This Sunday morning, after three shots of espresso, one straight coffee, a raspberry oat muffin and one cranberry scone, we've divined what makes this place special. First and foremost, the coffee. On any given visit, you can choose between dozens of different beans that are featured on a daily rotation. One blend a day is "on tap," but you can order an individual French press of any bean and press it yourself (!!) at your table. Today, the shop features "Panama Estate," described as: "both full-bodied and mild, with a slight acidity and sweet chocolate tones." We agree, although we speculate that both coffee (and wine) descriptions are about as leading as horoscopes … or maybe we just have unsophisticated palates.
Although there are also many varieties of tea to consider, Rao's is the place to learn to take your coffee black. Laura's theory is that some coffees need milk and sugar to mask mediocrity. Here, she bypasses coffee condiments; there's no improving on the Rao's flavor.
Another draw of this particular local institution is its loyal and quirky following. While mulling over a cup on any given morning, you're likely to be joined by a motley crew of patrons. This morning, for instance, we queued next to an intense speed chess tournament, spotted a wizened town wizard sporting a two-foot-long Gandolf beard and excitingly, enjoyed the guest appearance of alum Dave Molina '05. You can also expect to run into Professor Ferguson on more days than not.
More review-relevant appeals include the delicious Rao's-made baked goods. The cakes, brownies, granola bars and muffins are all tempting, but do try the enormous, soft peanut butter chocolate chip cookies. You can warm them up in the microwave with your coffee if you nurse your cup as long as we tend to. Rao's has two microwaves and an ATM, enabling you to both purchase your (cash-only) coffee and reheat it at your leisure.
The tidal tenor of activity here can surge from sedate to frenetic in a matter of minutes. However, the ever-present hum of business doesn't preclude studying, which might be the case for the dwindling presence of Amherst students. If the noise level does bother you, there is lovely outdoor seating that unfortunately will soon become immaterial until springtime.
How to find Rao's? Take the secret passageway next to Antonio's, through to the parking lot and look for the big murals or, walk down the main drag and take a right after Bart's. If you have trouble, the address and telephone number are:
Rao's Coffee
17 Kellogg Ave
Amherst, MA 01002
(413) 253-9441
Suggest your favorite restaurant for Laura Mortimer and Becky Touger to review at lmortimer08@amherst.edu or btouger08@amherst.