The phrase “31 flavors” will bring to mind, for most people, either ice cream or Ani DiFranco. Charlie Staats is hoping to add coffee to that list, at least for denizens of Troy. Staats is co-owner of the Flavour Café & Lounge just south of downtown Troy. Just over a month after opening, he’s already well on his way to achieving that goal.
The center of the restaurant has a circular two-level counter with coffee urns on every available surface. When my wife and I visited with some friends a few weeks ago, they’d actually beaten the advertised 31 flavors by five. I opted for Mexicana spice, which was a very smooth blend that I could have even drunk black—and I usually view coffee as a mere cream and sugar delivery mechanism. Trust me, if you like coffee at all, you can find something you like here—and at 69 cents for a medium (with student ID), it’s quite impossible to go wrong.
The rest of the interior is beautiful: embossed metalwork on the ceiling, walls either brick or a rich forest green, and dark wood paneling everywhere. The owners have invested in quality furniture as well—the chairs are very comfortable, and the only minor complaint would be that the tables are a bit small for four people’s plates.
In addition to the main dining area, there is a lounge with another TV, several big leather couches, a massage chair, and a small stage. Performances have already been scheduled on what appears to be a roughly weekly basis.
For food options, there are soups and sandwiches, prepared to order and picked up at the counter. Between the four of us, we ordered a chicken focaccia, a spicy tuna sandwich, cheese quesedillas, and a vegetable wrap. The wrap was merely good, but the rest was fantastic—fresh, tasty, presented well, and including a small portion of greens. In the morning, Flavour adds breakfast sandwiches and hot donuts to the list. I’m betting they’ll be just as good.
The Flavour Café is just about the platonic ideal of coffee shop. It’s a fantastic addition to the city, and if you enjoy cafés like this at all, then you should pay this one a visit.
The Flavour Café is located at 228 Fourth St. in downtown Troy. To get there, go south from campus to Congress St., turn right, and head down the hill. Take a left on Third St. and go four blocks to Washington St. Turn left and then left again, and immediately park­—the café is on the right, just before The Vanilla Bean.
Editor’s Note: Thanks to reader David Scherzer for the suggestion. The Poly welcomes restaurant suggestions and other comments; send them to features@poly.rpi.edu.
