Muted Entity x R13
A Muted Entity Coffee Experience, No.15
We got booked! Our first contracted client was expecting us!
However, the forecast projected, rain all day…
It all began
near the corner of Howard and Canal St. Mid March, I would say. Elsye and I were vibing in the spring sun, just outside of R13. She would turn and ask “what is your 5 year plan Joseph?” I paused for a moment and said “Muted Entity! I plan to host events/pop ups, and provide concept workshops centered around community, art and coffee. I also have goals like long term residencies and retainers in retail spaces, on set and on location… and to one day soon open a Muted Entity store front.”
Jokingly she said “We can do something here.” A few weeks went by, and I was still thinking to myself, “something at R13, huh?”… so I asked her “were you serious about you offer? If so, I have a concept.” And It turns out she was!
Elyse Butler, Brand Communications Manager at R13 is famously known for her blond hair and enthusiasm to advocate for black and poc professionals, using her position to provide platforms. As a creative, native New Yorker, I am proud to have worked with Elyse, a rare gem of beauty sincerity and professionalism.
Punk Coffee
R13 is a New York based brand, owned by Chris Leba, that embodies the spirit and look of ‘punk’. Fitting for Muted Entity because we have always felt that we are a little punk. We like to go against the grain, removed, not interested in the mainstream way of “coffee cart businesses.” But I would say we are building something of our own. With a slow bar approach, no matcha, and no espresso at the moment… We are defiantly, a non conventional “coffee cart.” To create an environment where people feel comfortable and connected is our core purpose. Specialty, light roasted coffee is our way of doing that. We are an opportunity to extend the experience of specialty coffee, a world that is normally gate kept by coffee connoisseurs and geeks, to people in fashion, the arts, teachers, designers etc. Black coffee is such a complex drink that has been subject to being milked down, drowned in sugar, and burnt to a dark roasted crips. But like wine, light roasted coffee is something everyone can learn to enjoy the complexities of the fruitiness, acidities, and sweetness that black coffee is.
“The rain stopped at 1:15 pm. Looking at the empty wet space, the concrete & brutalist vibes. The building scape drew me in, the moss growing, signs of punk nature in defiance of industrialism. We quickly swept away the rain and transformed the space into a new Entity. The court yard was now open”
Bar Installations and Brutalism
June 10, 2025 marks the day Muted Entity’s bar installation was revealed. It consisted of stainless steel, concrete objects, dried branches, hanji paper, and cobble stone. A bar installation is an improvisational art installation, taking influence from the space we occupy. The details and materials are very important to us. We think about which cardinal direction we are facing, where the sun is at the time of service, and the symmetry of the bar in space. We deliberate about it all, maybe to much… Only because we are confident that it improves the feeling of our guests and want you to sense the authenticity.
The Courtyard Revival
In 2019 Chris Leba expanded the 34 Howard Street store to make way for the courtyard. He wanted to create a place for customers to hang out and feel community. 6 years later Muted Entity became a part of that vision. This is an unforgettable moment for us, in a punk, “black coffee” kind of way!
We, as Muted Entity are proud to serve the R13 team and to all the wonderful guests. It has always been a vision to grow our concept in a way that honor the growth of our business, and dedicated team. So, thank you to everyone who supported and came out to hang in the R13 courtyard! We enjoyed sharing coffee, tea, and other drinks! We hope to host more events and explore other amazing opportunities.
Thank you Chris and Thank you Elyse and Mychael and the R13 VIPs for hanging out! Thank you to all contributing Photographers. Big shout out to Pao Lago and Elyse Ketura , and to our sponsor Rosaluna, and Flower arrangements by Olivee Floral , Thank you!!
Written by Joseph Oxley
P.S. we are back at R13 July 11th for an AM 11am - 2pm coffee services, see you soon!
Beautifully written! So excited for all of what’s coming for Muted Entity ✨