After Brad and Melinda Harrub were introduced to Cabin Coffee while on vacation in Colorado, they both had the same reaction: Cabin Coffee would be a phenomenal fit for the South—and for Columbia, in particular. So they went on to open the franchise's first location in Tennessee on December 13, 2021, and haven't looked back.
"One of the things that make us unique is we fresh-roast all our coffee," begins Brad Harrub. "We don't sell anything that is 14 days past roast, which makes it extremely smooth, but it also changes the dynamic of the flavor. We get coffee from about 30 different countries, and with that we can customize to a customer's specific desires."
That said, Turtle Mocha is Cabin Coffee Columbia's biggest seller.
"Turtle mocha has both Ghirardelli dark chocolate and caramel in it, along with a double shot of expresso. So, it's got a little kick but also the sweetness that folks love," says Harrub, before noting that Cabin Coffee also serves breakfast and lunch all day, offering everything from breakfast sandwiches, wraps, and bowls to traditional coffee houses menu items like cinnamon rolls, muffins, and coffee cake.
As to the lunch menu, it features soups, salads, and club sandwiches, as well as a chicken bacon ranch sandwich on a croissant.
"But if someone asks for biscuits & gravy or sausage & biscuits at 4:30 p.m., we are happy to do that," advises Harrub, emphasizing that there is more to Cabin Coffee than just great food and drink.
"We serve great coffee, but ultimately, we are in the people business. We recognize that customer service is where we need to be. We view this as a ministry and an outreach to the community," he explains, before addressing the shop's atmosphere.
"The comment that we hear routinely is that our dining room is very relaxing and inviting, so it's great for people who are needing a break from the rush of the world and folks looking for a little bit of peace and joy. They know they can come in here and put all the chaos aside," he says.
Cabin Coffee also features a meeting room that customers can use free of charge—first come, first served.
"We have Maury County schools using it quite a bit lately. We also have gender reveal parties, Boy Scout groups, and Bible devotional groups who are utilizing the room. It's a nice place to bring 15-20 people together and not have to worry about rental fees or anything else," he adds.
That said, Cabin Coffee also supports the local community in other ways, backing the Tennessee Children's Home and Paw Pantry of Maury County, among others.
"We have also taken some homeless folks under our wing and have been able to help them with housing, especially on cold nights. That is one thing that the community has really gotten behind and helped us with," says Harrub, who happens to have a doctorate in anatomy and neurobiology and spends many of his weekends traveling the world and speaking on topics like Christian evidences and medical ethics.
But he loves returning to Middle Tennessee, which he has called home his entire life.
"We love the people, and Southern hospitality is hard to beat. By working in the community, we see the good side of folks, and that's very refreshing," he says before addressing the subject of Columbia's growth.
I believe we are going to see positive business growth at a rate that doesn't change the dynamics of the city, and ultimately that's what you want," he adds. "People are moving here because of the Southern hospitality and because of the things the community has to offer, but you don't want a massive influx that changes that to the point that no one wants to be here anymore."
Meanwhile, Harrub plans to continue growing Cabin Coffee, which already employs upwards of 30 people, including his wife and three of his children. He credits his "awesome team" for being "fun to be around" and for helping to keep him young.
"We have a lot of young people, and for quite a few of them, this is their first job, and they are absolutely knocking it out of the park. They have taken customer service to really high levels, and part of the reason I enjoy working here is because of our team," he concludes. "Their character is unparalleled, and they make the Cabin Coffee experience what it really is."
Cabin Coffee is located at 1909 Shady Brook St., Columbia.
visit: https://cabincoffeecompany.com/columbia/
