About Us

YIV's missionis to elevate the modern coffeehouse to the status of posh lounge by fusing a sumptuous Eastern setting with a unique and diverse menu of exotic drinks, desserts and snacks. We believe that it is time for a new breed of coffeehouse - or rather, the revival of the classic coffeehouse. In the past decade, while consumers have become accustomed to quality coffee through corporate chains, the soul of the coffeehouse has gravely diminished.

Just as important as its eponymous drink, YIV Coffeehouse & World Lounge gives patrons a place to enjoy their beverage of choice in an atmosphere in keeping with the traditional function of the coffeehouse: a community crossroads that promotes relaxation, socialization and cultural interaction.

YIV provides an opportunity for customers to sample a different foreign locale every time they visit, and will appeal to the world-conscious Globalista in everyone.

We first heard the call of our own inner vagabond in 1998 when quit our jobs in New York theatre, got hitched and bought a pair of plane tickets to half-way around the world.

For the next several years, we've journeyed - more traveler than tourist. With no specific itinerary, we lived and worked on the Road, striving to become absorbed in the country we were in, trying on a new lifestyle and leaving ourselves completely open to whatever opportunities came up. It turned out to be a watershed experience for us.

Wanting to bring more of the world back to our friends at home, we made our way back to the U.S. in 2004 to offer a sumptuous selection of Moroccan and Turkish home furnishings to the Middle Eastern recreators of the Society for Creative Anachronism at the Pennsic War held outside of Pittsburgh. Then we hit upon the idea of offering up our wares as part of Your Inner Vagabond Coffeehouse, where patrons could rent a cushion in our sumptuous harem tent for the price of a Turkish-style coffee or Moroccan mint tea.

The joy it brought us to bring the exotic home to share with our friends gave us renewed interest and purpose here in the U.S. We set about to find a place as exciting, creative, welcoming and cultured as was the patronage of our Pennsic War establishment where we could establish a permanent location. After years of just passing through, we had the chance to stop in on Pittsburgh, and found our place here.

And the journey continues.

Your Hosts,

AJ Schaffer & Andrew Watson