Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Food
Williamsburg Coffee Shop Charges By The Minute, Not By The Cup
By
Gaby Del Valle
Published Oct 21, 2016
Modified Oct 21, 2016
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Gaby Del Valle
Published Oct 21, 2016
Modified Oct 21, 2016
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
A new cafe has opened in Williamsburg that charges customers by the minute rather than by the drink—for some freelancers (or students), it could be the solution to posting up in a Starbucks or shelling out for a coworking membership.
Coffee, granola bars, WiFi, and games are all free at Glass Hour, which bills itself as the first pay-per-minute cafe in the United States. Instead of paying for services, customers pay for time: the first hour costs $6, regardless of whether you spend 2 or 59 minutes there. After the first hour, customers are charged 10 cents a minute. After four hours, you pay a flat rate of $24 no matter how long you stay.
As Business Insider points out, going to Glass Hour every day isn't necessarily more cost-effective than a co-working space, but it's a good option for anyone who feels bad hogging a seat at their local coffee shop or doesn't feel like going to Starbucks for the millionth time. Unlike most other coffee shops, Glass Hour also has board game, video game, and foosball nights.
For the next five days, Glass Hour is having a Kickstarter special. Anyone who donates $3 to their Kickstarter gets 2 hours of unlimited cafe-ing (which normally costs $12); a $12 donation gets you a full day pass; a $50 donation gives you a full week of access; and a $200 donation gives you a full monthly pass.
Glass Hour is located at 63 Skillman Avenue in Williamsburg
Tagged
all you can drink
coffee
glass hour
Gaby Del Valle
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE food
Where are the cheapest drinks in NYC? A new report details the city's average prices.
The median price of a cocktail in the city is now $16, and $9 for a draft beer.
By
Hannah Frishberg
Published Oct 19, 2026
North African restaurants are rare in NYC. These 10 are the best.
Egyptian, Moroccan, Algerian and Tunisian food is delicious but underrepresented in the city.
By
Robert Sietsema
Food
North African restaurants are rare in NYC. These 10 are the best.
Egyptian, Moroccan, Algerian and Tunisian food is delicious but underrepresented in the city.
By
Robert Sietsema
10 dishes that demonstrate the delicious diversity of curry in New York City
By
Robert Sietsema
Frozen yogurt is back in New York City. So are the super long lines.
By
Sonia Rao
5 NYC banana puddings as good as Magnolia's
By
Hannah Frishberg
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .