Coffee Ride to Tazza Coffee - Katonah NY
The Ride
It’s another very local place, so the Vespa GTS300 was the bike for today. 4.1 miles was the Beeline. See our article on discovering new roads with Beeline.
Route 35 was the road for the day after departing the start in Cross River. After passing Route 121, The Bedford Sportsman is visible on the left. It is a beautiful shop to grab gear and supplies for fishing in the many nearby reservoirs and streams. It has been in business for over 50 years, with 10, most of its life in Bedford Hills, but at this location for the past decade. Fly fishing is expected in the area, and many pre-tied flies are available here.
I am continuing along Route 35, following along the Cross River Reservoir. I arrive at the Interstate 684 interchange. Just after that, a l turn left onto Woods Bridge Road after a small bridge over part of the Muscoot Reservoir. One of the commuter lots for Katonah Station is on the right. Continuing on this road takes us through the classic old homes, many of which were moved from Katonah’s original location.
A left onto Parkway & the Katonah Village Library is visible on the right corner. It was built and opened in 1930. Several renovations and expansions have grown the space available.
Next is the Kellogg & Lawrence hardware store, the Katonah Visitor Information Center. Kellogg & Lawrence is one of the many gems in Katonah. It began with this name in 1887 at the original location of Katonah before the Muscoot Reservoir was dammed up, forcing the village to move. The current building was built in 1900. The inside continues with the theme of an older structure. The stairs leading to the basement, where most of the hardware items are located, is a creaky staircase. You are urged to yell upstairs if you need help, and the staff will come down to help you. One of the descendants of the original Kellogg still worked in the store until 2020!
A right onto Katonah Avenue before crossing over the railroad tracks continues with the historical structures and small businesses. Weinstein Pharmacy, in business since 1881, though not at the exact location, allows locals to have a classic local pharmacy experience rather than the big box chain.
Charles Department Store, celebrating 100 years in business at this location next year, is still owned by the original family and offers a selection of clothing, housewares, and Big Green Egg outdoor cookers is visible on the right.
While not quite as old as the previous three businesses, Sgaglio’s Marketplace has been a part of Katonah for nearly 50 years and is trusted for fresh food & prepared foods. It’s not unusual for residents to grab some meats to sear on their Big Green Egg purchased at Charles Department Store.
On the left side is the original Katonah Train Station building, now occupied by Peppino’s Ristorante, a great Italian option in the village for over 30 years.
A polished silver with blue accent diner on the right is the Blue Dolphin Diner, another local favorite for over 30 years.
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.
Arriving at Tazza Coffee on the right, the track recorded by REVER only expanded to 5.5 miles, but the route has taken us past several historical businesses in operation for decades or longer. See the route below.
The Coffee Shop
The route passed by several historical businesses, but Katonah has a fascinating history. The town was 1/2 mile north of its present location initially, but when the reservoirs were created for the NYC water supply, the town was to be flooded. Many residents chose to move their houses to the present location. This was done with teams of horses and logs to roll the buildings on.
Present-day Katonah has a charming downtown located around the Metro North train line, which has a station at the village.
Tazza Cafe started in Armonk, NY, nearly 20 years ago but now has 5 locations, including the Katonah one I visited today. The cafe is in a more modern brick building vs. the older wooden structures closer to the station. It doesn’t have quite the longevity of the other businesses along our route, having only been in this location for about a decade. 4-5 tables outside complement the ones inside. The inside is relatively small and, with the proximity to the station, does a brisk takeout business.
Coffee options include fresh brew coffee, cappuccino, americano, espresso, red eye, cafe au lait, chai charger (vanilla chai with a shot of espresso), cocoa blast (hot cocoa with a shot of espresso), as well as a few flavored latte variants. Iced options include iced fresh brew, iced latte, cold brew, iced red eye, iced chai charger, and a sweet cream cold brew.
Several tea options are also available, as well as frozen options for those scorching days. Protein shakes and hot cocoa round out the beverage options.
Plenty of pastries to pair with your beverage, but if you want something more substantial, there are several oatmeal options, açaí bowls, and more.
This location is popular among motorcyclists. While my Vespa GTS 300 was the sole motorized two-wheeler, I’ve seen other bikes parked in front on previous visits to Katonah.
The Refreshments
The takeout business meant my beverage was served in a paper cup, which isn’t my preference for dining in. The Americano was tasty, though not as flavorful, probably due to my getting an extra large, which diluted the espresso. It was paired with a blueberry crumb muffin, which tasted homemade with all the fresh flavors that it evokes.
