What’s DUNSTAN

DUNSTAN, for whom this store is named, was born in 909 near Glastonbury to a noble family and became Archbishop of Canterbury in 961.

While serving at court, Dunstan was accused of studying pagan poetry and stories, and was banished. This led him to become a Benedictine monk, and he went into seclusion at Glastonbury. One day, while working as a blacksmith, he was asked to repair a horseshoe by a traveler — who was in fact the devil in disguise. Dunstan immediately recognized him, and forcibly hammered the red-hot horseshoe not onto a horse, but onto the devil’s leg. In so much pain, the devil begged Dunstan to remove it, and Dunstan made him promise to never again go near a house with a horseshoe displayed on its front door. Since then, the horseshoe has been a symbol to ward off evil, and a symbol of safety and happiness.

As this story shows, we believe the horseshoe carries the wisdom and courage that drove away a demon, and the love and kindness that wishes for the happiness of others. Just as Dunstan cared for those close to him, we wish you safety and happiness, and offer our coffee in packages marked with the horseshoe.