September’s Where to Drink Now: Espresso Neat

When 26-year-old Rachel Haughey was laid off from her job as a commodities trader last October, she took the opportunity to pursue another passion: coffee. And after filing for permits, securing a business partner and renovating a former cosmetics shop, the Gimme! Coffee-trained barista opened Espresso Neat just over a week ago in the small New England town of Darien, Connecticut. The former Manhattan resident sources her beans from Counter Culture Coffee and her whole-leaf tea from Intelligentsia; she works with numerous local purveyors for everything from the ice cream in her affogato to fresh-baked scones and muffins for the pastry case. Alongside Espresso Neat’s simple yet well-executed espresso offerings is a “Slow Coffee” menu, which allows customers to order seasonal single-origin coffees in a variety of flavor-rich brewing methods like the Clever Coffee pour-over system and siphon pots.
Coordinates: 20 Grove St., Darien, Connecticut; 203-202-7215; espressoneat.com