After opening a coffee shop in Russia, husband-and-wife team Denis and Elizaveta, along with her brother Vitaly Yakovlev, opened Redshift Coffee Roasters in Lake Forest at 22851 Lake Forest Dr.
The cozy coffee shop opened in Saddleback Court about a year ago, offering customers a variety of breakfast items and coffee roasted on-site. Located between Sushi Yaki and Subway, Redshift Coffee Roasters has provided the area with a welcoming cafe perfect for grabbing a latte, avocado toast, and more. What Now Media Group recently caught up with Robertson and Monetti to learn more about his journey and how things have been going since the cafe opened.
Q: How did you get into the industry? Did you always know you wanted to own a business?
A: We got into the coffee industry as a family—me, my husband Denis, and my brother Vitaliy.
Denis and I both already loved coffee before we met. After we got together, we opened our first coffee shop in Russia. After selling it, we moved to the U.S. to start fresh, and that’s when Vitaliy, who had always been passionate about coffee, joined us. Together, we opened Redshift Coffee Roasters.
What we do is built on the values our parents taught us—independence, responsibility, and perseverance. Coffee has brought us together, and we’re excited to continue building this family-driven dream.
Q: Where did the idea for the business come from?
A: The idea for the business came during one of the toughest times in my life. We had just moved to the U.S. in a rush, leaving everything behind. For nearly a year, I was working odd jobs—moving furniture, delivering food—just trying to make ends meet. I remember this one day, I was deep into my 10th hour of work, completely exhausted, and I called Lisa and Denis to check in.
We started talking about how things had gone for them back in Russia with their coffee shop. Hearing the numbers they achieved—starting from almost nothing, with minimal investment, managing to break even in a year, and eventually selling the business at a profit—it hit me. If they could do that, why couldn’t we do it here?
That conversation reignited something in all of us. Despite being tired and worn down, we suddenly felt hopeful again. Together, we decided to give it a shot, to take a chance on building something we loved. Because when you have the right team, even the hardest challenges feel possible. And for us, working together feels like we can take on anything.
Q: How have things been going since you opened?
A: Since we opened, things have been going better than we could have imagined. The support from the community has been incredible—we’ve made so many new connections, and some of those have even turned into real friendships.
The coffee shop has become more than just a business for us. It’s helped us feel like we’re truly becoming part of this community, even though we’ve only been in the U.S. for just over two years. Every month, things keep improving, and we’re more motivated than ever to keep going and growing. This journey has been challenging but also so rewarding, and we’re excited to see where it takes us next.
Q: What’s the most challenging part about opening a business?
The most challenging part about opening a business for us was navigating all the permit approvals. Along the way, we unfortunately encountered someone who wasn’t entirely honest. They were supposed to help us through the process but ended up wasting months of our time and a significant amount of money.
It was a tough lesson, but we’ve learned from the experience. Now, we’re determined to take those lessons and use them to our advantage moving forward. Challenges like this are part of the journey, and while they’re frustrating at the moment, they make us stronger and more prepared for the road ahead.
Q: What do you think is the most rewarding part about opening a business?
A: The most rewarding part about opening a business is definitely the people.
Yes, we’re all different. And yes, the three of us speak with strong accents and sometimes don’t fully understand what’s being said to us—or even how to express ourselves perfectly in return. But coffee has this amazing way of bringing people together.
It creates a common ground where none of those differences matter. The conversations we’ve had, the connections we’ve made, and the sense of community we’ve built through this little coffee shop are what makes all the hard work worth it.
Q: Anything else you’d like people to know?
A: We just want people to know how much this business means to us. It’s not just about serving coffee; it’s about creating a space where people can feel welcome and connected. Every day, we’re reminded of how lucky we are to be able to do what we love together as a family.
We’re incredibly grateful for the support we’ve received from our community, and we don’t take a single customer for granted. Every cup we serve is a part of our journey, and every smile we see makes it all worth it. This is just the beginning for us, and we have no intention of stopping. We’re here for the long haul, excited to continue growing and sharing this adventure with everyone who walks through our door. Thank you for being part of it.
