Local Flavor: Swell Nitro Coffee opening in Saco and Boomers closes

Coffee lovers who need to catch a caffeine buzz early in the morning or want a chill place to hang out have a new option.

Husband and wife Peter and Kelsey Vacca have teamed up with another couple, Chrissy and Taylor Archambault – to launch Swell Nitro Coffee at 200 Main St. Saco.

The coffee shop will have a soft opening 6:30 – 11 a.m. on Saturday, and beginning Sunday will be open from 6:30 a.m.to 2:30 p.m. daily.

“We hope to catch a few people on their way to work and help fuel their day,” said Peter Vacca.

Like the name says, the shop will feature nitro cold brew coffee, which is smoother and less acidic than standard brewed coffee. The coffee at the café will be sourced from Carrabassett Coffee Company of Kingsfield, Maine, said Vacca.

Vacca said he discovered Carrabassett Coffee at a vacation rental he was staying at on a snowboarding trip at Sugarloaf in 2019.

“I had a cup in the morning and said ‘this is delicious’ and that’s been the coffee I’ve been drinking ever since,” he said.

Swell has a signature list of iced lattes, made with condensed cold brew and a variety of milk choices. Syrups used in the lattes are made with natural ingredients and created by Chrissy Archambault, who worked previously as a beverage director at Elda.

I was given a complimentary banana bread latte with chocolate cold foam. It was smooth and delicious with the flavors of real banana bread, not some artificial candy-coated reproduction. I chose skim milk for my latte, but it was so good I didn’t even miss the fat.

In addition to iced lattes, Vacca and his team will serve up hot and iced coffee, hot tea, and a changing selection of other drinks like blueberry lemonade or Arnold Palmers. There are kid-friendly options like milk and juice boxes. Drinks can be paired with a pastry from Little Spruce Baking or a protein snack pack.

Vacca used his carpentry skills to build out the shop so that it has a relaxing coastal vibe, and there are games to keep children occupied while their parents enjoy their coffee.

The name Swell has a double meaning, explained Vacca. It refers to the quality of the coffee and is an expression of general positivity, as in "Have a swell day." It's also a reference to waves and a nod to the seashore.

Boomers closed

On April 19, Boomers restaurant, 512 Main St., Saco announced on social media that it had closed.

“We have made the gut wrenching decision to close our beloved restaurant. We want to Thank-you for your past patronage and support and wish you all the best going forward,” stated management in the post.

Restaurant veteran Michael Simpson opened Boomers in March 2023.

Liz Gotthelf is the publisher of Saco Bay News. She also loves to eat – and support local businesses. If you have any local restaurant or food news, she’d love to hear from you. Send her an email at [email protected].