Warming Up at AM Coffee: A Cozy Stop in Southbury, CT
The Ride
It’s a cold winter day as I thumb the starter on the BMW F900GS. I’ve just added Hippo Hands over the regular off-road hand guards to take some of the bite out of the 31F temperature this morning. As I plug in the address for AM Coffee in the Beeline app, it shows a straight-line compass distance of 24.6 miles, roughly northeast of my starting point in Cross River, NY. Actual ridden distance is always much more than the compass distance, so I’m expecting about an hour ride till I get some warm coffee. See our article on discovering new roads with Beeline.
I bring the kick stand up and ease the clutch out as I give some throttle and get the GS moving, heading north on Route 121. I don’t mind dirt roads on the GS & there is one less than a mile up the road, which I take heading east. A left onto Mead Street brings me heading back north, passing the Mead Memorial Chapel as the road winds back and forth roughly parallel to Route 121.
When the road ends at Hawley Street, I turn right and follow it as it passes Mountain Lakes Park, heading southeast. It’s not the most direct way to head northeast, but these are some fun roads & that is my priority on these coffee rides, not getting there as quickly as possible.
I pass through Waccabuc and then head east again through Ridgefield, CT, onto a quick but uninspiring Route 35 that joins Route 7 heading toward Danbury, CT. I’m keen to get off of Route 7, and the compass is pointing northeast still, so I take W Starr Plains Road heading to West Redding, CT. I cross over the commuter rail train tracks, which are at grade here, seeing the train station for Redding on my right as I take Sidecut Road to join Route 53 heading north. This pattern of a few eastern roads and then major north/south roads continues as I make my way toward Southbury, CT.
I pass through Newtown, CT, but I avoid the trap of heading into Sandy Hook, where the back roads all end at the river, as I’ve been stuck on several rides in the past. I hop onto Route 84 to take the highway bridge over the Housatonic River, and once across, I take the first exit off the interstate with a few signs pointing to the Russian Village Historic District.
I have a very short run along Main Street in Southbury before I find AM Coffee on my left. With the kickstand down and the engine shut down, Rever shows my actual riding distance was 36.9 miles, and the temperature as I pulled in was now a relatively balmy 34F. 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
AM Coffee is in a typical Connecticut strip mall, where the exterior fits the area’s character with a wood-slat style. Being on a road parallel to Interstate 84 means it is convenient for any stop on your ride, even if you stick to highways.
Southbury is a small Connecticut town. For most of its history, it was a small farming community. With Interstate 84 arriving in 1963, that began to change, taking on a more mixed character of downtown, suburban, and rural areas. The population climbed significantly since the opening of the highway. The 1960 census had the population at just 5200, but that climbed to ~7800 by 1970. It doubled to about 14K people by 1980 and has continued to climb, albeit more slowly, so that today it has about 20K residents. However, with that slower growth, the population has also been aging, with ~40% of residents aged 60 or older.
As I walk into AM Coffee, I’m greeted by a wide open space with light brown wood-style flooring. Recovered wood was used for the counter, which had plenty of space to hold items. A handful of lights over the counter added ambiance, with an almost copper or pewter hue. Along one wall were several small tables for two, and toward the back was a couch with two lounge chairs.
One of the owners greeted me warmly as she was hanging holiday lights. I looked over the menu, which was short with espresso, drip coffee, and latte. They also have seasonal varieties and plenty of syrup options…. All of the syrup is made in-house, as proclaimed by the sign near the menu. For non-coffee options, hot chocolate, tea, green tea latte, and chai latte round out the offerings. Several pastries, bagels, and other baked goods could be purchased to pair with your favorite beverage.
As the owner wrapped up hanging the lights & took my order, I selected a latte and took a seat. 3 other people were there during my visit, so there was still plenty of space, though a few people came in for takeout during my stay.
My latte arrived in a paper cup, which makes sense with all the takeout traffic. While I always prefer a ceramic mug, I found the latte well balanced between milk and coffee, allowing the coffee’s richness to come through. Often, I find lattes can obscure the coffee flavor, being too milk-heavy. That was not the case here & I’m happy for that.
Being right off the interstate, AM Coffee is a great option for recaffeinating on a long ride, even if the route takes you on highways. The charm and warmth of the space, paired with the staff’s friendly attitude and great coffee, make it worth adding to your list of coffee shops to visit in central Connecticut.
