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“The moment I decided coffee was going to be my career path was when I tasted an Ethiopian Yirgacheffe,” Varga said. “The blueberry flavor that was present changed my entire perception of what coffee could be.”
And now you can have such an a-ha moment, too, at Shearwater Coffee Bar, a new java joint manager Varga is set to helm when it opens in the Brick Walk this June.
The new eatery at 1215 Post Road is the brainchild of Ed Freedman, who introduced his acclaimed organic, small-batch coffee-roasting to Fairfield County in 2013.
Named one of the 15 Best New Coffee Roasters in America by thrillist.com, Trumbull-based Shearwater earned a 92 rating from CoffeeReview.com for its Organic Homacho Waeno Ethiopian roast.
And quality coffee lovers have taken note: Shearwater is found at major gourmet food markets and leading restaurants across the state.
The new, 1,200-square-foot, modern industrial cafe in the Brick Walk is designed by Freedman’s daughter, Amber Freedman, a Boston-based architect. Wrapped in floor-to-ceiling windows, the space allows natural sunlight to play off the clean, earthy tones throughout.
Shearwater baristas, all of whom are highly trained, will create pour-over coffee, lattes and cappuccinos under the direction of Varga, who honed his skills at Espresso Neat and Tusk & Cup Fine Coffee.
Feeling a bit peckish? The coffee bar will feature savory and sweet pastries from Huckleberries Artisan Pastries and The Bee and the Baker gluten-free offerings, as well as artisan teas from Leaf & Ardor.
A unique highlight will be both Shearwater Running Rapids Cold Brew and Nitro Coffee on tap from a dedicated kegerator.
The coffee bar will feature a wide retail selection for the coffee enthusiast that would like to buy pour-over equipment, grinders and French presses from top brands such as Hario, Chemex, Baratza and Espro. And of course, Shearwater will have a ready supply of their USDA Certified Organic and Fair-Trade coffee beans that can be purchased by the pound.
“We take our coffee very seriously,” Freedman said, “and now we’re infusing it with a fun and social atmosphere. It’s been a dream of mine to open a coffee bar and Fairfield is a great town to have my dream come to fruition.”
Want to know more? Visit www.shearwatercoffeeroasters.com.
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