Café 474

Woe is me :(I’m so so sad to learn Café 474 is closed, as of Thursday Feb 28, 2013 — it was their last day serving delicious coffee. I wish I would have written a review sooner, but now this review will have to go on my Changes List.
Everyday I walked by Café 474, and was greeted by one or two of the three friendly baristas that worked there. Delicious croissants to tide me over till lunch, no more. Hot fresh coffee in the winter, or cold refreshing ice coffee in the summer, never again. Right on the way to the train too — a perfect stop. That porch. such a crowd please. So sad.
They are moving to a new location in Carrol Gardens and hope to open in April. The building is going to be torn down and turned into condos one of the employees told me. I’ll miss them so :(I hate when coffee shops die. Long live Café 474!

I have never had a better Vanilla Latte in all my life. I’ve had them in chains, and I’ve had them in the Italian District in SF, and this place tops them all. Brooklyn has me jelly.

Excellent option for espresso or coffee on 4^th Ave. Before or after the subway!
They offer medium or dark roast when you order an espresso drink. I always go dark. The décor is a bit of this and a bit of that which gives it a homey vibe. Lots of reclaimed wood makes up the table and the rest of the place.
It’s all good.

Cute and small café that’s easy to stop in before heading on the train. I agree with other reviews that it suffers from a bit of an identity crisis in terms of décor, but there’s a certain je né sais quo in the hodgepodge-​ness of it all.
Coffee/​Espresso is very strong and tasty, albeit a little pricey. Nice, cute and hipstery baristas.
I think this place will be torn down soon to make room for condos, so get your coffee before its gone. Hope they move someplace nearby…

Very solid café. I was there a few weeks ago with a friend for a casual get-​together and ended up staying for 3 hours. It’s a great, quaint spot (although there was something of a rush around ½pm) to talk, with decent seating indoors and outdoors. I’m no coffee connoisseur, but I did enjoy my latte. All in all, a nice place for coffee and conversation.
It’s also right next to the 4 Av-​9 St stop on the F, which is really convenient if you take the subway everywhere.

Spanish bullfighting on one wall, Hindu statues on the countertops, and
African looking hiring pictures on the opposite. This café has an identity crisis. But hey they make really potent espresso. If you like your coffee to punch you in the face in the morning this is the place to be at.
474 is the epitome of Brooklyn. For me, I don’t really think its amazing but its unique in it’s own way and charms you a little bit.

I used to stop in once in a while on my way to work,
My review is mainly about the people who work there: Sometimes they come off as rude. Even when the place is half empty they give off a rushed awkward vibe.
I always ask for lite ice. They usually ignore me and fill the cup with ice anyways, and then I have to awkwardly ask them to take out half the cup. I hate watered down drinks and I hate freezing cold drinks. I’m picky but isn’t that why they get to charge almost $ 4 for a not so big cup of coffee, so I can enjoy it the way I want to, picky or not?
Awhile back I stopped in and asked for a large ice coffee, lite ice and was handed a cup filled only two thirds of the way with coffee. When i said I didn’t need that much room for milk, the barista loudly explained that they aren’t allowed to fill the cup if you order lite ice because iced coffee is SO expensive to brew. If that’s your policy, OK but way to make me feel like you feel I’m trying to scam you out of an ounce or two of cold brew. Thanks for letting everyone else in the store also know, because you yelled it at me. So I got my coffee, paid and left.
And, here was my mistake: Hoping that it was a one time thing, because no one had mentioned it the previous dozen iced coffees I’d gotten there, and after overhearing another person ask for lite ice and get a full cup of coffee without a problem, I ordered a large coffee, lite ice. This time the barista put in a full cup of ice, and when i reminded her that I said lite ice, she scowled and removed two pieces and filled it up with coffee. At least I wasn’t lectured this time.
I won’t lie, the coffee is good, but I won’t be back.

Whoa. Not only did I see a mouse inside, during service hours… but apparently, from other reviewers, I’m not the only one…
Also, super misogynistic owner didn’t bother to put out his cigarette before coming into the café once. I complained to the barista after he left, and he just shrugged… What a gross person. (The owner, not barista)
They’ll always be busy, because of their location. But they won’t get my business any longer.

They only accept cash, right? So I thought I was going to be short a couple of bucks, and instead of the barista shrugging her shoulders, she actually said «do you live in the neighborhood? Just bring it next time you come in.» Whaaaa? (I managed to dig up 2 bucks in quarters from the bottom of my bag.)
Very nice people.
It does seem a tad pricey though, plus it’s on a busy street, which kind of takes away from the charm of the cute porch out front. Who wants to sit and drink their coffee and watch cars, plastic grocery bags, and construction debris fly by?

Honestly, this place is too expensive for what it is, but until another decent coffee shop pops up on my walk to the 4^th Ave/​9^th St stop, I will continue to pay too much for my iced coffee fix.
The coffee is decent, but by no means amazing. The place is always crowded, and while the placement of the milk and sugar table in the middle of the floor seems like a good idea at first (access from all sides!) the size of the shop counteracts any good intenions here. It’s like playing a sick game of ring around the rosy every time I want to add cream to my drink.
The baristas are friendly, the muffins are good, but the frazzley claustrophobic sensation is worth a two-​star dock in my book.

This is easily one of the best coffee joints in the neighborhood. Great drip and iced coffees. Cool hipster baristas behind the counter. An overall very chill coffeeshop.
Not the most comfortable seating in the world, but when it’s nice out, you can sit out on the porch and people watch at this increasingly gentrifying area.

I make important life decisions based on strange/​random/​external factors. My first visit to Café 474 is a great example of this somewhat psychotic/​ill-​advised behavior… that always seems to end well for me. This one did, anyway…
I rented my apartment in Park Slope/​Gowanus because it was close to this coffee shop. That’s really the only reason. Truly, besides it not costing $ 5,000 a month this was one of the only elements I considered. Not if it was close to a train (as luck would have it, it is close to three… thank the Lord), or a hospital (probably), or a park (lucky again, Prospect Park .5 miles away) or any of those practical factors one probably tries to configure when picking a place to live. Nope, do not care. Where’s the coffee?
I figured if such a «cute» coffee shop existed nearby, with hipsters hanging from the makeshift porch and carefully-​brewed artisanal cups were being churned out for cash only transactions… THIS must be a place I would like to live. Somewhere between Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts, a happy little (and I do mean little) place of caffeine, conversation, wifi, beards, smiles and Brooklyn Blue Sky baked goods. I wanted to live here. Well, near. With these people. This is the place I wanted to stop by for my coffee in the morning, nod at the barrista, leave a few dollar bills, pick up a scone.
Part of me knows that it’s because it’s almost an exact replica of my «home» coffee shop Dollop in Chicago, a place that became so familiar in my five years in Buena Park that it felt like my living room. But, this is as good a reason as any… I suppose.
Café 474 is where I’ve ended up meandering to early AM when I’ve run out of my own coffee and need a jolt. Where I replenish my supply by buying a bag of their wonderful beans, ground to order. Where I’ve tried Iced Moroccan Mint tea (recommend), and where I’ve found very reasonable iced coffee prices (less than $ 4 for a large, wooooooooo, carry me through this sweaty day!). It’s where I stop off when returning home to decompress a bit, where I escape my living room when I can’t stand the dog staring at me anymore, and where I meet pals for a cuppa joe.
It’s warm and small and not the least bit frantic. It’s homey, and so… I made mine close by. It hasn’t let me down yet.
Home is where the heart is? Home is where the caffeine lives.
*Cash only.
*Free Wifi.
*Baked goods only (no «real» food)

This is the best coffee shop in the neighborhood, (and that’s really saying something). It is charming without being pretentious, cozy without being cramped, the staff is friendly without being obnoxious… and the coffee is exquisite.
When I lived nearby, I used to go here every day. Sometimes to chill and sometimes just to drop in and grab a cup. The baristas always had a friendly word. They even had my band’s album for sale behind the register and would play it sometimes. To me, that was the very coolest thing — talk about supporting the community.

Stormy Sunday afternoon… Chillin’ on the first floor of my Sunset Park Brownstone I got a hankerin’ for coffee… A Latte perhaps… Cortado maybe… Spectacularly pulled espresso, expertly steamed milk; and the right parts of each to soothe my comfort seekin’ soul…
I stepped in here around 4:30 p.m. (sadly they close at 5:00 p.m. on Sundays…) I sat down comfy-​ly at a table, and order a medium latte along with a «monster brownie» it was titled as such although the monstrosity of it was somewhat lacking… Instead… it was more of a luscious, and delectable brownie…
I sat and enjoyed both, and leisurely made my way out at 5:00 p.m. with a renewed sense of caffeine buzzing through me, before I made my way to 4 20 for some pie…
Amazing coffee shop — staff has always been awesome… Will def. be goin’ back to check out their sandwiches on Balthazar bread… Nummy Nummy Saturday afternoon snack I say…

This little coffee spot is comfy and cozy. Perfect for meeting up with a friend or two. They offer pastries from other bakeries (so they don’t bake on premise). As expected, their iced coffee was strong and to my liking. Though I felt a bit pricier than the other spots on 5^th Ave.
Small place but it’s real cool the way they set up the ‘fixins bar’. You can milk and sugar up your drink at the little island situated between the counter and the tables.

Nice addition to the neighborhood. The hours have been fluctuating for various reasons, and without notice usually, but during off hours so it shouldn’t bother most people. Just the unemployed.
Good coffee, definitely worth the trip if you’re nearby. The iced coffee is a bit «off» to me, could be my preference. Also prices are a bit higher than normal, especially for the small size, which comes in what feels like a tiny Dixie cup.
Enough complaining, just go when you need your caffeine fix.
Also as many have mentioned, the staff/​owners are friendly people. There’s an occasional moody day, but everyone has one of those ;)

Really nice guys,
really good coffee…
and a really convenient locale!

A couple of years ago, this spot served massive and cheap quantities of soup. Despite its popularity in the hood, it disappeared seemingly overnight one day.
I hope that doesn’t happen with Café 474. (I mean, if nothing else, it’s unnerving!)
I was here 1:30 p.m. on a Thursday and the line was nearly out the door. One-​thirty in the afternoon on a weekday. Flash mob? I have no idea, but the coffee and the lack of pretension did not disappoint. I think wifi’s on its way, in which case my all-​time fav coffee shop in the area (Southside) is going to have some competition from one of its most devoted customers (yours truly).

Café 474 is what a «community café» *should* be… tiny, with super friendly owners/​baristas, great coffee, fresh pastries, comfy chairs, low-​key atmosphere. I’d despaired of getting a good café on 4^th, as the rims/​car shop/​macho man thing really gets old for those of us who can’t afford living «up slope» but who still want the perks.
Here’s what you get:
* Strong espresso with earthy, complex tones – cappuccinos are done with an aesthetic eye.
* The usual variety of pastries and some unique ones (croissants, whoopie cakes, dark german chocolate cake, carrot cake, etc.)
* Friendly, non-​asshole baristas and helpful service
* Comfy reading couches and a view onto lovely 4^th avenue’s grime
* Yes, there is no wi-​fi. I find it refreshing not to have to stand holding my coffee while some yuppie pretending to do work on a Mac for 10 hours hogs all the seating.
What might be improved:
* More advertising! A more prominent veneer (it was hilarious watching people gape inside, wondering —is that a café???)
* Staples like bagels are a must and maybe so lower cal. options
Overall, terrific place. I will definitely be a regular.
PS ***No babystrollers so far! Let’s hope it stays that way!!**

They’re open! Finally!
The people are super nice and the space is cute. When I went in they were letting people taste the cakes (baked somewhere locally) — the German Chocolate and Carrot Cakes were both great. Their tea selection is really nice, and they use very high quality loose-​leaf teas. Haven’t tried the coffee yet, but it smelled good. And it’s on my way to the subway… I will be here every morning!