Coffee Ride to Zumbach's Gourmet Coffee in New Canaan CT
The Ride
The destination was just across the Connecticut border in New Canaan, so the Beeline indicated just 10.3 miles. This is not enough distance for a substantial detour, but there are some nice roads in the area. See our article on discovering new roads with Beeline.
I climbed onboard the BMW R18 Classic in Cross River and headed east on Route 35. This was followed by a right onto Route 123 as I traveled through Lewisboro, NY, and then into Vista, NY, on the border with Connecticut, where the road became Smith Ridge Road. Once I reached New Canaan, I needed a little navigation to arrive at the coffee shop. Fortunately, 35 and Smith Ridge Road are pleasant roads perfect for a cruiser like the BMW R18.
Pulling into a street parking spot right in front of Zumbach Gourmet Coffee, Rever had recorded just 13.8 miles. See the route below.
The Coffee Shop
While the town of New Canaan, Connecticut, in Fairfield County, was predominantly agricultural before the Revolutionary War but switched to shoemaking after the war. Once the railroad opened in 1868, it changed to become a summer escape for many of New York City’s wealthy, with many deciding to make it their year-round home, traveling into NYC for work. Zumbach’s Gourmet Coffee is adjacent to the commuter rail station, making it convenient to grab a brew before the morning commute.
Plenty of parking was available on either side of the building and the street out front. Some tables and chairs were available outside in a space overlooking the front street. Inside several bags and barrels of beans, plenty of swag like shirts and stickers to be bought. There were several examples of a celebration of Caffeine & Carburetors, with pictures of sports cars on the walls. Along the right side is the counter with three people serving a packed shop with all seats inside taken by other patrons. In the back was a roaster tended to by one of the staff. A shelf full of helmets on the wall by the roaster suggested a racing focus.
Along the ceiling, it was covered with pennants from various schools. The interior has so many rich elements to feast your eyes on that it is easy to get drawn into long cycles of sitting and sipping your coffee.
Zumbach’s has been a staple in the area for over 30 years, long before the artisanal coffee shop on every corner of today. That history lends itself to the availability of takeout beans. In fact, their website allows you to shop for beans across the country, so even if you aren’t close by, you can sample their roasts.
With the seats filled inside, I grabbed a table outside. It was a sunny 35F day in early March. While the ambient temperature wasn’t ideal for sitting outside, the direct sunlight made it feel much warmer than it was.
The Refreshments
I ordered a latte, served in a paper cup with the Zumbach logo printed on it. A large takeout business was the reason, with several patrons grabbing bags of freshly roasted beans to brew coffee at home.
The most apparent flavor was a chocolate note influenced by the sweetness of the whole milk in my latte. It had a nice, smooth texture and flavor without bitterness or acidity.
It is a short ride, but the fantastic coffee makes Zumbach Gourmet Coffee a place you will return to again and again.
