Coffee Ride to Farmer’s Grind

The Ride

I departed Cross River on the R18 and headed west on Route 35, with the Beeline indicating just 6.8 miles as the crow flies to Farmer’s Grind. See our article on discovering new roads with Beeline.

At the split for Route 124, I took the right to head a bit south as that was more aligned with the compass heading. 124 is a nice winding road and it’s not unusual to see motorcycles along it with the gentle curves and great scenery.

The compass was pointing more to my left as I headed south, so I knew I needed to find a road to get further west. When I saw the sign for Kitchawan, I took that. I’ve ridden that road many times and it doesn’t disappoint. It isn’t a fast road by any means, but if you like lots of turns like many motorcyclists, this is a great road to take.

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.

Kitchawan let out at Route 123 where I turned right to head south aligning again with the compass. The destination for today is on Route 123, so this worked out perfectly and quickly, I arrived at the location on the left. Rever recorded a distance of just 10.7 miles, so a bit of expansion from the original Beeline. See the route below.

The Coffee Shop

Our destination is South Salem, a hamlet in Lewisboro, part of Westchester County, NY. Besides the typical bucolic horse country and estates found here, some pop culture trivia links back to one of the greatest rock and roll bands of all time, the Rolling Stones. Back in the late 1970’s Keith Richards rented an estate here. In July of 1979, a 17-year-old boy was playing Russian roulette and killed himself in Keith’s bedroom with his wife in the room, according to a Rolling Stone article from the time. In the 40 years that have passed, South Salem has reverted to the quiet feeling it has always had, and that story remains the one bit of excitement in an otherwise scenic area filled with country farms.

Fitting with the natural atmosphere of the town, Farmer’s Grind shares its space with a garden center. The interior is farmhouse-style wood painted white. Small pictures and various signs regarding produce, eggs, and more can be seen on the walls. As you enter, A cow bust with hay hanging from its mouth is on the left. The decor evokes the feeling of a country farm store.

Toward the back is the counter tended to by two employees. A chalkboard on the wall behind the counter showed the menu. Coffee options include drip coffee, cafe au lait, espresso, americano, cappuccino, latte, flat white, cafe mocha, Nutella latte, maple latte, macchiato, and cortado. Most of these are also available iced. If you prefer tea, matcha and chai are also available.

They also have several specialty drinks with beautiful names and equally intriguing ingredients.

The Sugar Tree - local maple syrup, espresso, cinnamon, steamed milk
The Librarian - lavender, espresso, vanilla, steamed milk
The Golden Hour - golden orange, espresso, cinnamon, steamed milk
The Green Goddess - organic matcha, Mike’s hot honey, steamed milk
The Montauk - sea salt, caramel, espresso, steamed milk

If you are hungry, try one of their pastry or sandwich options. A small shop also includes olive oil, olives, honey, pasta sauce, crackers, pasta, milk, fruit, and a few other options. Some branded t-shirts and mugs were also available to purchase.

It was empty when I arrived, with just one other customer in front of me. Seating was limited to stools looking out on the parking lot.

The Refreshments

I ordered an americano and a monkey’s brain pastry. The coffee was served in a paper cup with the logo for Farmer’s Grind - a cup with a plant growing out of it.

I grabbed a seat at the bench overlooking the parking lot and removed the to-go lid of the coffee to let it cool for a bit, as it was pretty hot. It had a lovely smell, and the coffee had hints of chocolate. The Americano had a light texture and was a fantastic cup of coffee overall.

The monkey’s brain pastry was nice and light. A bit of cinnamon and glaze added sweetness to the confection. Finger-licking-good, even if it’s not KFC!

I perused the menu of specialty drinks as I drank my americano and ate the monkey’s brain. Intrigued by the beverage featuring Mike’s Hot Honey, I saw a bottle for sale in the store. The staff suggested it was terrific on avocado toast & I purchased a bottle.

I’ll have to return to try some more coffee drinks and the food options. I sampled Mike’s Hot Honey at home; it was an outstanding blend of sweet and spicy!