As one would expect from Chef Dufresne, Du’s offerings have all gone through multiple stages before reaching their ultimate perfected state. All of the cake doughnuts start life as a blank slate—if you do have a hankering to try their plain doughnut, just ask—before being covered in glaze, rolled in sugar, and/or topped with crumbles. Everything we tried tasted exactly as it should and each perfect circle was exceptionally photogenic.
The marigold-hued Creamsicle is topped with a passion fruit glaze and a thin squiggly line of vanilla. You’ll be seeing the tangy Strawberries and Cream pop up on Instagram a lot given its flavor-infused Millennial Pink sugar coating. Or you can try the more classic Cinnamon Apple, which will have you missing CSL season. The rest of the rotating menu includes Mexican Hot Chocolate, Coffee Malt, Peanut Butter Yuzu, Banana Graham, Honey Fennel Pollen, Pistachio Pink Lemonade, Grapefruit Chamomile, and Pomegranate Tahini.
The space at Du’s is quite sparse, as a doughnut shop should be. The floor-to-ceiling windows and pale-wood furnishings make it feel much larger than it actually is. There is enough room to hang out for a cup or two, but there is also the option of heading upstairs to the terrace. Currently, the menu is limited to the doughnuts, a range of coffees using Brooklyn Roasting Company beans, and a version of Rhode Island’s coffee milk. Word on the street is that breakfast sandwiches are on the way, but for now, we can indulge on $3.50 fancy doughnuts.
Du’s Donuts and Coffee is located at 107 North 12th Street, at the base of The William Vale Hotel. They are open Wednesday – Sunday, 8 am until sold out.