The Java House

Specialties

–Coffee

–Espresso

–Tea

–Catering

–Fresh Baked Patries

History

Established in 1994.

Java House founder, Tara Cronbaugh, first developed a passion for coffee, or more accurately, coffee house ambience, in 1990 during a visit to her brother at the University of California Berkeley. She was fascinated with how social yet relaxing it was to visit the locally-​owned and unique establishments. So in a sorority room at the University of Iowa, the Java House concept was created.

During the summer of 1993, Tara traveled to Santa Monica and the San Francisco Bay area with her father and sister for a three-​week coffeehouse expedition. During that time, they visited more than 50 coffeehouses.

In April 1994, Tara launched the first Java House location on the second floor of Prairie Lights. She opened the Washington Street store in October of the same year. The Mormon Trek and First Avenue locations followed in 1998 and 2003. In 2005, The Java House earned the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics contract to operate kiosks in the hospitals, which led to the the 3 other outlets

Meet the Business Owner

Tara C.

Business Owner

Java House founder Tara Cronbaugh first developed a passion for coffee, or more accurately, coffee house ambiance, in 1990 during a visit to her brother at the University of California Berkeley. She was fascinated with how social yet relaxing it was to visit the locally-​owned and unique establishments. «Why is there not such a coffeehouse in Iowa City?» she asked herself, and in a sorority room at the University of Iowa, the Java House concept was created.

During the summer of 1993, Tara traveled to Santa Monica and the San Francisco Bay area with her father and sister for a three-​week coffeehouse expedition. During that time, they visited more than 50 coffeehouses, including a few where Tara was asked to leave because she was taking too many pictures and asking too many questions.