Coffee in Chili

For those of you who do not live in Rochester and the Finger Lakes, I must blow your mind before I write about this next place: The town named in the post title is pronounced CHY-lie, not CHIH-lee. When I have pointed this out to my out-of-town friends the reactions range from bemusement to befuddlement.

At any rate, the town of Chili has been growing in recent years, expanding to include a small but respectable Target, several drug stores, and even more chains just down the way at the next town over, Gates (pronounced just how it looks). For coffee one might think one has to just stop in a gas station, drive through at McDonalds, or go down to the new Starbucks in Gates. Well, you could do that. Or you could put your money into a local business instead!

Leaf and Bean started up when I was in high school (some time between 1998 and 2002) and it has been providing awesome coffee and munchies ever since. It was originally housed in a rather diminutive shop but has since moved to a larger, hipper space. In the summer there is seating outside and in the winter there is a wide array of hot cocoas and even eggnog. Coffee not your thing? Cocoa, hot cider, and chai are available as well. Feeling hungry? There is a wide array of pastries (more good cakes than I can begin to remember), and at lunch there is a vast choice of sandwiches, soups, and salads. If you decide you really like them you can also buy coffee tea, travel mugs, shirts, and other merchandise there.

One of my favorite things about Leaf and Bean is the atmosphere. While the place is roomier than its tiny original location, it is not sprawling either. If you are lucky you can grab one of the squishy armchairs in the back. The music playing is always something I enjoy (usually alternative, indie, etc - you can hear Seal, Dar Williams, Box Car Racers, and that band you like but don't remember their name in one sitting easily), and they frequently feature live music. A dear friend of mine started out there, I have heard a jazz trio playing there, and it's definitely a location for up-and-coming soloists and groups to keep in mind when looking for venues to start out.

I grew up in Chili, and for the longest time I'd have to go to another town or into the City to go out to coffee with my friends. When this shop opened up I was thrilled to have a place just down the way where we could enjoy good drinks, good food, and good music in a relaxed atmosphere. Although I no longer live in Chili I still feel a sense of happy nostalgia whenever I enter the doors. It's easy to fall into long conversations with friends here, and I can't count the times I have found myself staying until closing. If you are looking for a local coffee place that is both mellow and professional, loof no further than Leaf and Bean.