Now that you are riding—maybe even pedaling—around town, let’s get down to business. For more than a few of us, coffee is not just a staple but a necessity, a basic fuel that has become a daily ritual. We eat breakfast with coffee, take a break with coffee, write with coffee, conduct meetings over coffee….
New Haven has no dearth of options for slaking a caffeine craving, whether with a quick pick-me-up on the go or for a leisurely conversation with friends or colleagues. Here, to get you started, are a favorite spot at the heart of campus and two more off-the-beaten-path places to try.
Blue State Coffee…With locations at 84 Wall Street, 276 York Street, and 320 Congress Avenue (across from the medical campus), Blue State first opened in the city less than a decade ago, but quickly became a hub of coffee culture in New Haven. Avoid the between-classes rush unless you are in the mood to brave serious lines. When things quiet down, grab a cinnamon scone, egg sandwich, or seasonal green salad, find yourself a window table, and cap off your meal with a cortado while watching the world go by. Blue State is also a favorite spot for coffee meetings with students and colleagues.
G Café…When G Café, an Italian/Venezuelan-owned and -run bakery that started in nearby Branford, opened its second outpost at 141 Orange Street, in the courtyard behind the 360 State Street building, coffee- and carb-craving New Havenites quickly took notice. Here is the ideal spot for an afternoon of writing or socializing, perhaps fortified by a coconut- and yogurt-filled “Amélie” or other pastry, definitely with a mug of coffee or a cup of herbal tea. European breads are the main attraction, so don’t forget to pick up a loaf of pain au levain or Vollkornbrot on your way out the door.
The Coffee Pedaler…Tucked into the ground floor of a brick townhouse at the intersection of State and Mechanic Streets, the Coffee Pedaler, 605 East Street, nods to its home city’s cycling culture—and to the owner’s original plan to operate his business from a bike-powered cart. The light-filled space, spare blond-wood tabletops, and congregations of graduate students give the Coffee Pedaler a vaguely Scandinavian/bohemian vibe, but the small-batch coffee and short menu of snacks and pastries are the real reasons to visit. Don’t miss the diminutive Montréal-style bagels, studded with sea salt, rosemary, or cinnamon and raisins.
This is our first post about coffee but certainly will not be the last. Send us a message to let us know which shops we should spotlight next.