Zumi’s or Little Wolf? These two hotspot coffee shops in Ipswich, MA are an interesting contrast to each other. They act as favorite study spots for students at Ipswich High School; both offer coffee and other beverages, as well as offering a variety of pastries. However, one is quite modern and trendy, while the other is a memory-packed, traditional favorite, but which one is favored by Ipswich High School students?
Zumi’s, established in 2003, is a well known favorite in Ipswich. The walls are lined with photos of the owner Umesh’s extravagant adventures through the Himalayas. It also features local art and an array of colors. There is often live music playing from local musicians. Zumi’s is considered to be a fun, interactive, and community-orientated spot within Ipswich. After school hours, you will find lots of students using it as a study spot or just a place to hangout!
Little Wolf, the modern counterpart of Zumi’s, was established in 2016 by a couple’s love for coffee, and their love for their Siberian Husky: River. Little Wolf features an interesting modern style of architecture for the seating arrangements, as well as abstract-textured walls with a blue and white theme. Ipswich High students can also be found here after school; however, it is a much more “chill” spot and a lot quieter than Zumi’s.
I went around mainly Ipswich High School, but also the town of Ipswich in search of answers to my question: which coffeeshop did people prefer? Longtime resident of Ipswich, Jon Evans, said, “I really like Little Wolf; I’ve known the owners since before they opened. Their coffee and the aesthetic there are fantastic, and while the pastries are a little expensive, they are very good.” He also added that he thinks the location right across the high school is super convenient. Another lover of Little Wolf, Jade McMillan, who is a senior at IHS, commented, “I love how calm and bright the environment there is. I am always able to focus and get a lot of work done.” She also mentioned how she loved the “high quality roasts” that Little Wolf has to offer. Though she is a Little Wolf lover, she did tell me that, “I love both Little Wolf and Zumi’s, and in my opinion they are such different places that you can’t compare them.” According to her, Zumi’s will always hold a special place in her heart because of how traditional it is, and the fact that it has been a place of “culture and community” for her family who have lived here their whole lives.
Little Wolf might seem like the clear winner here; however in a survey sent out to IHS students, the results were shocking. Out of all the students surveyed, 90% said they preferred Zumi’s. I interviewed a few of those people to learn a little more about the reasons why. Vivien Vincze, another senior at IHS told me, “I love downtown Ipswich, and the environment of the shop; it’s a very good spot for studying and the business is super engaging with the community.” Sarah Latimer, a renowned biology teacher at IHS commented about how she appreciated that the coffee was “fair trade coffee,” taking a much deeper approach to the question. I also got many more comments addressing how the owners made everyone feel super welcome (Addison Pillis), and how the community made it a staple to Ipswich. Regarding the coffee itself, students seemed to prefer it over Little Wolf, one stating that Little Wolf’s coffee was “almost spicy and doesn’t have a coffee taste,” while others just saying they preferred Zumi’s in general.
Overall, the preference of coffee shops seems to go to Zumi’s; however in some people’s eyes, Little Wolf stands as equal competition. It seems like it all boils down to what environment you prefer. Little Wolf stands strong with its optimal location directly across from the high school, while Zumi’s is a well-known establishment that stands to represent a lot of aspects of Ipswich.
