Coffee Ride to Slave to the Grind - Bronxville, NY
The Ride
Today’s destination was Slave to the Grind in Bronxville, NY, located in southern Westchester County. I lived in Bronxville as a kid, so I knew the area well. The Beeline was 25.6 miles, showing the distance between northern and southern Westchester County. See our article on discovering new roads with Beeline.
Although I’d originally planned to take the R18, it was still being repaired from the electrical problem I’d had earlier in the summer, so I took the R1200GSA.
Heading into Westchester’s more densely populated areas, I knew I would want to avoid certain side roads, so I took 121 to Route 22 and then past the Kensico Reservoir, where I got on the Bronx River Parkway down to Bronxville.
While the route was mostly straight and near highway speed, there were some fun curves along the way. The Bronx River Parkway (often called the BuRP by locals) between Bronxville & White Plains is narrow with lots of curves so it can be a lot of fun for bikes. The section of 22 between Armonk & Kensico Dam is popular with motorcycles even though it is a 4-lane divided roadway, as it follows the coast of the reservoir.
I exited the Bronx River Parkway and turned onto Midland Avenue, heading toward downtown. A left at Pondfield Road had me passing the high school built in 1922, a filming location for the movie Stepmom with Julia Roberts & Susan Sarandon.
Across the street from the high school is the U.S. Post Office, built in 1937. The early 20th century is evident throughout the town and has kept a bit of the charm. Many buildings are in Tudor or Colonial styles. Pondfield Road turns into more of the downtown shopping area as I pass the post office and find Slave to the Grind on my left, with Rever recording 30 miles traveled for a minimal detour index vs the 25.6 miles on Beeline at the start. 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.
The Coffee Shop
I lived in Bronxville from about five until just after college. This is one of the many commuter towns in lower Westchester along the Harlem & Hudson MTA train lines. The railroad station is the center point of the village, and all roads converge toward it, with lots of parking for those in front. Bronxville is a village in the town of Eastchester. In 2016, it was rated the most expensive suburb of any of the ten largest cities in the US, with a median home value of 2.33 million. It is the second richest area in NY State behind the nearby Scarsdale.
Several buildings are on the National Register of Historic Places, including the US Post Office I’d passed heading to Slave to the Grind. The park near the Bronx River and the eponymous parkway was one of the first linear parks in the country and offers plenty of paved trails for cycling or walking.
The village was developed by William Lawrence, a real-estate developer, by building several large homes in the rustic setting in the late 19th century. He later established Sarah Lawrence College, which is within the village. His name is evident throughout the village, with the hospital near the train station bearing his name. Even Houlihan Lawrence, one of the largest real estate firms in the region, owes part of its name and lineage to him.
The shop is on the main drag of Bronxville, not far from the station and the hospital. Parking is always hard in Bronxville, but another bike was parked in one of the angled spots right in front of the shop, so I shared the space with it.
The ceiling is a bright silver tin. As you enter, several varieties of beans are available for bagging to take home. The space is longer than wide, with most of the width taken up by the counter. As you enter is the register, and behind it is the espresso machine. To the right are some large drip coffee machines along the back wall. Heading deeper into the space, there are several quick-pour containers for the rapid grab-n-go customers on their way to the station. At the end are a few taps for various cold brews.
There is a painting on the wall at the back described as the Tree of Thanks to all the friends and customers over the years.
There were about six other patrons in the queue in front of me. When my turn came up, I was warmly greeted by one of the staff and asked if I’d ordered yet. The seating toward the back was mostly empty, with just one other patron, though I was in around noon, so it was not a typical time.
Behind the counter is a chalkboard with the menu. Latte, cappuccino, espresso, and drip coffee were featured. Teas were also available. A few backed goods were on offer, though most had sold out by the time I’d arrived.
The Refreshments
I ordered a cappuccino served in a paper cup with the Slave to the Grind Bronxville, NY branding in a dark green color. Being a commuter town, many patrons grab their morning coffee on the way to the train station, so it’s unsurprising it was served in a paper cup.
A strong aroma and a nice texture with the milk and foam give a good mouth feel. The milk brought a sweetness to the coffee that reminded me of nougat with hints of cinnamon.
The finish brought out a bright, pleasant acidity. Overall, a solid cappuccino.
