Tea Lounge Coffee - not what it used to be?

Is anyone else disappointed at the quality of the coffee at the 7th Ave (10 St.) Tea Lounge?

It used to be the best coffee around, but lately it's fairly hideous. I order the Sumatra, but it's not strong enough and it's never hot enough.

Plus, the place really looks filthy. Behind the counter it's disgusting, the couches are even worse, and the outside of the place is a total eyesore for the neighborhood.

This is a place I've loved for years, but the owner I think is really letting it slip while he grows the business and opens locations in other spots.

Lately I've taken to getting coffee at the Cafe on 7th betw. 11th and 12th. The coffee is much better, and hotter, and the place is CLEAN! However, the people who own the place, while pleasant, don't generate too much warmth themselves.

As a wise man once said "don't buy coffee from a tea lounge". That being said. Cafe Regular on 11th below 5th, and Red Horse on 12th and 6th both have excellent coffee.

I just go to Cafe regular so I am never disappointed. they also make the best cappuccinos in the neighborhood.

and tea lounge recently bumped up their prices as well. Better and cheaper coffee at cafe eleven. The people who own/run it are nice but I wish they would do more to make the inside more inviting to hang out in. They could also stay open later and offer beer/wine. It doesn't seem as though they have hired any employees which I think they would have to do to keep extended hours. Right now it is truly a mom and pop shop.

Subject: Tea Lounge Coffee

the coffee at the Union Street location is not so great anymore either. And (yes, I am dating myself) the bathrooms bring back memories of the 8th Ave. Port Authority bathrooms of the early 80's - YUCK!

Tea Lounge lost my business when I saw a cockaroach crawling up the table. :x Ugh! How do they pass health inspections when the burger bar and other, much cleaner joints were fined?!

I second the Red Horse suggestion. However, I hesitate to do so as I don't want even more people taking up all the chairs.

But they do have the best coffee in Park Slope. I gave up on Tea Lounge about a year ago. Red Horse & you'll be happy.

Subject: It Ain't Called Coffee Lounge

Not what it used to be...ah, yes, back in the good ol' days when customer service was SO GOOD and place was SO CLEAN and the beverages and food were SO TASTY.

Really? The Tea Lounge used to be good? I've always thought the coffee hideous - and the atmosphere disgustingly dirty and stinky.

Subject: Still Good

I just got back from the tea lounge (10th and 7th) and the coffee is still good, though I would have to say they are still brewing some strong yet strange coffee ,,,

The one thing missing is consistency of purpose,
And here's what I mean ...

As a former manager for three independant coffee houses on the Eastern coast, (2 in NYC 1997-2000), it is a very difficult task to maintain quality at coffee houses, let alone any restaurant business. After a method is put in place, there usually needs to be the manager around to enforce the standards. I rarely see a manager at the tea lounge.

Brewing and serving coffee is an art as much as a technical endeavor. I cannot tell you how many times I have seen milk improperly heated by steam wand and burned by baristas. (You have to put your hand on the bottom, and when your hand has to come off, the milk is hot enough). I don't see a scale, and somehow each time the coffee is passed over the counter, you wonder ... what is this gonna be? Usually, its pretty good.

Also, a coffee house must have good pastries and deserts ... and unfortunately, there are none anymore at the Tea Lounge, which is disappointing. I've got dollars to spend, I'm frequently up early, hungry, and there's nothing to buy.

And finally to be said, the Tea Lounge on 10th/7th is the truest and best coffee house in Park Slope, offering a traditional coffee house experience; coffee and conversation. The music selection can be particularly good, the setup is dope, and free internet, of course. It is probably the best real coffee house in Brooklyn.

All they need is to get all their baristas on the same page, and have a manager to make sure its done right, every time.

Charlesbklyn

I just walked out of the 10th/7th TL for the umpteenth time in several weeks.....their employees are worse than useless, except for one or two, and their selection of food is horrendous.

The service is awful, so I've been going across the street to the Peppermill deli for my coffee....and it's every bit as good as TL.

I can't believe I'm saying this, but I hope they close it and turn it into a bank.

Tea Lounge sucks ass. It's filthy and so are their attitudes. How anyone can "support" them is beyond my comprehension.

Cafe regular is terrific..
A hidden treasure..
Don't go there!!!!!!!!!!!(many exclamation marks)

Only kidding. If you haven't tried the place you will be pleasantly suprised at the service and the quality of the coffee they serve.. and the pastry.

I'm a fan of Red Horse myself. I only gave TL a few shots, and then realized Red Horse is a way better cup with really nice people working. Can get a bit crowded, however. But such is life.

still a bigtime fan of ozzies on 7th and lincoln.

love the place.

Another vote for Red Horse. When I first moved here I used to go to Tea Lounge, but it always felt a little disingenuous, like it really wanted to be a cool coffee hangout really, really bad. The coffee was crap, and their accommodations are dirty, tables not wiped down, etc. Red Horse is small, but it feels like the real deal, and the foam on my soy latte is artisan-quality.

i'm a tea drinker so i can't comment on their coffee, but TL does have a great selection of tea (surprise) and they actually heat the water properly for a pot of tea. but i've stopped going there because i don't think they've vaccuumed since the place opened. my allergies flare up within a few minutes of sitting on one of their couches.

For the record. the coffee at the Tea Louge has always been bad. The rule for coffee is that no matter how bad it is, it is much better when HOT. The Tea Lounge serves cold, crap coffee and always has. NYC is a disgrace when it comes to coffee. I have had better coffee at a gas station in Oregon than anywhere in NYC.

The best cup of coffee in the city is at Dojos on West 4th, and I don't know why.

I haven't been to the Tea Lounge since 2002, when I sat in one of their "vintage" chairs and it broke right under me! Now, I am not a particularly heavy person; the chair was just a (dangerous) piece of crap. I shoulda sued, or at least demanded a free cup of joe.

BTW- Jane Birkin- I love your quote! I am a broken-hearted Sleater-Kinney fan.

I walked out of the 7th/10th store on Sunday. There were 3 people behind the counter, one making someone's order and the second looking at the board and going over the menu with the third. Stood about 3 feet from them for at least a minute without being acknowledged and walked out. Got a coffee and a donut at the diner/donut place between 8th and 9th. Good choice.

That place is revolting and the people who work there are jumped-up little twats. Bed bugs and Grateful Dead, anyone?

germfree! wrote: That place is revolting and the people who work there are jumped-up little twats. Bed bugs and Grateful Dead, anyone?

That's a bit harsh, but I can't argue you...yes, spray yourself with Raid ® before you sit down.

I love Ozzies coffee - it costs less and is more delicious!

cheflady wrote: Really? The Tea Lounge used to be good? I've always thought the coffee hideous - and the atmosphere disgustingly dirty and stinky.

Here, here! :x

Critics of the tea lounge rejoice—the original location at 10th and 7th avenue will be closing July 31st—another victim of the ever increasing rents.

Cabaki wrote: Critics of the tea lounge rejoice—the original location at 10th and 7th avenue will be closing July 31st—another victim of the ever increasing rents.

I just hope too many people don't realize how great red horse is!

gotta say, i make my own strong delicious fair-trade organic coffee with just the right amount of sugar and milk, but when the moment strikes, i head to Parco on 7th ave. smells delicious and the coffee is pretty stinkin' good. the nice guy with the accent (maybe the owner) is a dog lover and a sweet guy. the place is too small to attract a huge crowd and there's usually a seat outside. also, they never assume that i don't know how to hold a coffee by the top and bottom when its hot by slipping one of those useless wasteful paper sleeves around my brew. that said, i have to get back into the habit of bringing my to-go cup...

Ouch! 7th Ave is turning into a ghostland.

This is about to be a moot issue for the 7th/10th Tea Lounge.

It's closing on July 31st. Maybe it'll turn into a REAL coffeehouse!

WHAT?! Damnit, I hated the coffee but it was my standby when my wifi goes out at the house.

I hope they fumigate the place. I came out itchy as hell last time I sat in one of their couches