The town of Vienna got exactly what it needed when Michael Amouri opened up his small coffee shop on Church St. in 2009. Amouri introduced a new sense of community to the small town that coffee giants like Starbucks can’t compete with.
Caffé Amouri’s major appeal is that it roasts it’s own coffee. The roaster is on display in the lobby and customers can watch the entire process, from raw beans to display on the shelves behind the counter. Along with the yellow roaster, the espresso machine stands out as one of the prominent highlights of the store.
The coffee blends themselves range from medium-bodied to very flavorful bold roasts and can be purchased by the pound. There is always a blend of coffee ready for immediate purchase or one can order any blend to be brewed by the cup. In addition to simply ordering coffee, customers can indulge in anything from lattes to cappuccinos, made with hand-tamped espresso, to smoothie-based drinks with spinach to a wide variety of teas, both iced and hot. The store stresses natural and organic ingredients and their pastries are not loaded with artificial preservatives.
For those who enjoy trivia, you can save 10 cents on your order by answering the trivia question of the day posted at the register.
The walls are lined with album covers of classic rock records from a variety of well-known rock albums, showing the owner’s love for music. The layout of the shop is very cozy, with no harsh lighting, and there is ambient music constantly playing. Mr. Amouri himself is almost always on the premises either making coffee, roasting batches of beans, or interacting with customers which contributes immensely to the overall intimacy of the coffee experience.
If you’re around town on a Saturday night, you can catch open mic night at the café hosted by the Tattooed Beachsluts, a local band. Ever since T.B.S. has begun to play open mic sets, the café’s popularity has grown significantly.
If you consider yourself to be an avid coffee drinker or someone who prefers a less corporate coffee environment, check out Café Amouri on Church St. in Vienna, right by the entrance to the W&OD trail.
-Guest Writer Matthew (MML)
[ad]
