Coffee culture is a beautiful thing. More than a simple cup of java in a quiet café, it’s a concept that swirls together the scent of freshly roasted espresso beans and flaky croissants with softly buzzing conversations and welcoming nooks and crannies. More than just one tangible thing, it’s an atmosphere that lures even the hardiest of coffee gulpers to sit and sip awhile.
And Café 40 wants to bring it to downtown Poughkeepsie.
Located in the thriving 40 Cannon complex in Queen City, Café 40 & Co. is the coffee-centric complement to the brewery, wine bar, and art gallery already onsite. It’s owned by Hudson Valley local Lillie Muscente, who operates it with her son, Nicholas. Muscente, living in Pawling with her husband, Nick, first latched onto the idea for the café while talking with 40 Cannon developers (and her sister and brother-in-law) Gina and Jim Sullivan.
“When Gina and Jim discussed wanting to add a café to 40 Cannon…we thought it was a great opportunity to be part of the wonderful things happening at the building and in the city, as well as to take a chance on our dream of having our own business,” Muscente says.
The Sullivans agreed, and so the Muscente family got to work to transform the blank canvas into the European-inspired café they envisioned. They drew inspiration from Lillie’s parents, Italian immigrants who loved to decorate their home with imported glassware and ceramics, as well as from their individual experiences in the local restaurant industry. Respectively, Lillie is a library program coordinator and a pro at hosting dinner parties, while her son, Nicholas, worked in multiple fine dining establishments throughout New York City. Together, they poured these experiences into one collective coffee pot to create the concept of Café 40 & Co.
Not just a coffee shop, Café 40 is a community retreat and gift shop inspired by the aesthetics that called to the Muscentes during their travels. Inside the 40 Cannon space, baristas sling shots of espresso (or lattes or cappuccinos) and serve up freshly made scones and muffins while visitors browse curated assortments of ceramics and locally made goods.
“We do not want to be an ordinary coffeehouse,” enthuses Muscente. “We want to offer people a place where they can grab their morning coffee and delicious baked goods or meet with friends, a book club, a work meeting, or just come and have some quiet time over a great cup of coffee.”
Speaking of coffee, visitors can expect a medium cup of joe to ring in at $2.25 and feature perfectly brewed North River Roasters beans. Tea is from local favorite Harney & Sons, while baked treats are thanks to Rockland Bakery in Nanuet, EmyD’s Vegan Desserts, and Mad Batters Pastries & Café in Marlboro. In the gift shop area, meanwhile, Café 40 stocks specialty olive oils and vinegars from Pawling’s Blue Olive alongside select items from Hudson Beach Glass.
“Café 40 & Co. feels different from the minute you walk in the door,” Muscente observes. In regard to the design, she explains how the extra-long coffee counter draws inspiration from European coffee bars, around which visitors convene over espresso and conversation before continuing on with their days. The light fixtures feature colored glass in tropical colors that pair beautifully with seats made from wood and hammered copper. There’s even a brick fireplace built in to make the interior feel just a little bit cozier.
After Café 40 opens to the public on April 4, Muscente hopes to make it an exciting community destination in Dutchess County. She mentions the possibility of hosting guest speakers and inviting trivia groups and book clubs to visit throughout the week.
“Our vision is to create an environment where our customers feel like friends and where Café 40 & Co. becomes their coffeehouse,” Muscente explains.
We’ll take a sip to that.