Discovering Millbrook's Coffee Shack: A Perfect Ride Stop
The Ride
The hamlet of Millbrook, NY was our destination for today. Located in the heart of Dutchess county, the Beeline showed ~45 miles as the crow flies to our coffee shop today. See our article on discovering new roads with Beeline. I chose to ride the BMW R18 Classic today for our first Tank of Coffee coffee ride post.
Leaving our starting location in Cross River, NY I headed north on 121, but rather than stay on 121 heading north to Route 6, I turned left on June Road heading northwest and then made a right onto Bloomer Road heading east till it ended at 121. I grabbed the first right onto Dingle Ridge Road and the diversion was worth it. A meandering road led me to Vail Lane where I made a left to stay on Dingle Ridge Road. This brought me through many of the farms in North Salem before I arrived at Route 6 where I made a left. Route 6 here is basically a 4 lane highway, so nothing interesting, but once past the 684 interchange I turned right on Sodom road where route 6 intersects with route 22. Sodom Road lead to Brewster Hill Road, another favorite road in the area that becomes Farm to Market Road.
This connects to 311 and then 292 where I make a left followed by a quick right onto Route 62 to keep heading north. 62 leads to Route 55 heading northwest, which while also a 4 lane highway is more in the country and hills, making it a fun sweeper road to ride.
I take this to where it connects with 82 where I can head a bit more northeast toward where my compass is pointing on the Beeline. I stay on this to the intersection of Route 343. Until recently, the intersection of 82 & 343 allowed you to see the ruins of Bennett College. But after many years of continued decay and the desire to turn the land surrounding the old college grounds into a park, it was demolished in 2022.
While 82 heads to the left I continue straight as the road becomes Franklin Road leading into Millbrook, NY. In the village, a quick turn onto Church Street and we’ve arrived at All That Java - Millbrook, NY.
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.
Sticking mostly to county or state roads hasn’t caused much diversion from the compass distance. We arrived in just ~49 miles riding the BMW R18 Classic according to Rever.
The Coffee Shop
The coffee shop is tiny… If we are honest, it is a shack on a trailer, but that in no way casts aspersions on the quality of the coffee. Stylistically, it reminds me of the drive-thru coffee shacks in Washington state. The slate gray color with a lighter grey roof in a sort of trapezoidal shape gives it a distinctive appeal
That shouldn’t be surprising. The founder, while originally from the East Coast, lived in the Seattle area for about ten years and saw the drive-thru shacks all the time. She decided to open a bunch of tiny huts on the east coast.
Initially, they brought them to locations like the Walkway over the Hudson and Windham Mountain Ski Resort for seasonal use. They created more “permanent” sites, starting with Kingston, NY. While the units still sit on a trailer, they are essentially permanently located now at 4 locations: Kingston, Tivoli, Rhinebeck, and the place we visited today: Millbrook.
It’s a great story and adds to the charm of the place. Check out their site for some great details on their history.
There is some minimal outdoor seating, as takeout is much more common. A sign asks to keep parking limited to just 5 minutes. I hoped that wouldn’t be an issue with the bike, so I walked up to the window.
A simple sign provides the menu options under a single heading of “Drinks.” There are no food options, but looking at the size of the building, this shouldn’t be surprising. I can choose from espresso, americano, latte, cappuccino, mocha, chai latte, drip coffee, cortado, macchiato, flat white, frappienza or zoda.
Most are recognizable, but the last two are the signature drinks of All That Java. Frappienza is essentially a frozen cappuccino. A zoda is two shots of espresso with seltzer. I’m in the mood for hot coffee, so I’ll have to leave trying those drinks for another day. I ordered an americano with the single woman managing the operation. She takes the orders, makes the coffee, and restocks the shelves, all while delivering a brisk takeout business.
I grab the one table in front with a perfect view to admire my BMW R18 Classic bike from an angle not seen while riding it.
While it won’t have the vibe of a more traditional coffee shop with people on their laptops, it is a perfect place to ride to, grab a quick coffee, and then continue your ride. Just be sure to go earlier as they are only open 8 AM-2 PM daily. And maybe, don’t go with a huge group of people due to the limited parking. A couple of bikes can fit in the spaces in front, but not much more.
The Refreshments
Since it’s just a coffee stand, I didn’t expect to receive a ceramic cup for my Americano. Instead, it came in a paper cup with a sleeve bearing the All that Java logo. I must say, the coffee was absolutely delightful and left me craving for more. I am already looking forward to my next visit, where I plan to explore one of their specialty drinks.
Follow our route via Rever above, or take a ride to All That Java in Millbrook, NY on your own.
