Coffee Culture Finds Its Grounds In Neighborhood Coffee Shop

There are over forty places to get a hot cup of coffee in the town of New Canaan, according to Doug Zumbach, owner of Zumbach's Gourmet Coffee on Pine Street. Yet despite all the competition, Zumbach's Coffee keeps a loyal following, drawing fanfare from all corners of the community.

The customers could be attracted by their wide variety of coffees to select from, with about 50 different blends imported from around the world. Coffee roasting is done daily on premises, which keeps aromatic plumes of coffee bean smoke puffing from the store's chimney.

Daily roasting is largely a technique that has fallen to the wayside in the wake of commercial coffee chains, according to barista Chris Smith. However, to the true coffee connoisseurs in places like Seattle and New York City, in-store roasting is a prerequisite to authentic coffee. 

"You could take any bean and roast it three different ways and get three different coffees, each one with different flavor characteristics," Smith says. "You just don't get that at chains."

Bruce Pauley, a dedicated customer of Zumbach's since they opened shop over fifteen years ago, keeps coming back because he thinks their coffee reigns supreme.

"I like the way they roast," Pauley says. "The French roast is my favorite, maybe because it's so consistent. It always tastes the same."

Other customers are hooked by the neighborhood vibe of the tiny coffee shop, which is adorned with the collegiate flags from the alma maters of devoted customers. Customers are known well by the friendly baristas, who remember many of their customers' names and whether they take their coffee with a touch of whole milk or a couple packets of Splenda.  

Raud Johnson, a resident of New Canaan since 1972, keeps coming back for the familiar faces. 

"I know everyone here," says Johnson as he sips gingerly from a steaming cup. "I love the people, it's a real regular crowd. It's really like a family."