Double Shots & Doggos: Abercrombie Coffee Does Both
A North Hobart specialty coffee venue is laying out the welcome mat to people and pooches alike, and making a real difference in the lives of Tasmanians to boot.
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On the outskirts of Hobart’s CBD, Abercrombie Coffee has been pulling some of the neighbourhood’s most delicious shots since it opened on the ground floor of architecturally-designed apartment complex 431 Elizabeth in July last year. But caffeine fiends aren’t its only demographic — at Abercrombie, there’s always a spot for furry friends, too.
As a dog-dad himself, owner Duncan Allen’s vision was to create a space that was just as dog-friendly as it was welcoming to the local community. Abercrombie’s menu lists the pup cup - frothed lactose-free milk served in a lap-uppable (and compostable) cup - right alongside macchiatos and pourovers, and the team is always up for canine cuddles.
“As a neighbourhood café, we wanted to reflect how important dogs are in people’s daily lives by making the space welcoming for both dogs and people,” Duncan says.
(image: Emily Toone)
Beyond Abercrombie, Duncan volunteers as a Guide Dogs Tasmania Bed & Breakfast Boarder, providing full-time housing and care for puppies undertaking formal Guide Dog training. He and his partner are currently looking after their seventh pup - a sweet boy called Zander - and their long involvement has further informed accessibility considerations at Abercrombie.
“We’ve faced some access challenges with our Guide Dog puppies in tow, particularly in busy hospitality settings,” Duncan says. “We regularly welcome Guide Dog Puppies-In-Training to Abercrombie to help with their socialisation, and we’re working to ensure that the venue is as inclusive and accessible as possible.”
Now, Duncan is taking the vision even further with a new initiative, inviting visitors to purchase a branded dog bandana to further support the important work of raising and training Guide Dogs in Tassie. Emblazoned with the Abercrombie logo, the bandanas are available exclusively at the venue for $25 each, with $5 donated to Guide Dogs Tasmania. What’s more, bandana-sporting pooches are up for free pup cups for life, when they wear their bandana to the café.
“During our time as volunteers, we’ve learnt so much about how important Guide Dogs are for people who are blind or have low vision, so we’re doing what we can to support the great work of Guide Dogs Tasmania,” Duncan says. “We have dogs visiting every day, proudly wearing their bandanas - they’ve become our best furry ambassadors.”
And for pet-free customers who still want to support the cause? Every tip added to Abercrombie’s tip jar is donated to Guide Dogs Tasmania, further contributing to the more than $50,000 required to raise and train these life-changing puppies.
For more about Abercrombie, including local collaborations, and daily batch and espresso blends, visit Abercrombie Coffee on Instagram.
431 Elizabeth Street, North Hobart
Monday-Friday, 6:30am-2pm
Saturday, 7:30am-1pm
