Brigade Coffee Company

Where can I find this wonderful truck?

Someone looking for just a cup of drip brew will sadly be disappointed, this is an espresso only stand. Great espresso, but just espresso nonetheless.
Pretty awesome little coffee truck based out of an cute old Citroen van/​truck thing. I visited them when they were set up in front of the hat shop on Magazine Street; the Americano was solid and the barista definitely knew what he was doing. It’s been a long time since I’ve actually seen someone weigh out the appropriate amount of coffee to be used in a shot!

«If you can’t say something nice, come sit by me…» — Steel Magnolias.
The idea of mobile coffee is so great, I loathe not enjoying it more, but…
1 — Their starting hours are too late for anyone who’s commuting before 8AM.
2 — Hot coffee, right? Wrong. Can’t get it from them.
3 — Several tries, there’s no power connection to try an espresso drink.
4 — Service — let’s leave it as they are not morning people.

Although Brigade Coffee is a fun, unique way to get coffee, that doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s amazing coffee. It is so-​so and expensive, but I’ll leave it at that. Mostly because I’ve never found the baristas to be particularly friendly, but last time they really took the cake. My partner drinks whole milk but he knows I occasionally prefer milk of the skim persuasion. So he asked the barista if she had any skim milk. Her response (after scoffing): I don’t drink skim milk.
That’s great for her, and I would be just fine drinking whole milk, but I don’t really think what she drinks is relevant when she’s making me coffee? This may sound overly sensitive, but it was more the tone rather than what she actually said. Being hipster doesn’t get you out of being a person and being nice to people :/

Brigade seriously saved me during mardi gras with their spot on the route at Rayne Church. This coffee is good. Maybe the best in the city. And come on, how can this truck not make you smile immediately?

I visited New Orleans fresh off a tour of west coast coffee, and I have to say that this place is better than Stumptown, better than Sight Glass, Four Barrel, Ritual, etc. Well, if not better, definitely on par with. This is NOT the best espresso in the city. It is the best espresso in the COUNTRY.
I don’t get what’s up with baristas everywhere putting too much milk in their coffee. This place just gets it. Perfect balance, coffee a little on the stronger side, but perfectly roasted so that the original notes of the beans still shine through. New Orleaneans may not care for third wave coffee, choosing tradition over new methods, but I’m telling you Brigade just gets it. Staff was super friendly too. The truck is super cool. Looks like an old French CItroen truck or so.

as far as quality coffee goes in New Orleans, there are only 2 places: Brigade and Velvet. Ok, 3 if you include my house.
But seriously, I don’t have a commercial espresso machine, so i’ll leave it at 2.
Their espresso is perfect.
Their latte is perfect including the art.
I can’t in good conscience though give them 5 stars because
1. it would be unfair to the 5 star places in San Francisco, Portland, NYC and Atlanta. For new Orleans it is 6 stars.
2. they need more beans variety, seasonal batches with the requisite pedigree explained more in detail (or on a flyer). they should maybe organize mobile tastings.
3. a coffee shop actually needs comfortable seating. I understand the concept of mobile coffee warriors, but at least some lightweight loungers spread around on the sidewalk, or at the very least a couple tall tables with barstools are needed. quality coffee needs to be enjoyed within minutes of being brewed so the whole coffee-​to-​go concept contradicts quality. you can’t beat starbucks drive-​thrus in this field, so stick with the slow-​coffee science.

Excellent coffee. Their beans make a very strong coffee taste without the bitterness (I’m lookin at you PJ’s) that’s perfect just the way it is served. The chocolate sauce for the mocha’s is homemade and chocolaty (is that even a word?) but not too sweet. My husband, who always adds sugar to his mocha, didn’t have to sweeten this coffee at all and completely won him over! And as a bonus– I love the fact that they serve espresso in a little ceramic espresso cups instead of the usual paper. I look forward to stopping by more often:)

Got an iced coffee after eating at Stein’s. Wasn’t sweet but I’m ok with that. You get the real deal coffee here.

I want to LOVE this «place», but the espresso lacks flavor, almost like it was watered down. The gentleman who made it certainly has skill, and if he had used better beans I expect my cappuccino would have been stellar. If they would just use Counter Culture, Intelligencia, or Stumptown beans I would seek them out every day I stay in New Orleans. Have to give them the benefit of 4 stars for style and skill nonetheless.

Still great… Iced Latte is $ 5 now… Still nutty-​licious!

Best Espresso in the City.
When I walked up for the first time, the barista had a cup filled with hot water waiting under the tray. When I saw this, I knew they were going to do it right.
I first tried shot of espresso. It was an expertly pulled shot, with perfect crema.
I then had a latte. This latte is exceptional. As with all good lattes, the microfoam was airy enough to suspend some crema and mix some of its flavor with the sweetness of the milk.
The barista also polished my latte off with some good latte art as she made the design of a leaf on top. This is often a tell of a good barista.
Also, as another reviewer pointed out, it was the correct temperture. My absolute worst coffee pet peeve is a latte that is too damn hot! Well, this latte comes just right.
Its time New Orleans coffee shops start getting it right, and this is a perfect example of a place that does.

Checked out Brigade Coffee truck today which was stationed outside of Company Burger.
Ordered a latte, and let me say, it was pretty damn good. It was the right temp (I didn’t have to wait longer to sip it), and did not need any additional sugar (what I usually have add to my coffees from other coffee places in town, with the exception of maybe Pravda, Café du Monde, and Orange Couch). The latte was light, had a distinct nutty flavour, and was smooth with nice micro-​bubbles in the foam.
The service was quick, simple, friendly, and casual. I’ll definitely be stopping by and following Brigade Coffee on twitter to see where they will be stationed next to get my coffee fix.