Restaurant Review

One early evening this summer, as I was picking up a pulled pork sandwich and burger to-go from Roe Jan Brewing Company in Hillsdale, NY, I noticed that the adjacent dark blue building – with its yellow accented windows, grape-colored door, and assortment of potted flowers and pastel garden gnomes out front – was open for business. It felt like a dream come true.

I had recalled, in earlier years, passing the same building on my way into Roe Jan Brewing with my parents. I would see a sign on the front door saying the approximate time frame when the cafe aimed to be open. I would consider my 20-minute commute to the Dunkin’ in Great Barrington, MA, and think to myself, “How great would it be if I could get a solid cup of coffee in my hometown?”

This train of thought unraveled on a handful of occasions when we went out to dinner. Then, I remained in Poughkeepsie for the majority of my senior year of college, thus keeping me out of the loop on all things Hillsdale. So, when I encountered the completed, opened Twisted Sisters Coffee House one fateful July evening and realized I could finally give it a try, I made doing so my top priority.

Love at first sip

The morning after this revelatory moment, I planned my day around eventually stopping into the coffee shop. After giving my boyfriend a tour of the vibrant Copake Hillsdale Farmers Market, I knew what stop was up next.

From the moment I stepped inside Twisted Sisters, I was dazzled. From the kind staff to the witchy artwork with floral, comforting details, and the aroma of coffee mixed with fresh baked goods, I immediately adored the curated and cozy environment. The splendid iced vanilla latte I purchased confirmed for me that I would be returning to Twisted Sisters soon, and that I had to tell everyone I could about this enchanting – and yummy – gem!

Funnily enough, the opportunity to spread the word presented itself relatively quickly, before I even thought to write this article. Shortly after buying my first latte, I took a walk around the center of town, popping into the Hillsdale General Store (again, to show my boyfriend the necessary sights). As I was about to step inside, though, a young woman came up to me and, pointing to my drink, said, “I pulled over because I was looking for a place to get coffee. Where did you get that?”

I welcomed the chance to direct her to Twisted Sisters but also realized at that moment that more people needed to be aware of their location and offerings. It is too lovely a place to let it go unknown to passersby. This is why I spoke to Kevin Hindes and Cassie Boinay-Hindes, owners and operators of Twisted Sisters Coffee House, to learn more about their story and the delectable treats they provide.

The tale behind Twisted Sisters

Kevin and Cassie grew up locally and moved to Hillsdale in the early 2000s, raising their six children there. In March 2020, the couple bought the old Harness Shop property in town from Roe Jan Brewing’s Steve and Kathy Bluestone. It was a fortuitous connection: Kevin had been in the contracting business for almost 30 years and did much of the finish work for the brewery, giving him an opportunity to get to know the Bluestones. “Then,” Cassie says, “the world shut down.”

The lockdown afforded them time to renovate the building, which was particularly important because they essentially had to rebuild from the ground up. Cassie explains that by having a contractor husband up her sleeve, she was able to propose her ideal visions for the space. “It was a labor of love,” Cassie reflects. “We definitely put a lot of nights and weekends into trying to get this open.”

Reflecting on the impact of the business next door, Kevin notes, “Steve and Kathy have been incredibly wonderful neighbors and supportive the entire way. We wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for them.”

This line of work – coffee, that is – is actually far from new for Cassie. In fact, she has worked in the cafe business since she was thirteen. When the now-closed Helsinki Café and Tea Company opened in Great Barrington, MA, Cassie remembers how captivated she was with the entire scene. “I fell in love,” she remembers. “It was all funky – you know, this was the 90s, too. It was dimly lit, with twinkle lights and candles, and it had a beautiful atmosphere. I remember walking in, and the Cowboy Junkies were playing. It just was so cool. We sat down and had Baltic berry tea, with wonderful bread and cream cheese.”

The details remain vivid for Cassie because it was at this moment that she realized her calling. “I was like, ‘I want to do this.’”

Within three months of this realization, she got her first bussing job there, and later, she would work for Fuel in Great Barrington for seven years, starting when Robin and Will Curletti opened the shop in 2003. Today, Deborah McDowell and Marc Schafler, who owned Helsinki Café, visit Twisted Sisters often. Jokingly, Cassie adds, “I always tell them, ‘This is your fault! Full circle!’”

But why “Twisted Sisters”?

Cassie grew up on nine acres of farmland and woods in Sheffield, MA, in a family of eight, with three brothers – two older, one younger – and two sisters – one older, one younger. “We have this crazy, long, black, curly hair, so, my older brothers would call us the ‘sisters of darkness’ because of our dark hair, or the ‘twisted sisters’ with an ‘s.’ Not like the band,” Cassie clarifies. “That’s where the name comes from, because I thought ‘sisters of darkness’ sounded too morbid … maybe we’ll come up with a special for that or something!”

All about their offerings

Twisted Sisters Coffee House is open Monday through Saturday, 7am to 3pm, and Sundays 8am to 2pm. When it comes to their drink menu, the world is your oyster! In addition to all of the hot and iced coffee drinks, teas, and classics you might expect, they also offer lemonade and a seasonal array of smoothies.

The youngest Twisted Sister, Darcy, does all the baking, crafting goods for the cafe twice a week and freezing them. The cafe offers a variety of freshly baked scones, muffins, croissants, cookies, and breads each morning, so you are sure to truly enjoy your pastry of choice (I’m personally a fan of the lemon scone).

When it comes to food, they have an all-day breakfast menu with a mouthwatering selection of morning favorites, as well as an afternoon delights menu featuring scrumptious sandwiches, two-week soup specials, and fresh salads. They also have ice cream for those looking for a cooler treat! Additionally, they accept small catering orders for their baked goods and sandwiches.

You can construct sandwiches besides those on the menu, and if a drink isn’t listed, just ask! “We offer everything you could find in a really big city – we’re just out in the middle of the country. Every drink that Starbucks can make, we have. Every drink Starbucks doesn’t make, we can make,” Kevin says. “Do you want stuff that was baked fresh this morning and a specialty coffee drink? We offer that.”

Cassie and Kevin emphasize that, having opened in March, they are still in the process of devising a system that is most effective for them. Cassie operates as not only owner, but manager as well, and the couple have both seen their fair share of adjustments, working in the kitchen themselves at certain points. “We’re just getting started, so we’re seeing what we’re capable of right now,” says Cassie.

Fulfilling, dedicated beginnings

Although the shop has only been open for six months, there’s plenty for which Kevin and Cassie are thankful. Particularly, the ownership itself is something they both value. When asked what they have found most rewarding about the business, Cassie replied, “That it’s mine. It’s ours.”

Their love for Twisted Sisters is reflected in uplifting and encouraging their staff to be “the best version of themselves,” while also ensuring that the cafe is putting out the best food and drink they can for their customers. “The one thing I really enjoy about owning my own business is that even though I have managed places before, this is the first time where I can be like, ‘Oh, no, wait, they come to me with things, and I don’t have a boss to go to. Let’s figure this out and do it from there,’” says Cassie. “It’s been really, really fun because I learned from a lot of really wonderful business owners.”

Kevin adds that they stick around almost every evening after closing, in addition to being at Twisted Sisters every day when it’s open, consistently investing their time and effort to ensure the shop is the greatest it can be.

However, their biggest challenge has proven a bit more difficult to control: a lack of visibility being tucked away on White Hill Lane. They hope to continue drawing attention to their cafe so that more people are aware and have found it incredibly reassuring when people express appreciation for their shop. “People come in and say, ‘I’m so happy you’re here.’ So, that’s what keeps us going, too.”

A welcome addition to the hamlet

Complete with a gorgeous outdoor patio, occupied by Thaddeus and Frank the coffee-enjoying skeletons, Twisted Sisters is not only a delicious destination, but a fun, dog-friendly, and family-oriented one, too. This is important to Kevin and Cassie, especially because they both come from big families, and have one of their own, meaning they recognize the importance of an inviting cafe experience.

“I think it’s been wonderful because we’ve presented ourselves that way. And that’s the one thing I was really big on, because sometimes you walk into places and there’s no eye contact, no ‘hi, how are you doing today?’” explains Cassie. “People want that.”
For this reason (and, of course, their appetizing menu), the couple point out the overwhelmingly positive reception to Twisted Sisters so far and feel grateful that they can add to all of the amazing businesses that populate Hillsdale. “We want to have the hamlet thrive.”

From speaking with Kevin and Cassie, it’s clear that Twisted Sisters Coffee House is a business that’s truly from the heart. The cafe’s ambience is warm and inspiring, making you feel right at home, while the flavorful food and tasty drinks are sure to brighten your day. Visit Twisted Sisters! A witchy, wondrous eating experience – and hands down, the best latte in town – awaits.

Twisted Sisters Coffee House is located at 329 White Hill Lane, Hillsdale, NY. They are open Monday through Saturday 7am to 3pm and Sunday 8am to 2pm. To get in contact with Twisted Sisters, you can reach out at twistedsisterscoffeehouse@gmail.com or give them a call at (518) 938-1237.

You can support and stay up to date with Twisted Sisters on social media by giving them a follow on their Facebook @TwistedSistersCoffee and Instagram @twisted_sisters_coffee_house!