Zumbach’s Gourmet Coffee

I really want to like Zumbach’s, I really do. It’s local, reasonably cute, is not an ‘unmentionable national chain’ and is close to my client. Unfortunately, they just don’t cut the mustard. From poor customer service to poor roasting techniques and a complete lack of knowledge on how to pull a good shot this is not a shop worth supporting.
Just to be clear I purchased coffee here 10+ times, so the rating below is not based on a one time visit.
I break down my ratings into categories and then average my categories into a final rating.
Coffee/​Process Knowledge: 1 Star
There is one barista that seems to have a clue on how to pull a shot. A good shot is arguably 18 – 22 (~25) seconds. I had a barista here pull at 55+ second (stopped counting) shot. I’ve had to ask more than once for a drink to be remade as well. This is not acceptable. Another indication of a lack of knowledge was when I asked if they did pour-​overs and they had no idea what that meant. As another person mentioned the presence of a lot of flavored coffees seems to detract from Zumbach’s as a premium coffee house.
Bean Roasting: 1 Star
As many others have reported Zumbach’s roasts their own beans. Also as at least one mentioned, they over-​roast. That burnt/​bitter taste you are tasting is poorly roasted beans. Additionally, each time I visited the coffee was roasted very differently. I guess if you add enough sugar/​cream/​flavor you can hide this but having an espresso made from this roast is a very poor experience.
Customer Service: 2 Stars
Mediocre at best. There is one guy that is super nice and helpful, the rest of the staff asks as though they are put out having to help someone. I guess the fact they have self-​service drip is a good thing.
Ambiance: 3 Stars
Cute, older brick building. Rustic but nice inside. They lose a star for being a place that I wouldn’t want to hang out. Does no one here in New Canaan want to go to the coffee house, get a coffee in a real mug and sit and enjoy the space (reading/​surfing)? This is not a good space to do that.
Location: 3 Stars
The best feature of the coffee house. Great location, close to the train station, downtown. Couldn’t be better.
Coffee Drinks: 1 Star
See above… if you don’t have good ingredients and good knowledge you won’t have a good drink. It’s bad. Drip/​espresso/​all of it. Nothing else to say.
Overall Rating: 1.8 Stars rounded to 2

This is the best coffee I’ve ever tasted. Smooth and no bitter taste.

I love small-​town coffee places so much that I’ve given this place four tries now, each time hoping for something better and each time being sorely disappointed. The ambiance is quaint but not comfortable; you can’t lounge as it gets crowded in here very easily. The customers all love themselves to the point of a comedic experience, which I can get over, as long as the coffee is good. but there’s no other way to describe the coffee than simply bad. The small latte I had this last trip literally tasted like luke warm milky water without the faintest trace of espresso. The drip coffee tastes burnt, and not in the way that people who don’t drink quality coffee think coffee tastes burnt, but actually just truly burnt. The blueberry muffin was not fresh and there are no other food options whatsoever. It’s astonishing to me that this place survives and that there are no other real rivals in NC when the town has a pretty sophisticated food scene. People don’t know what they’re missing; do yourself a favor and take the drive to Darien or Westport for Neat if you want the real coffee experience (they actually know what they’re doing there surprisingly well), or even Aux Delices which has superior to-​go coffee than Zumbach’s.

Although I am a loyal member of Starbucks for their convenience, every time I come home to CT, I always get my coffee at Zumbach’s and a blueberry muffin.
You can’t beat the hometown feel, friendly service and delicious coffee. As you’ll notice when they walk in, there’s a large selection of coffee beans for purchase (ground or unground) – roasted on the premises, which makes for a wonderful aroma around the store.
One thing in particular that I like about Zumbach’s is that no matter who’s behind the counter, whether it’s their full time staff or their part-​time high school staff, they’re always super helpful and polite.

I had great expectations when I went in, based on the range of coffees and the fact that they roast them on the premises, but the coffee I ordered was really mediocre at best.

Mediocre at best. I had high hopes visiting Zumbach’s for the first time. Unfortunately, the quality didnt deliver. First off, upon approaching the shop, you are hit with the distinct smell of beans being over roasted. After walking in, you are immediately let down seeing the coffee being dispensed by a gas station styled pump press opposite of the register. Behind the counter is a plethora of flavored beans, a tell-​tale sign of poor coffee. I honestly went next door to Tony’s Deli (highly recommended) for a second cup of coffee and enjoyed it just the same, and half the price.
This shop is a prime example of people with money who like to believe they know what quality is, and are quick to shell out top dollars for coffee they are told is «high quality.» There is nothing quality of the coffee provided here. The beans taste cheap and are masked by the array of poor flavors. I can at least commend them for at least roasting in-​house. If you are in this part of CT/​NY, I would suggest either Redding Roasters in Bethel, Blue Bottle in NYC, or Dave’s Coffee in Rhode Island.

#1 coffee shop in Fairfield County CT with wide variety of organic, fair trade, free range… f$%#*kin’ incredible brews. Great cup of joe

The coffee in this little pretentious place is either the result of a cynical opinion of the customers desire for that over roasted Starbucks dishwater that confuses that burned taste for «richness» or a lack of self confidence to roast properly and let the coffee itself speak to you. Tip: Any time there are as many flavored coffees as unflavored, you know you’re being dumbed down.

Zumbach’s is a town treasure, as evidenced by the vast array of coffees roasted and served onsite. The perfect place to meet friends or read the paper. Doug and the crew run a great, friendly operation.

Better selection of ground coffee which is fresher than Starbucks.
The coffee to go is excellent. Also, a nice place to sip your coffee.
The smell of roasting coffee is a killer

The smell of this place alone is FANTASTIC.
Sure, there’s not comfy chairs to loll about in like in Starbucks, but the coffee was fantastic. Probably second in my mind to Kaffe 1668 in Tribeca.
Same price as Starbucks, but WAY better quality, and I like Starbucks. Too bad I don’t frequent New Caanan ever, because this place is GOOD.
Cash only.

Z’s is the nexus of great coffee, conversation and canines. Well, actually animal control won’t let Brody the wonder dog inside any more. But, they still have doggie treats under the counter. Tell them what kind of coffee you prefer and grab a few half pounds to squirrel away for life events. A great place to hang and dive into the NYT crossword.

The best coffee around. They roast their own beans

The quality is very good, the aroma terrific, the prices high, but that’s what you get with high quality.
Great coffee aside, the 5 stars go to the ownership/​management of this place who have been supplying the powerless people (and volunteers) in town all week after the storm with free coffee. You guys ROCK!!! Blow Starbucks away in fact.
Thank you.

i was here for caffeine and carburetor’s on a sunday morning. really good iced coffee and its always nice to support the local guy, especially when they do it better than the big chain guy.

Let me start by saying that I cannot speak to the quality of the brewed coffee, which is rumored to be exceptional. However, I visited this afternoon for a simple latte and wasn’t impressed. I walked in and found no comfortable seating options, which bummed me out because I was planning on spending my lunch break. More importantly, my latte was essentially warm milk. There was little trace of espresso and almost no foam.
If you’re in a rush and need a quick cup, this could be fine. But if you’re looking for the café experience with a nice espresso-​based drink and book, I wouldn’t recommend it.

Great coffee, fun and friendly staff and a wonderful atmosphere.

Awesome coffee and you support the community by shopping here because it is LOCALLY OWNED!!! The staff is hip and make a mean cup.
The cute older man who owns the place brews the beans on site.

Local college kids serve up good java –and– oddly reasonably priced for this toney blue blood ‘burb. Maybe the fact that there’s no WiFi (you heard me) makes up for the cheap cappuccino. Oh yes, and WHAT, NO WIFI!!!

Very much a great place for coffee (and I don’t like coffee unless it is extra smooth) I had a café au lait of decaf Sumatra and it was lovely and sitting outside admiring a cherry tree in bloom in the sun was great. Way, way better than Starbucks-​I wish we had a place like this in Ridgewood.
An the prices were great.