Raus Coffee to Debut New Drink at Westport Farmers Market

Raus Coffee will debut its newest iced espresso drink, the Roman Navel, at the opening of the Westport Farmers’ Market on May 23. The new drink was inspired by a trip to Seattle’s Café Vita, where Raus Coffee founder Donny Raus became smitten with the Medici, an espresso-based chocolate and orange drink. The success of the flavor combination compelled him to recreate it using his own approach. The Roman Navel is the third product in Raus’s award-winning espresso product line.  

Donny and I met recently at the soon-to-open Steam Coffee Bar in Westport, so he could give me a sample of this newest obsession. So I had a baseline, I also grabbed his other two iced espresso-based drinks, the Roman Kiss and (my old personal stand-by) the Cold Roman. 

Click to read more ...

Coffee Cupping at Ross Bread in Ridgefield May 23

Erin Meister, champion barista and Counter Culture Coffee representative, will host a cupping at Ross Bread on May 23 at 6 pm. This event is free, but space is limited. Email info@rossbread.com or stop by the bakery to sign up.

From Ross Bread: "To challenge and expand our coffee-tasting palates, we'll explore the diversity of flavors from coffees within Central and South America by comparing two coffees from each region, from neighboring countries: Honduras and Guatemala, and Colombia and Ecuador.

Click to read more ...

Coffee Classes at Espresso NEAT in Darien

Everyone has their favorites, and Espresso NEAT is definitely one of our favorite coffee places here at CTbites. Now with two locations (Darien, and a small shop in Greenwich), their devotion to the craft of caffeine delivery is bar none.

In addition to fueling their customers, they are also offering a series of educational classes for the month of May. 

Click to read more ...

SoNo Market Place Opens December 1st in Norwalk

A week prior to the official opening on Saturday December 1^st, SoNo Market Place decided to sponsor a soft opening on November 23^rd and I decided that tasting some good local food was a whole lot better than fighting the crowds at the mall.

All of the food purveyors were in full test-mode and my first stop was Flat White Coffee to taste the coffee described to CTbites by owner, John Palino, back in September. This was a creamy blend of rich coffee and steamed milk, a brand brought over from New Zealand, and one that should meet with great success in CT. 

But it's not just about coffee at SoNo Market Place. With over 20 food vendors and eateries, this European style market is poised to be a foodie destination. Guests lined up at Wise Guys Pizza for New Haven style pies; Norm Bloom served up fresh oysters and clams straight from the Norwalk waters, and Fish & Chips were on the menu from Gotta Nibble.  Caterering company, Festivities, has a permananet spot here with their take-out biz, "Party Express." Local specialty purveyors and well known brands such as Knipschildt Chocolatier, Wave Hill Breads, and Nothin' But Granola have also opened shop at the market. 

Click to read more ...

NEAT Artisan Coffee Bar Now Open in Greenwich

Good news for people living and working in Greenwich CT. The espresso NEAT we know and love from Darien has just opened a coffee bar in the lobby @ 100 West Putnum in downtown Greenwich. NEAT will be serving beverages, pastries, lunch & sweets. Don't look for a sign because there is none, but you are now "in the know," so just walk on in and they'll make you your favorite NEAT drink just like in Darien.

They be open from 7:30am to 4:30pm during the week, and are offering an assortment of breakfast and lunch items from Wave Hill Breads Bakery & Cafe as well as a selection of Vegan-friendly food items from Green & Tonic.  

Get caffeinated!

Click to read more ...

Guide To Great Sustainable Coffee in Fairfield County

Coffee joints have always been key meeting grounds, but in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, good quality caffeine and WIFI reign supreme. However, cafes such as Green Leaf Organic Bakery and Cafe in Wilton, Terrain in Westport, Sugar & Olives in Norwalk, Tusk & Cup in Ridgefield, & espresso NEAT in Darien are going beyond basic coffee service. Here's why...(re-posted with permission from the Fairfield Green Food Guide)

Ah, it’s getting to be hot-beverage season (but then again, maybe it always is). Are you a mom who is back to inhabiting cafes with friends now that the kids are back in school? Or a traveler passing through Fairfield County? Either way, a great cup of joe is always on the destination list. But where to get one? And, more importantly, where to enjoy a sustainable cup of coffee? That’s the trickier part because not all joe is created equal.

Click to read more ...

Lorca Coffee & Churro Shop to Open in Stamford This Fall

Lorca, a 10-12 seat coffee shop that will serve home-made churro and doughnuts, will be opening this October ar 125 Bedford Street in Stamford. 

Leyla Dam developed a passion for churro stands as a child growing up in Spain. When she completed architecture school in Brooklyn and was faced with few job prospects in her field, she returned to her roots finding investors to allow her to design and launch a churro and coffee shop. Part of the process of opening Lorca included moving to Seville to learn how to make churros and working with Rachel Haughey at Espresso Neat to learn how to make impeccably brewed coffee. In addition to developing the business and recipes, Dam is also designing the shop, a perfect blend of her passion for the churro and degree in architecture.

As Dam explains, "Basically this is a total dream come true. I get to feed people, meet people, and design without a client. I couldn't ask for anything more!" 

Click to read more ...

Thursday Night Throwdown @ Espresso NEAT

Interested in showing off those latte art skills? Or perhaps you just want to learn the basics and sip your way through a fun evening. Either way you are in luck. Espresso NEAT in Darien is hosting their inaugural Thursday Night Throwdown (TNT) Latte Art Competition on July 12. A $5 buy-in will get you into the evening's event. This first event of the season is a customer invitational (everyone is invited). Prizes and sponsors to be announced.

Click to read more ...

Home Brewing Basics Class @ espressoNEAT in Darien

I've said this before, but espressoNEAT, in my biased opinion, serves the best espresso in Fairfield County. Located in Darien, their baristas are well trained experts, and their devotion to their craft is obvious from the first sip of any of their coffee based beverages. Here's the info on their next home brewing class on Thursday May 31st. 

Do you like the coffee you get at NEAT? Did you know you could enjoy that coffee without even leaving your house? No, we’re not starting a delivery service, but we are relaunching an educational series that will equip you to make a stellar cup of coffee in the comfort of your own home and bathrobe. We’ll guide you in the fundamentals of buying, storing, grinding, and brewing and help you get the best at home as well as at NEAT.

_________________________

Class size is limited to 8 people for maximum learning and tasting.

Email education (at) espressoNEAT.com or ask someone NEAT to sign up.

$10/person, includes 10% off whole bean coffee & Clever brewers after class.

Check back here to find out about upcoming dates!

Thursday, May 31 @ 7:00PM : Brew Methods Class

Click to read more ...

Tusk & Cup Coffee Shops Opens in Branchville

Bleary-eyed Branchville commuters now have a few more options for their morning caffeine fix. Tusk & Cup Fine Coffee has opened across the street from the Branchville train station at 51 Ethan Allen Highway (Route 7) in Ridgefield. Owners Joe and Laura Ancona, the same family that owns and runs nearby Ancona’s Market and Ancona’s Wines & Liquors, opened Tusk & Cup in November, a fine complement to the family-owned businesses and this burgeoning neighborhood of small businesses. 

Click to read more ...