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Steam Coffee Bar Pulls Into Westport’s Green Farms Station

WESTPORT, Conn. — Coffee, espresso, tea and croissants are just some of the locally acquired, chef-inspired treats commuters can enjoy at Steam Coffee Bar, which opens Friday at Westport’s Greens Farms Metro-North station.

Norwalk resident Briana Pennell and Stamford's Chris Barrett are opening their first Steam Coffee Bar location at Westport's Greens Farms Metro-North station.

Norwalk resident Briana Pennell and Stamford's Chris Barrett are opening their first Steam Coffee Bar location at Westport's Greens Farms Metro-North station.

Photo Credit: Vanessa Inzitari
Steam Coffee Bar is located inside the recently renovated station house next to the New York-bound platform at the Greens Farms train station.

Steam Coffee Bar is located inside the recently renovated station house next to the New York-bound platform at the Greens Farms train station.

Photo Credit: Vanessa Inzitari
A variety of cold and hot drinks are available at Steam Coffee Bar.

A variety of cold and hot drinks are available at Steam Coffee Bar.

Photo Credit: Vanessa Inzitari
Each cup at Steam Coffee Bar is individually stamped with the business logo.

Each cup at Steam Coffee Bar is individually stamped with the business logo.

Photo Credit: Vanessa Inzitari
Locally grown flowers from Butternut Gardens in Southport can be purchased at Steam Coffee Bar in Westport.

Locally grown flowers from Butternut Gardens in Southport can be purchased at Steam Coffee Bar in Westport.

Photo Credit: Vanessa Inzitari
Thinscotti, a Westport-based business that sells biscotti wafers, can be found at Steam Coffee Bar inside the station house at the Greens Farms station.

Thinscotti, a Westport-based business that sells biscotti wafers, can be found at Steam Coffee Bar inside the station house at the Greens Farms station.

Photo Credit: Vanessa Inzitari

Located in the recently renovated station house next to the New York-bound platform, Steam brings a variety of Westport and area vendors together under one roof.

“We love supporting the small business community and we’re very excited about sharing the best of what’s around locally with the commuters and our neighbors in the Greens Farms area," said co-owner Briana Pennell of Norwalk, who founded Steam with her stepbrother, Chris Barrett of Stamford.

Until April, the station house was occupied by a coffee concession stand owned by George Russo.

Last December, Pennell — a trained pastry chef — and Barrett — a longtime restaurant/hospitality professional — won a contract with the town to open Steam locations at both the Greens Farms station and the Westport Metro-North station in Saugatuck. Like the previous tenant, Pennell and Barrett hope to become an important part of the Greens Farms community.

"We look forward to getting to know all of the commuters at the Greens Farms Station," said Barrett. "We are in a unique setting that we can embrace and we’re very excited about serving the community.”

Pennell, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, designed the menu and diligently selected the vendors. Steam's menu includes fresh baked pastries and breakfast items — such as croissants, muffins, bagels, donuts — a variety of hot and cold coffee drinks, hot and cold teas, freshly squeezed juices and smoothies.

Some of the vendors Steam supports are Raus Coffee of Stamford; Westport’s Arogya Tea; The Stand Juice Co. out of Norwalk; Weston’s Red Bee Honey; The Farmers Cow; Ceci Cela Patisserie of New York; and The Brownie Factory, a Bridgeport-based business that offers organic and gluten-free desserts.

Even prepackaged treats sold at Steam are local. Visitors will find items from Westport’s Nothin’ But Granola and Thinscotti, a Westport-based business that sells biscotti wafers.

The cafe will also sell locally grown flowers from Butternut Gardens in Southport.

“We want to enhance people’s mornings and their commuting experience with our fast service and top quality products,” she said. “We put so much love into this place, so there’s a great energy that people will catch onto quickly.”

In addition to working with local businesses, Steam is teaming up with the Greens Farms Academy chapter of Acumen, a nonprofit that works to bridge the gap between the rich and poor. Through the partnership, Steam will donate one cent of every sale to the charity.

Beginning Monday, Steam will be open Mondays through Fridays from 5 a.m. to noon. Barrett said he and Pennell hope to be up and running at the Saugatuck station within three months.

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