Finding good coffee in Connecticut
Finding good coffee in this area is one thing, but finding a good coffee shop is another. I’ve done my far share of exploring coffee places in the surrounding Stamford area. Yes, I have been done with college for a few years now, but I still have a use for them. It is a space where I can get studying done for my work exams and also one where I can cozy up with a coffee in hand and a book. So, what do I need in a good coffee shop?
For one, excellent coffee. I’m definitely not a person who needs coffee every day to function, but I do appreciate a good cup of joe. I wouldn’t say I’m a coffee connoisseur. However, I do know what I like and don’t like. A way to determine if I like a place is to try their drip coffee or a latte.
Secondly, the atmosphere. I am one to feed off of other people’s energy. How are the baristas? How are the other customers? Do they come off as an “I’m better than you” type, or are they warm and inviting?
The last and most important criteria is the workspace. There are a handful of places with good coffee, but not enough with workable spaces.
Enter Winfield’s newest location in Stamford, CT.
Now, I’ve always been a fan of Winfield coffee. I first discovered them after meeting the owner, Breno, and his wife at a Hey Stamford! event in early 2018. It was a bootcamp and brunch event that I attended solo. When it came to the brunch portion, I randomly sat at a table and introduced myself. It turned out that they owned a coffee shop in the area and they had invited me to come check out their space in Westport. After my first visit to their shop, I have gone back a handful of times for coffee to go or a bite to eat. The one thing I wish it had was space for me to sprawl out in.
One wintery afternoon (either late 2018 or early 2019), I ran into Breno in downtown Stamford. He was walking out of a print shop and said, “TIFFANY! You gotta check this out.” He showed me what he had printed and it was the design on a project he had been working on. Finally, he revealed that the plan was to open up a location right next to the Ferguson Library.
This space had previously housed a Starbucks location. I frequented this location during the work hours when I needed a pick-me-up or on the weekends when I would grab a book from the library and wanted to start reading it. Their lease had ended and the library wanted to have a more local place occupy the space.
Come May 2019, the plans I first saw in on paper were now coming to life. Breno hosted a ground-breaking party, where he invited close friends and the community to stop in to say goodbye to the old Starbucks space and hello to the new Winfield space. We were able to leave our marks a wall that would eventually be covered.
After months of anticipation, the Stamford location opened its doors on October 20, 2019. Their coffee menu has all of the essentials – from drip coffee to cold brew to lattes. There are few things that are unique to this location. (1) They have house made almond, oat, and cashew milks. For those who are lactose intolerant, Winfield has options for you! (2) Winfield partners up with Domus and offers employment opportunities for the struggling youth. And (3) out of the ordinary drinks. In the below slideshow, you’ll see hot cocoa with TMF (toasted marshmallow fluff) and a spirulina latte. They do offer food too, but I have yet to try it.
Back to my checklist. Good coffee? Yes. They use Counter Culture coffee beans, which I am a huge fan of. Atmosphere? Super cozy. It has a live plant wall and cute neon sign that says, “Read more books, drink more coffee.” That is a motto I can definitely live by. Additionally, the staff is so friendly. You’ll find a mix of customers in there – from UCONN students to working locals to bookworms. And workspace? Plenty of it! They have booths and tables to choose from. If you’re feeling casual, they also have an area of arm chairs.
Read more at: Foodie with a a Bootie