Now brewing: 5 new local coffeehouses
Chain coffee shops have their place, but Connecticut continues to welcome more independent coffeehouses to the state, reflecting a growing interest in specialty coffees, teas and espresso creations. We shine a spotlight on five Hartford County coffee shops that have debuted in the past year, featuring distinctive beverages and food items and providing comfortable gathering spaces in their communities.
Hartford to collect buckets of cold brew, “which was kind of a nightmare with transportation,” says Lori Palauskas, who co-founded the brewery and coffee shop with her husband, Steve.
They next opted to buy beans and brew the coffee for the beer themselves. This inspired them to turn their 1,000-square-foot event space into a coffee shop, with beverages featuring beans freshly roasted on site. Birdhouse Coffee (named for Lori’s love of nature and birds) opened in December, giving the town of South Windsor a new independent option for a java fix.
Birdhouse offers espresso-based drinks ($2.25 to $4.50); drip coffee and cold brew