A Motorcycle Journey to Greater Things Roasters in NY

The Ride

My iPhone’s screen lit up as I launched the Beeline app and plugged in the address for Greater Things Roasters.  While it helpfully offered both a fast and a fun route, I chose the last option of the compass.  Compass mode provides a straightforward interface, displaying an arrow with the remaining distance.  It would be up to me to find the roads that aligned with the compass heading to lead me toward my destination.  See our article on discovering new roads with Beeline.

Turning on the Beeline Moto 2 mounted on the handlebars of my BMW R18 Classic, it quickly connected to the app on my phone and displayed an arrow pointing toward Greater Things Roasters.  Indicating 76.4 miles in a straight line, I knew I had a long ride ahead of me, but one that headed roughly north, so I’d find some excellent roads in Dutchess County, NY.

I pulled in the clutch lever and thumbed the starter of the R18.  The entire bike rotated to one side as the 1800cc boxer twin sprung to life, the torque trying to twist the bike.  I love this bike…. It always puts a smile on my face when I ride it.  Yes, it’s not a typical cruiser…. But that is part of its charm.

The compass was pointing nearly straight north as I pulled out of the parking lot in Cross River, NY.  I’d have to cross over the Hudson River at some point as the coffee shop is in a town on the western shore of the river, but I’d have time to sort out where to make that crossing.  Route 121 heads north, making it a good choice for my journey’s start, as it leads into North Salem, passes Peach Lake, and crosses under Interstate 684 before ending at Route 6.

Route 6 offers just two options: heading east or heading west, neither of which aligns with the compass direction.  Flipping a coin in my head, I chose to turn right as the road parallels Interstate 684 to my right and the East Branch Reservoir on my left.  In less than a mile, a road to my left was available to match the compass heading better, so I turned onto Joe’s Hill Road.

Joe’s Hill Road passes over some old railroad tracks that are now one of the many trailways in this part of New York.  Several cars were parked near the tracks as cyclists and walkers enjoyed the Maybrook Trailway that leads in either direction parallel to Route 6.  Joe’s Hill is well named as the road climbs sharply up with several meandering turns.  Houses are on either side, and a few dead-end roads lead to more residences accessible only from Joe’s Hill Road.

The road crosses the summit and begins the descent on the other side of Joe’s Hill, leading to Milltown, NY.  I take another road that roughly heads north, and it takes me over the border into Connecticut, where the road wraps around Ball Pond.  I eventually join up with Route 37, which leads to the charming village of Sherman, CT, the least populated town in Fairfield County, CT.

Route 37 continues north in Connecticut, eventually leading to Route 39. It then reaches an intersection with Route 55, which heads west.  As my journey thus far has been slightly northeast, the compass urges me to head a bit more west, so I take Route 55, which brings me back into New York.

Route 55 leads me to Route 22, which heads further north, but I spy Route 343, a fun, twisting road that climbs a hill as it heads northwest toward Millbrook, NY.  Before I reach Millbrook, I turn north onto Route 99, which becomes Route 98 after crossing Route 44.

A few more diversions as I find some good roads throughout Dutchess County that bring me further north.  After I pass Pine Plains, the compass is urging me more to the west, and I’ll have to cross the Hudson River soon.  Route 82 offers me the path to travel through West Taghkanic and take the Rip van Winkle Bridge just south of Hudson, NY.

With the miles ticking down quickly and being on the correct side of the river, I head north on Route 385, passing the small village of Athens, NY, and then arriving in Coxsackie, NY.  The village is quite charming as I passed through the Reed Street Historic District.  But the compass still indicated a few more miles to the west to arrive at my destination, so I left the village behind me, turning onto Mansion Street, well named with the impressive homes on either side.  I reached Route 9W, with the strip malls common to this road evident here, and signs leading toward the New York State Thruway, accessible another mile or so further up the road.

I found the coffee shop in one of the strip malls, located next to a Subway sandwich shop and a laundromat.   Rever indicated that my trip had lasted for 104 miles.  See the route below.

REVER is a mobile app designed to help you track, plan, or navigate your ride. With the app, you can easily plan your route, view maps and directions, and track your distance using GPS technology. The app is an excellent tool for anyone who loves to ride and wants to keep track of their progress and distance.  Check out our full review of Rever.

The Coffee Shop

While the exterior aesthetic leaves something to be desired, the interior is attractive, featuring wood tones, particularly a deep coffee tone on the wood of the counter.  It is finished with pipes providing support for some shelves in front.  A corrugated ceiling supports the track lights and HVAC tubes.  A few hanging, star-shaped fixtures with Edison bulbs surround the counter, giving it a warmer feel.

Only two other patrons, when I arrived mid-morning on a weekday, gave me time to peruse the menu and find options such as drip, pour over, French press, espresso, Americano, latte, and cortado, along with a variety of flavors. Nitro was also offered, if you prefer cold brew.  For those looking beyond coffee, a variety of teas and several baked goods were available.

One of their specialties is a maple latte made with locally sourced maple syrup, so I had to get that.  I paired it with an almond croissant, which the barista offered to warm up for me.  It was served on paper, as they get a lot of take-out traffic.  The sweetness from the maple syrup hits you first, followed by the smooth texture of the latte.  The almond croissant had a sweet almond paste inside, which had a wonderful aroma from being heated.

I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the coffee and pastries, given the location in a strip mall.  I could easily see the artisanal nature of the roaster being quite at home in the historic village of Coxsackie, so don’t let the location, with easy access to Route 9W and the Thruway, dissuade you.  While it has a lot of takeaway clientele, it’s a great spot to grab your favorite brew. However, I may recommend that you explore the nearby village of Coxsackie either before or after your coffee.  It’s one of the treasures of this part of New York.  It may be worth exploring the Pieter Bronck House, originally built in 1663, which is now a museum.  The borough of New York City, the Bronx, is named after the Bronck family, so it’s a part of history you can see for yourself.