First Caffe Nero CT Location Opens In Darien
DARIEN, CT — If you enter Caffè Nero in Darien, you will immediately notice the smell of freshly-brewed espresso and sandwiches baking. You'll feel the warmth of a large fireplace, especially after just coming in from the cold January air. You may also hear the sound of a group of local high school students holding a book club or the rapid clacking of someone's laptop as they burn the afternoon oil, all set to soft acoustic music playing in the background.
In short, Caffè Nero is a symphony of senses the minute you walk through the doors.
The premium European coffee house officially opened at 1071 Boston Post Road on Dec. 17. The Darien location is unique in that it is not only the cafe's first Connecticut location, but also its first store outside the Boston area. (To sign up for Darien breaking news alerts and more, click here.)
“Our growth is really organic," Jeff Cotter, Head of Marketing for Caffè Nero, said. "We look at the markets in the communities, and if we see opportunities where we think we can come in and really fulfill a need we’ll take it, but we’re not out to open as many cafes as we can.”
According to Cotter, the decision to expand to Darien was an easy one.
“We love Darien," Cotter said. "We’re a premium European coffee house offering special coffee, and it felt like Darien was a great market that would appreciate our European heritage and would appreciate good coffee."
After paying a visit to the town and liking what they saw, the Caffè Nero team decided the town had a need they could fulfill in regards to the coffee they offer.
“We offer premium espresso, European coffee and a very relaxed environment in which to enjoy that coffee," Cotter said. "All of our cafes really try to maintain the rich tradition and heritage of the communities. If you enter the cafe, you’ll see that it really looks like it’s been there forever. That’s what you get with Caffè Nero that you may not get other places.”
According to a press release, Caffè Nero is a family owned Italian coffee house and master roaster which opened its first coffee house in Boston in 2014. Created by founder Gerry Ford over 20 years ago, there are currently 26 Caffè Nero locations in the wider Boston area.
"We’re a family-owned and family-run company, and that gives us different strengths than other companies," Cotter said. "We own our own roastery and roast 100 percent of the coffee that we serve."
The store offers a wide variety of hot and iced coffee drinks, offering guests the opportunity to enjoy anything from a warm vanilla latte to an iced coffee & caramel frappe crème. For those on the fence about what they would like to try, Cotter recommends trying any of the espresso-based beverages, whether that be a latte, cappuccino or even simply the espresso on its own.
All Caffè Nero coffee is roasted in its own roastery to ensure its quality, and a rigorous espresso training program, where their Baristas can learn and master the art of coffee making, ensures the same quality is maintained from the coffee bean all the way to the customer’s cup.
Anyone who finds themselves working the morning away at Caffè Nero won't have a problem finding something to eat when hunger strikes them at breakfast or lunchtime. The counter where customers order prominently displays a selection of decadent pastries, including butter croissants, pistachio muffins and many other highlights.
Also on display are unique flatbreads, sandwiches, cakes and even a brightly-colored assortment of almond macarons.
That wide variety seems to be paying off, as Cotter said sales have been good and, more importantly, the reception the store has received from customers has been "very positive."
"Countless people have come to us and said we’re really filling a void within that market as far as offering premium espresso," Cotter said. "We’ve been very excited to receive that feedback.”
Photo credits: RJ Scofield
