Java Nation at a Crossroad

Tucked away in a corner yet somehow poised almost in the heart of Sag Harbor is Java Nation. 

It seemed like just another day at Java Nation, the unofficial counterculture’s coffee shop of choice, but it wasn’t — it was one of the last days.

Many notables such as Richard Gere, Scarlett Johansson, Robert De Niro, Cindy Crawford, Robert Kline, Jon Stewart, Robert Downey Jr. and Keith Hernandez have stopped in more than once over the last 17 years. But now, very solemnly,  the faithful are counting down to a closing date of Jan 31, hoping somehow their coffee shop can relocate. 

After 17 years of what many consider almost community service, Andres Bedini, the Peruvian born U.S. citizen who owns Java Nation with his wife, Cheryl, has been roasting/serving coffee for locals, restaurants, and visitors alike, in his cheerful, informative manner. Bedini has been , with his month-to-month rental agreement abruptly terminating.

Alva Hellstrom, a long-time customer for 17 years, said, “I certainly hope they continue in Sag Harbor. Java Nation fills a great need. It is the only place around where decaffeinated coffee is processed by the ‘Swiss water process’, thus using no chemicals. Years back Starbucks used to do it, but it became too expensive for them.”

“Java is a friendly place where locals and New Yorkers co-mingle,” Hellstrom said.

Agreeing was Colin Mather, owner of , in Wainscott. “Java is the real thing, after-all the saying is, 'There are three important places in life, your home, your work place and your coffee shop. This place is like Sag Harbor’s Cheers. You know, 'a place where everybody knows your name.'”

Behind the counter and serving customers for the last two years is Carolina Ochoa, who said, “I love my job, I get to talk to everyone, they always smile, they love the coffee. The owners are great people, fair people, and flexible. Andres is wonderful, Cheryl too; they do the right thing."

Andres and Cheryl Bedini’s story is one of loving each other, loving living in Sag Harbor with their two young children, and loving roasting coffee.

Vacationing in Sag Harbor for many years, they decided 17 years ago after Cheryl finished law school that the village needed a coffee shop. They set out to learn everything they could about coffee.

“Starbucks was still in Seattle, not in New York," Andres said. "We wanted to be special and do it right. It was all about the roasting so we learned how to do it best. I am proud we have.”

He added, “We have had many celebrities come by, but we have always welcomed anyone, . ... We are bilingual and we like to chat we our Latino brothers here.”

Another coffee place is expected to be put in Java Nation's place, and Andres expects prices to be much higher.

“I could have raised my prices, but I was happy, making a go at it, so I didn’t,” he said.

Andres said he has five locations in and around Sag Harbor that he is looking at to move his business.

“I need to find a place where I can roast the coffee," he said. "That is our advantage, our knowledge, our pleasure. I love to roast coffee.”