‘We Are Really Excited’: The Farmer’s Grind Opens Café in New Canaan Library

Visitors to the spectacular new New Canaan Library can now grab a coffee and pastry or other snack while visiting.

The Farmer’s Grind on Monday opened its widely anticipated café beside the floor-to-ceiling windows at the rear of the main floor. 

The Farmer’s Grind this week opened its café in New Canaan Library. Credit: Michael Dinan

“It’s amazing,” Erich Smith, who co-owns the business with his wife, Michelle, told NewCanaanite.com Tuesday as first-time customers sampled coffees, grab-and-go wraps, salads and other lunchtime items. “It’s a whirlwind but it’s amazing.”
Based in South Salem, N.Y.

The Farmer’s Grind offers an extensive menu of hot and cold coffees—Nutella Lattes, Macchiatos, Matchas, Mochas, Chais and Espressos, among others—as well as flavors such as caramel, local honey, Mike’s hot honey, maple, white mocha, lavender oil and peppermint oil.

The Farmer’s Grind seasonal menu includes “The M.C. Hammy”—ham, Swiss, Ross Croissant, pressed ($9.75), “The Perfect Pita”—homemade hummus, Greek mix, homemade Greek dressing, organic gem lettuce, whole wheat pita ($10.50), “Gettin’ Figgy With It”—Vermont cheddar, organic apples, fig jam, Orwasher’s multigrain, pressed ($11.50), “The Muffin Top”—Ross corn muffin, butter, BFK seasonal jam, toasted ($6.50), “The Avocado Toast”—Avocado mass, cilantro aioli, paprika, sea salt, Ross Sweet Earth bread ($10.50) and “Kids Grilled Cheese”—American, Orwasher’s wheat bread ($8.50).

Asked what some of the most popular items appear to be in the early-going, Erich Smith said Tiramisu Overnight Oats (“Those things fly”) and grab-and-go lunch items such as Orzo salads.

The café itself is visible from much of the library while also set in its own area, with a number of tables, chairs and stools and laptop space. (Library patrons are not allowed to bring in their own food or drinks, and those purchased at The Farmer’s Grind are to be consumed in the café area.)

Asked for her thoughts on the launch of The Farmer’s Grind, which comes just six weeks after the library opened its doors to the public, New Canaan Library Executive Director Lisa Oldham said, “The community has long requested a café in the library and it is absolutely wonderful to finally deliver with such a beautifully presented and well run business on site.”

Michelle Smith said that her experience with the town, library and patrons has been “really positive.”

“We are really excited,” she said, adding, “Everyone has been awesome so far.”

The first 24 hours of the bustling café opening has seen The Farmer’s Grind team working to figure out the location of all the items they need to serve customers, and workflow, she said.

“The layout is different, so we’re figuring out what goes where,” Michelle Smith said. “All of our workers kind of jumped in and they’re doing a great job. I would say there are no hiccups.”