be surprised when your anaerobic natural $30/bag filter or iced coffee is only $4 total. Coffee veteran Katie Bishop boot-strapped Principles and built out the place herself. Not that I don't enjoy all of the modern cafe designs, but Principles hearkens back to a less-studied, less commercial era, and the giant space is filled out with church chairs, used tables and couches, and found objects, and includes a tool-filled bike shop nook that people can use for free. The coffee itself is top-notch. A multi-roaster shop, Principles sources the best stuff from around the globe and extracts it pretty much perfectly, every time, which is a small miracle considering how often they change the lineup. What sets Principles apart somewhat from other multi-roaster shops is that they often put the craziest, expensive beans on drip, iced and espresso, items that other shops might reserve for pourover only. read more

The pay what you can rule is amazing, and the coffee is delicious! I have to admit I'm kind of a coffee snob but I got a black iced coffee and it was really good. The vibe is super welcoming, queer-friendly and community oriented. If I lived in this neighborhood this would be my spot for sure. read more

Had a meeting with my bike club here. I had an iced latte. Served in a reusable cup which I greatly appreciated. Always irks me when coffee shops use disposable cups when patrons are staying. It's a pretty large coffee shop. Front of the house has some typical coffee shop tables and seating. Middle of the shop has restrooms, a space to work on your bike, a couch, and more seating. Back of the shop is an open layout, event space. I really liked the space to work on your bike. There was a bike stand plus a handful of other tools like a chain whip. Definitely a welcoming and collective atmosphere. read more

This place is on point. The owner is a class act. She deserves all the business. Everything is delicious, especially the maple latte and the cortado. The prices are a little high for everything, but the drip coffee, but whatever it serves a higher purpose. This is one of those places where you know it's good if you buy the T-shirt. read more

We stumbled upon this cafe and we are so happy we did. The owner, Katie, is wonderful. She carefully curates the best selection of coffee for drip, lattes, and pourovers. She provides a great space for the community. We visit every weekend! read more

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One of the best places in Brooklyn for coffee and vegan treats! The owner, Katie, is the absolute best. She has carefully curated such a wonderful community in the space. The space is very relaxing, safe and comfortable. Wonderful selection of coffee and non-coffee drinks. The business model and practices are incredible (pay-what-you-can for certain items, baristas make a liveable wage, etc). principles is super easy to get to via public transportation, walking, driving, and biking. My favorite thing to do is make a trip over and read in the sunny spots of principles. Love love love this place! read more

I was told to pay 4 bucks for what I think was a tiny 8oz coffee that tasted pretty watery. The "pay what you wish" thing must be something you have to request. Setting is basically a dirty garage. Owner was unfriendly. Won't return. read more

Just an overall bad experience. The owner is rude, the coffee is fine but the experience was uncomfortable to say the least.

BEWARE: They add a tip, tax and other fees automatically. You don't have a choice to remove it. I was only given this information when I asked how two drinks came out to be so expensive. When I asked the person at the register about all the fees, they started going off about how they pay their employees $25/hour. That's great, but let's get one thing straight. You do not pay your employees $25/hour. You pass the cost onto your customers in an incredibly deceptive way. I'm sure most people pay it unknowingly. I get paying a liveable wage, but this is not the way to do it. read more

Bad coffee. Like every other newer, hipster-ish coffee shop, these people have no idea what a good roast is. This probably sounds familiar: you walk in to what looks to be a nice coffee shop, good atmosphere and professional set up, only to receive the most sour, bitter cup of coffee you've ever had. How many more places just like this must I endure because white millennials think coffee should be sour? And not only was the prepared coffee terrible, the beans they recommended are equally bad. $28 for half a pound. Pretentious and incompetent. Walk two blocks to Room 205 instead. read more

Great coffee great vibes. Love a bike friendly and community centric spot. Service is always amazing and love to give this business all my dollars for providing a LIVING WAGE to their employees. read more

I had been here once before a few years ago - big changes. A cup of coffee costs $7, the place is filthy, people go to the bathroom and the doors remain open, meaning there are no springs on the doors for them to shut, which means you drink your coffee staring at straight on at a toilet (both bathroom doors do this). Gross and double gross and I had to actually get up and walk over and close the door because call me weird but I could not sip my coffee looking at a toilet. There were enormous amounts of hipster tech bros with empty coffee cups taking up entire tables for the whole afternoon. One guy turned a table into an art studio and brought in his art work in and started working with paints and inks - nice but its a coffee shop, not a We Work and with the hipster tech bros hogging the tables there is actually very limited seating. Then there was the barista, what an attitude, so thick slicing it with a knife wouldn't put a dent in it, holier than thou to the max stating with "their" purity meter "oh we don't serve milk products here" when asked for milk for the coffee and I kid you not sneering when they said it in that in their grnarly recent MFA graduate voice. There are other more humble coffee shops on 9th Street, with normal people who work their ass off to keep their place clean, prices reasonable, don't shove just used toilets in your face, and skip the attitude entirely. This place which used to be cool - now in is just a farce and a relic of the Sandinista revolution. read more

Very cool spot in the heart of Gowanus. Coffee and tea done with care. I personally love their homemade chai, so good on a cold day! The store is a nice large space with community art on the walls for sale. Also they have pay what you want drip coffee. Principles also hosts tons of events so check out their calendar. read more

Not bad! I found it to be a little spendy ($8 for a small espresso drink) but they're at least up front with their pricing model paying for their employees' higher wages, and they offer drip coffee for "pay what you can" prices which is cool. read more

great coffee shop to sit and chat with a friend! I had an iced latte in a reusable cup and it was great. the place is spacious and very airy and welcoming - it was a nice day so the doors were open and exposed. I went for a pop up which was so fun! would definitely come back. read more

Great little boutique cafe. Doesn't look like a Dunkin' or Starbucks. Great customer service from owner. I ordered a maple latte which was delicious, with just the right amount of milk to coffee ratio and a hint of sweetness. Nice relaxed atmosphere, where you can chill, and you don't need to mind your p's and q's like some other cafes. read more

Principles GI Coffee House - Maple Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Brooklyn, New York