La Mulita Coffee — Restaurant in Rye

One survives the brutish approach along Sagamore Rd — a gauntlet of aggressive traffic and construction, a functional reality withing the romance of a seaside ride. Yet arriving at La Mulita, the storefront almost disappears beneath the rows of vélos and uniformed sportifs. It is the sight of the bikes, not the sign, that proclaims: ici, du vrai café.

Bike parking is a free-for-all — frames leaning against walls, posts, even each other. It works, but civilisation deserves more intentionality given the peloton assembled here. Service is brisk enough but not overtly tuned to the rhythm of cyclists. A proper bathroom remains untested, another reconnaissance for next time.

Inside and out, the air is thick with seriousness. This is no laptop lounge; it is the clubhouse of the local cycling scene, populated by kit-clad riders and equally obsessive coffee purists. The energy is confident, focused, almost reverential — a social scene forged by shared taste and discipline.

Here the espresso is not accessory but destiny. The double shot is the lingua franca, ordered and served with intention in ceramic, bold and rich with a crema as smooth as silk. The Victoria Arduino gleams, the Loring roaster hums, the sacks of Colombian beans stand as proof of terroir and mastery. It is, without doubt, the best espresso in the area.

Pastries and savories remain a future exploration. Today’s stop was an express visit, pure caffeine pilgrimage. The displays suggest sustenance is possible, but the emphasis here is firmly on the bean, the machine, the pour.

La Mulita is a true café: focused, refined, in relentless pursuit of mastery. It stands as the meeting point of cycling and coffee culture, an exemplar of both. The only blemish is the roadside ambiance — a reminder that sometimes panache demands suffering to be earned.

Ratings Café: 5/5 Pâtisserie: Inconclusive...

Preface: We drive for coffee. We even fly for coffee. Some of our most memorable coffee crawls were in Cuba, Copenhagen and of course, all over New England. We are die hard fans of Snowy Owl in Brewster, perhaps the best roaster, around. Manuel and Derek from SO recommended La Mulita. We are often in Portland, for coffee, of course and tried to get to LM but their hours never coincided with our journey We decided to dedicate a trip just for LM. Boy, it was worth the 4 hour trip (round trip). The spot is in pretty Rye. There is plenty of parking and inside, it's warm and welcoming. Baristas, Heather and Stewart made us feel very welcomed. They explained the coffees currently being served and crafted our second best Cortado of 2021. I loved my maple latte, as well. Whenever I see maple, I jump. They sell bags, of course and LM swag. I bought a gift box with a bag of beans, locally made pancake mix and maple syrup and a mug for 35.00. What a deal. We hiked nearby Ordione State Park which is NOT to miss and went back for more coffee. Owner, Max, has broken the coffee Siberia in this area and brought the community a righteous roaster. There is some seating but take your coffee and hit the great outdoors. And after, come back for one...

I visited on an invitation from an answer on an online question about if they served pastries with thier coffee ☕. The answer was yes! They have doughnuts, bagels and muffins. Local newspaper 📰 available to feed your brain. I had an Americano with a glazed doughnut. 🤫 Shh! Don't tell my diet! Both were good! Indoor seating and WiFi available. Decent amount of parking 🅿️. Reasonable prices. Friendly service. Place was busy! Bags of coffee available for purchase along with store line clothing and mugs. Website for online orders. Returned after reading an article in the Seacoast Scene paper about La Mulita Coffee. Had a coffee ☕ with Monkey 🐒 Bread and a read of the 📰 newspaper. Relaxing! Bathroom was in good shape. I gave a staff member a copy of the Seacoast Scene with the article about the buisness. Update: July 2024; Blueberry 🫐 scone with a coffee was good 👍! I...