Exploring New Roads on a BMW R18: Coffee at The Roasted Bean
The Ride
I plugged the address into the Beeline app for The Roasted Bean in Bristol, CT and the compass indicated 43 miles in a straight line. As I thumbed the starter on the BMW R18 Classic, my mind drifted to wondering just how much of a diversion the roads would provide today as I wind my way toward central CT. See our article on discovering new roads with Beeline.
With the arrow on the Beeline Moto 2 pointing northeast, I headed north on Route 121 out of my starting point in Cross River, NY. I took this till it terminated just after passing under Interstate 84, where Route 121 intersects with Route 6, and I made the right to head east.
Shortly after crossing over the border into Connecticut, I made a left onto Aunt Hack Road and passed by the golf course near West Lake Reservoir. The road winds around a small ridge till it ends at King Street. Another right gets me heading east…. At least for a bit. Then, the road turns in a more southeast direction. With the compass pointing directly to my left, I try to find a road that will better match the Beeline as I’m nearing Route 6 again near downtown Danbury.
I find some roads heading up toward Candlewood Lake that match the compass, but the jagged shoreline leads me nearly to a dead end where at the waterline, so I’m forced to backtrack south for a bit. I finally cross over Route 7, and my luck with roads at least slightly more aligned with the compass improves with Route 133 just before I cross the Housatonic River.
A turn onto Route 317 has me on either the zig or the zag; I’m not sure anymore, as no road I can find aligns perfectly. I pass a small Quonset hut by a farm field with a small Piper Cub airplane sheltered under its roof. This is the Good Hill Farm Airport (CT59). It’s a private airfield with a grass runway so you won’t be able to take a regularly scheduled Delta flight. However, it provides a worthwhile sight to behold along the route for readers with more time to stop for some great pictures.
I rejoin Route 6 near Woodbury, CT, and turn northeast as the road finally aligns with the compass. This section of Route 6 is one I’ve ridden and driven on many times, and it feels a bit like I’ve jumped in a DeLorean and headed back in time with many historic buildings and a feed store on the main street. As the road heads into Watertown, it passes the Taft School with a campus looking straight out of Dead Poets Society. It’s an excellent scenic road, and while it has some slowdowns near Watertown, much of it is wide-open sweepers and popular for motorcyclists.
My effort to get off Route 6 before it joins with Route 8, a divided highway near Thomaston, fails as I again get stuck in some dead-end streets and must maneuver back south toward Route 6 as I pass through the East Plymouth Historic District. A short jaunt on Route 6 finds the entrance to The Roasted Bean on my left.
As I pull into the parking lot and park the bike, I stop the tracking on Rever and find we’d traveled 71.5 miles for coffee today. 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
Bristol is a suburban town about 20 miles outside of Hartford, CT. Home of the studios for ESPN and the oldest continuously operating theme park. It was once a major clock-making center, and the American Clock & Watch Museum is in the town.
Gary Burghoff, the actor best known for the role of Corporal “Radar” O’Reilly from the hit show M.A.S.H., was born in Bristol. However, there aren’t any visible celebrations of that celebrity near The Roasted Bean.
The coffee shop is in a small shopping center, and many spots are available in the lot for bike parking. As I dismounted the bike and walked in, I noted black wood panels on the ceiling and dark flooring with dark gray paint on the walls, contributing to an overall dark theme. The counter to order has a bit of lighter brown wood on the front of it. Several Edison bulbs hang down above it. A selection of pastries was in the display case to the side.
A large group took up many tables, leaving some available space on the counters and a couple of swiveling leather chairs near the front window. Several customers come in for takeout so that it can be busy.
Coffee options included drip coffee, espresso, cortado, cappuccino, cafe latte, breve, mocha latte, and americano. If coffee wasn’t your preference, you could also choose from several teas, breakfast sandwiches, toast, oatmeal, smoothies, frappes, grilled cheese, and breakfast bowls.
The counter staff had another customer before me but pleasantly greeted me when it was my turn to order. I got a cortado, served in a to-go cup with a dark black sleeve and the roasted bean logo, continuing the dark theme of colors. I also got an apple Danish that they offered to warm up for me.
The cortado had a nice smooth texture, balancing the milk and espresso. While I prefer cortado to be served in a glass to admire the caramel color, this was perfect for one served on paper. The warmed Apple danish was light and fluffy with a delicious spiced apple flavor.
The strip mall exterior belies a remarkable interior and even better refreshments at the Roasted Bean. I’d strongly encourage you to ride over there and sample some of their offerings.
