After 11 years of service work, Carolina Hernandez, a Guatemalan immigrant, has opened Tikal Café on the corner of Decatur and Knickerbocker.

The coffee chain, which recently opened in Bushwick, previously licensed its name from an Australian company.

Walking into the loft, nestled amongst the industrial buildings east of the Morgan L train stop, I am not only greeted by Tobin Polk (co-owner alongside Lance Schnorenberg) and Aric Carroll, self-described “task master,” (aka operations manager) but also by Charlie the cat and the faint sound of a needle pressed on a warm folk record playing in a carry-on turntable

You know this scene all too well: you’re running late to work and have to forego that morning coffee at your local joint when you see the line is 10 people deep

By Polly Brewster, Laure Nouraout, Essie Graham & Katarina Hybenova

Bushwick Coffee House is becoming one of our favorite new hangouts! With their great menu of homey food, great coffee, cheap beers and huge events space, it made the perfect backdrop for our banging Valentine’s Day Party last weekend