Coffee was introduced to the Western world through the busy port of Venice late in the Renaissance, and Italy was the first Western country to begin enjoying its incomparable taste. In 1700, if you walked the streets of just about any Italian city – or for that matter, any European city – you’d find at least one unique coffee shop. Now, fast-forward 300 years to a Saturday morning in September of 2005…
He said: “Let’s go get a cup of coffee.”
She said: “Where?”
He said: “Starbucks?”
She said: “No…too commercial. I don’t want to be sold CDs while I wait for my latte.”
He said: “Caribou?”
She said: “No…too many teenagers.”
He said: “Port City Java?”
He said: “Okay, tell me where you want to go…”
She said: “….Maybe we should just stay home and brew our own.”
She said: “I want to go somewhere I can get a fabulous cup of coffee, sit with my feet curled up under me, and relish it. I want to listen to great music. I want to feel like we’ve gone away on a little trip to Europe, and we’ve stayed overnight in a little village in Italy.”
…and so Robust-ah! was born.
Dent Hardin had an extensive background in sales management and wood finishing, even having spent several years abroad teaching finishing techniques. Susan McAllister was a textile designer and former design director working as a residential interior designer.
They both knew a good cup of coffee when they had one, so they set out to find the best blend of gourmet coffee beans and figured out how to roast them to perfection. At just the right time, they discovered that a local scientist had been working a brand-new 17-step water purification process that gets water clean but keeps the water filled with healthy minerals, just the way nature intended it.
One perfect cup of coffee later, Susan and Dent set about creating an environment reminiscent of an Italian countryside retreat: Lapis-blue ceilings, 10’ windows flanked by antique shutters, richly textured and colored walls, aged woods finished to perfection and turn-of-the-century fans, all designed to create a beautiful backdrop for a myriad of comfortable, eclectic furnishings.
From slip covered love seats and worn leather Parisian cigar chairs to retro lamps, Tuscan mirrors, and Italian wood tables – and don’t forget the great cup of coffee! – the pair have thought of everything to help you escape your day for a few minutes…or a few hours.
