You’re tired of explaining your order three times and still getting something close-but-not-quite-right. You want good coffee that fits your schedule, your taste, and your budget.
Our self-serving coffee machines put you in control. Pick your strength, choose your milk, adjust the flavor—all while surrounded by art from PLG creators who actually live in this neighborhood. No rushed barista interpretations. No settling for “that’ll do.”
Just walk up, make your selections, and get exactly what you came for. Then take it to go or stay and be part of what makes this corner of Brooklyn worth living in.
We opened The Café Galerie because Prospect Lefferts Gardens needed a coffee spot that matched its energy—creative, diverse, and refreshingly unpretentious. We’re not chasing trends or trying to be the next big thing.
We’re the place where you grab coffee before your morning walk through Prospect Park, where neighborhood artists show their work without paying gallery fees, and where our self-serving machines mean you’re never stuck behind someone ordering eight different modifications. Our beans come from roasters who care about their craft and their impact, just like the community we serve.
PLG has always balanced convenience with character. We just happen to serve really good coffee while celebrating both sides of that equation.
Walk up to any of our self-serving coffee machines. Select your base—espresso, americano, or drip coffee. Choose your milk from oat, almond, whole, or skip it entirely. Dial in your strength, add flavors if you want them, and hit brew.
The machine grinds fresh beans and makes your coffee to order while you check out the current art exhibition or grab a seat with a view of the neighborhood. Everything’s calibrated for consistency, but customized for your preferences.
Pay at the counter with card, phone, or cash. Take your coffee and go catch your train, or stay and work while the morning light streams through our windows. It’s designed to work however you need it to work.
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We use premium coffee beans sourced from roasters who prioritize both exceptional flavor and ethical practices. Our self-serving machines get cleaned and calibrated multiple times daily, so your 7 AM coffee tastes as good as your 7 PM coffee.
We feature monthly rotating art exhibitions showcasing work from PLG and broader Brooklyn artists—no commission fees, just community support. We offer free WiFi, plenty of outlets, and seating designed for everything from quick morning stops to longer afternoon work sessions.
We’re two blocks from the B and Q trains and three blocks from the 2/5, making us your convenient stop whether you’re commuting to Manhattan or exploring locally. Prospect Lefferts Gardens thrives on that balance between accessibility and neighborhood character—we’re designed to enhance both without compromising either.
Our machines are designed to be straightforward—no complicated interfaces or confusing options. You start by selecting your coffee type: espresso, americano, or drip. Then choose your milk preference from oat, almond, soy, whole milk, or no milk at all.
Next, you adjust the strength to your taste and add any flavors you want. The touchscreen walks you through each step, and the whole process takes about two minutes from start to finish. The machines grind fresh beans for every cup and are cleaned between different milk types to prevent cross-contamination.
Payment happens at the counter after you get your coffee—card, phone, or cash all work. You’re in complete control of the process, which means you get exactly what you want without having to explain your preferences or hope someone interprets them correctly.
We focus on consistency and customization rather than hoping you’ll love whatever interpretation someone else makes of your order. Our self-serving machines use premium beans from ethical roasters, but you control how those beans become your specific cup of coffee.
The technology ensures your coffee is made the same way every time, whether you’re here on Monday morning or Saturday afternoon. No variations based on who’s working or how busy we are. You dial in your preferences once and get the same results every visit.
Plus, you’re supporting a space that actively showcases local PLG artists without charging them gallery fees. It’s coffee and community investment in one transaction, which feels right for a neighborhood that values both quality and authenticity.
Yes. Our machines offer oat milk, almond milk, soy milk, whole milk, skim milk, and no milk options. All alternatives are clearly labeled, and the machines clean themselves between different milk types to prevent cross-contamination issues.
You can also control caffeine levels—full strength, half-caff, or decaf options are all available through the machine settings. If you have specific dietary needs or preferences, the customization options let you get exactly what works for you without having to ask our staff to remember special instructions.
The self-serving setup means you’re never dependent on someone else remembering your restrictions or preferences. You control every aspect of your drink, which is especially valuable if you have allergies or specific dietary requirements that can’t be compromised.
We’re open seven days a week with hours designed around neighborhood rhythms—early enough for commuters, late enough for evening community gatherings. Typically 6:30 AM to 8:00 PM on weekdays, with slightly adjusted weekend hours that we post on our door and website.
Our seating includes individual tables, communal workspace areas, and window counter spots that are perfect for people-watching or working alone. We have outlets throughout the space and reliable free WiFi for anyone who needs to get things done while they drink their coffee.
The setup works whether you’re grabbing coffee and leaving in three minutes or settling in for a two-hour work session. We designed the space to be genuinely useful for the full range of ways people actually use coffee shops in their daily routines.
We rotate exhibitions monthly, featuring work from Prospect Lefferts Gardens and broader Brooklyn artists. Priority goes to local creators and emerging artists who reflect the diverse creative energy that makes this neighborhood special.
Artists can submit work through our website or by talking to our staff. We look for pieces that work well in a cafe environment while showcasing the range of talent in our community. We don’t charge commission fees—we believe in supporting artists, not profiting from their creativity.
The monthly changes keep the space interesting for regulars and give visitors something new to discover. It’s one way we stay connected to PLG’s creative spirit while providing value that goes beyond just serving good coffee.
We work exclusively with roasters who prioritize fair wages for farmers and environmentally responsible growing practices. Our coffee comes from sources that treat both people and land well, because good coffee shouldn’t come at the expense of the communities that grow it.
Rather than sticking to one roaster, we rotate between several local and regional partners who share our standards. This gives us seasonal variety while supporting multiple small businesses that align with our values. All our partners are transparent about their sourcing and processing methods.
We know many PLG residents care about the impact of their purchases, so we’re happy to share details about current offerings. Ask our staff about where your coffee comes from—we can tell you about the farms, the processing methods, and why we chose to work with specific roasters.
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