Esselon is the New Cafe in Town. Hadley, that Is
I stopped by this new cafe in Hadley today. It's called Esselon Cafe and Kitchen. What a beautiful garden they have! It's blocked by tall conical pine trees, and they have adirondack chairs, stone tables, and a porch that seems like it belongs in a rich person's house. Very comfy. The coffee, however was not stellar. It is made in these big black boxes, and heated throughout the day, and tasted burned. They also don't have a real 'small' size--it's 12 oz. and costs $1.50! They roast their own coffee right in the back, like they once did at Javahut cafe in Sunderland.
I think they will be successful, despite the burned coffee, because it's one of the nicest locations I've ever seen for yet another addition to the Valley's cafe culture.
posted by Max Hartshorne at 3:45 PM
18 Comments:
What's the address for the Esselon Cafe?!
dear max,
i'm sorry you did not enjoy your coffee. i'm surprised though that you considered it "burnt" as we do not roast dark and the coffee is held in thermal carafes, not "heated throughout the day".
please tell me next time if you are served a coffee you do not enjoy.
thank you
scott rao
owner, esselon
Scott I will definitely return to your fabulous cafe and sample the coffee again, perhaps I just got a bad cup. I admire what you're doing and love the atmosphere you've created. The cafe is on Rte 9 in Hadley across from Carmelina's.
I can't say anything for the drip coffee as I haven't had it yet...every Esselon espresso drink I have had has been incredible, however...beautiful thick crema and a talented barista...googled to try to order some beans for family, but no such luck and found this instead.
Is there a menu available on line?
If I were he i WOULD have a great website like we have at www.gonomadcafe.com. But some folks can't focus on websites they need to get their new cafes up and running, so maybe that's on the back burner. For now I'd stop by and visit them, it is truly a remarkably good looking cafe. Another very finicky pal of mine raved about the place...he said when they are busy a girl comes around with a pad and takes orders from the folks in line. Love that kind of innovation!
Anyone who thinks the coffee at Esselon is less than stellar needs a tastebud transplant! Their coffe is the best around, which is no small feat with Woodstar and Rao's in the game. Their food is exceptional as well.
hello,
i live in hadley and thus am so excited about the classy esselon cafe, where i biked the other morning and had a fabulous muffin. yum. i am just so impressed with the rock garden, my jaw dropped! please, can anyone tell me where you can get those big stones that make a table? who were their landscapers?
good job! lora loradave74@yahoo.com
Lora,
The landscaping was designed and done by Liberty Orchards, Tom Ablicki owner, of Belchertown, MA 413-283-6408
Esselon Cafe rocks. Great food (love the salads), great coffee and great atmosphere. A true alternative to Rao's (you like to hear that Scott, right?) and Amherst Coffee!
Esselon really needs a website!
anyone know the hours?
I drive by Esselon every day, but have not yet stopped in...I love Raos's in Amherst, so I am sure the coffee is great, but is Esselon a place one can go to get a little paperwork done?
thank you,
Mark
I'm a starbucks employee and I stop by esselon for a cup of tea on the way to work, this place is great.
Esselon REALLY needs a webiste!!!.. since they're not in my new phone book and I can't find the hours listed anywhere... LOVE that place though!
Esselon is delicious, but pretty pricey for a breakfast place. Be prepared to pay upwards of $8.00 for your plate of pancakes!
Coffee was superb (and relatively reasonably priced). Service was laid-back but very helpful and professional.
Definitely worth checking out, especially for a special-occasion breakfast, or to impress a friend from out of town.
True, the breakfast is a little pricey, but it's well worth it. The pancakes are the best around, that's saying something considering all the great breakfast places in the area. I also love the little salad that comes with some of the breakfasts. A great change of pace.
The coffee is also amazing.
I think the Swedish pancakes at the newly opened BridgSide Cafe in Sunderland beat out Esselons...they are absolutely amazing!
I love Esselon Cafe. I moved from the Hadley area soon after it opened but went there as much as I could in the last days. Great food, great coffee.
I wrote about the cafe on my blog during a recent trip back to the valley:http://www.leftoverqueen.com/2007/10/22/coffee-love-a-new-england-art/#more-493
Enjoy all that great coffee up there in New England!
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