A museum centered on Art + Education + Social Justice through the lens of Africa + the diaspora
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CULTURE LAB II CAFE

HOURS + LOCATION

Whether you’re looking for a cool environment to work from or a down-to-earth cafe with lots of soul, Culture Lab II Cafe is your place. We’re open Wednesday – Saturday, 12:00pm- 7:00pm and Sundays, 12:00pm-4:00pm.

 

NOTE: Food and beverages are served Friday – Sunday only.

Visit us at 10 Lafayette Avenue, 2nd floor, Brooklyn, NY 11217 (between Ashland Place and Flatbush Avenue, just above the plaza).

MENU

Visit MoCADA Culture Lab II Cafe for a one-of-a-kind culinary journey through Brooklyn’s African diaspora. Get a curated taste of baked goods, savory light bites, organic teas, juices, and artisanal coffee from around the world and via local partners, including Je T’aime Pâtisserie, Brooklyn Blend, Brooklyn Tea, Win Win Coffee, and more. Music and sound via global music-makers, only on MoCADA Radio.

Stay tuned for our schedule of events for exclusive musical performances in the cafe, plus our special food residency program that spotlights rising chefs and unique food experiences from Africa and the diaspora.

Note: Service is only available in-person at the cafe. We currently do not take orders by phone or via delivery service apps like Door Dash,  GrubHub, Seamless, UberEats, etc.

Caramel Cornbread Cookie by Je T’aime Patisserie

This cookie shares all of the ingredients of a southern baked good, but it’s gluten-free. Dig in.

Ingredients:

● Gluten free

Cost: $5.00

Coconut Cherry Oatmeal Cookie by Je T’aime Patisserie 

This delectable and chewy vegan cookie offers a rich blend of coconut, cherry, and oatmeal. Yum!

Ingredients:
● Vegan

Cost: $5.00

Chocolate Chip Cookie by Je T’aime Patisserie

This unforgettable and chewy chocolate chip cookie is everything! Topped with sea salt sprinkles, it has quickly become a MoCADA favorite! Contains gluten, chocolate, eggs.

Ingredients:
● Chocolate
● Egg

Cost: $5.00

Raspberry Financier by Je T’aime Patisserie

This classic traditional French cake is made with a delicate, light and moist texture and the wonderful flavor of sweet and juicy berries.

Ingredients:

● brown butter
● egg whites
● almond flour

Cost: $7.00

COMING SOON!

Curry Chicken Jamaican Patty

This spicy Jamaican favorite is a flaky, golden brown pastry that’s filled with savory chicken seasoned with flavorful curry spices. It’s the most satisfying snack for when you’re on the go.
Ingredients:

● Curry
● Chicken
● Flour

$6

Iberio Plantanitos chips  (Ajo / garlic)

Plantains crisped to perfection with a touch of garlic & salt make these chips a naturally great healthy alternative to greasy potato chips.

Cost: $2.75

Iberio Maduritos chips  (sweet)

This irresistible snack will transport your taste buds to the exotic flavors of Latin America. Made from carefully selected, ripe plantains, our chips are expertly sliced and lightly cooked to achieve the perfect balance of savory crispiness and natural sweetness.

Cost: $2.75

Boxed Water

Boxed water contains renewable, reusable boxes made of paper from sustainable, well-managed forests; plus, the 92% plant-based box with a bioplastic cap is BPA-free and 100% recyclable.

Cost: $1.50 (8.5oz)
Cost: $2.50 (11.2oz)

Cola Couronne 

Haiti’s Cola Couronne, which has a memorable fruit champagne tropical flavor, has been the best selling soda in the island for over 40 years.

Cost: $6.00

DG Ginger Beer

An authentic Jamaican classic soft drink, rich with a bold and zesty ginger flavor.

Cost: $4.75

Ting 

Jamaica’s flavorful sparkling drink made with real grapefruit juice. Both tart and sweet, Ting is one of the most popular beverages of the Caribbean.

Cost: $4.75

Sodas and Soft drinks

Classic assortment of drinks including:

  • Canada Dry Ginger Ale
  • Coca Cola
  • Sprite
  • Pepsi
  • Brisk Ice Tea
  • Sunkist
  • Dr. Pepper
  • Mountain Dew

Cost: $2.00

coffee table

Each month MoCADA cafe will explore some of our favorite coffee brands from across the African diaspora. We’ll offer tastings of these unique blends on select days. Ask us what we’re brewing this week.

Current coffee brands include:

Cafe du Monde (New Orleans)
Caribbrew (Haiti)
Kanfuela Kaffé Organic Congo Kivu Soul Coffee (DRC)
Plantation Blue (Jamaica)
Win Win’s Signature Blend (Tanzania)
Win Win’s Birthright-Ethiopia (Ethiopia)

Choose how you want it:

Drip Coffee (8oz) : $3.00
Iced Coffee (8oz): $3.50
Americano (8oz): $4.00
Cappuccino (8oz): $5.00
Expresso (1 shot): $3.50
Latte (8oz): $5.00

+$0.50  milk alternative (almond, oat, soy)

MoCADA Cafe offers high quality teas and botanicals from a few of our favorite partners including Brooklyn Tea. 

Choose how you want it:

Hot Tea (8oz): $2.50
Iced Tea (8oz): $2.50

Current tea flavors include:

Ginger Tumeric

When your body feels tense, run down, or off balance, Ginger Turmeric brings warmth and stability. This blend supports both physical recovery and daily resilience, helping you reset after stress, long days, travel, or seasonal shifts.

Superior Grade Matcha

For mornings that require clarity and calm focus, matcha delivers a different kind of energy. Unlike coffee’s spike-and-crash effect, matcha releases caffeine gradually, helping you stay alert, centered, and mentally sharp for longer stretches of time.

Very Berry

When your body needs support but you want something bright and easy to drink, Very Berry delivers. This vibrant blend of hibiscus, rose hips, and berries creates a refreshing cup that encourages consistent hydration — a key part of staying balanced and resilient.When your body needs support but you want something bright and easy to drink, Very Berry delivers. This vibrant blend of hibiscus, rose hips, and berries creates a refreshing cup that encourages consistent hydration — a key part of staying balanced and resilient.

Cucumber Melon Green

Cucumber Melon Green Tea is a delightful blend that brings together the light, grassy flavors of green tea with the refreshing and hydrating qualities of cucumber and melon. This unique combination offers a revitalizing beverage that is perfect for hot summer days or any time you need a cool, invigorating drink. The subtle sweetness of melon and the crispness of cucumber complement the delicate taste of green tea, creating a harmonious blend that is both delicious and healthful.

Cream Earl Grey

If you want alertness without giving up the ritual and comfort of your morning drink, Cream Earl Grey delivers. Smooth, aromatic, and naturally caffeinated, it provides a gentle but reliable lift that works beautifully as a daily replacement for coffee.

Well Kanda

Well-Kanda combines butterfly pea flower and lemongrass to create a light, refreshing herbal tea that naturally brews a deep blue color. Add a splash of lemon juice and the tea shifts to a vibrant purple.

COMING SOON!!

Brooklyn Tea sources premium, high-grade loose leaf teas from around the world. Every blend is thoughtfully curated for exceptional flavor, aroma, and complexity. Whether you’re into bold black teas, nuanced oolongs, vibrant greens, or smooth herbals, we offer something that will rival (and often surpass) the best you’ve had.

Je T’aime Patisserie is a Black-owned bakery and women-led business in Brooklyn, offering the best French pastries, including croissants, macarons, and savory pastries. Led by owner and pastry chef Jatee Kearsley, JTP is proud to serve the community with high-quality, artisanal French pastries made fresh daily. Their bakery is made from love, made in love, and made to extend love to our community.

Win Win Coffee, lead by Nikisha Bailey and Matt Nam, is building a coffee industry renaissance where every sip is a journey through the rich and diverse narratives of the African diaspora. They aspire to redefine the global coffee experience by pioneering a supply chain that not only showcases the excellence of their portfolio of coffee blends but also channels a healthy portion of industry revenue back to the communities from which it springs. Win Win aims to bridge the equity gap and cultivate generational wealth while celebrating vibrant Black coffee traditions that have been passed down through the ages. They are crafting a future where each cup of Win Win Coffee brews a brighter, more inclusive, and purposeful world.

MoCADA RADIO

When you’re in the cafe, listen to an eclectic mix of music and talk podcasts from MoCADA Radio. You can also tune in from home below.

CAFE ART

MoCADA uses art in our cafe to tell the story of our Brooklyn and the values that bring Africa and the diaspora together. Learn more about what’s currently on view in the cafe.

AARCHETYPES

Allan Cole, 2024

 

This project is part of Allan Cole’s ongoing series which explores the concept of archetypes—abstract representations of familiar individuals from all walks of life. Each hand-illustrated design delves into the idea that universal archetypes transcend race, age, and societal boundaries, showcasing the shared humanity we recognize in the people we encounter every day.

The table art featured at MoCADA Culture Lab II + Cafe weaves these themes together with the rich culture of Brooklyn. Each table (13 total) reflects the vibrant people who call this borough home and the shared experience of being seen and enjoying a café.

christine miller flag multiply

MULITPLY: THE POWER OF THREE

Artistic Director Christine Miller; Artists: Jocelyn Rice, Aaron E. Hankins, and Laura Gautheir, 2022

 

MULTIPLY: The Power of Three is a material design project that uplifts the Pan African Flag and its representation of Black nationalism and unification of all the people across the diaspora.  Grounded by the themes, DURABLE, STURDY and FUNCTIONAL, these flags are fueled by personal stories, design intentionality and Black Love. Black Love is Black Power and Black Power is an armor against white supremacy. The “Multiply” concept by Miller was first presented in November 2021 as a solo gallery show in another venue. In this iteration, the flags were designed in collaboration to represent MoCADA’s three locations: Culture Lab II, Ubuntu Garden, and Abolition House.

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