April 18, 2023 – When 11th Hour Coffee founders and brothers Brayden and Joel Estby took over the former Santa Cruz Food Lounge space on Center Street in 2018, it already had a bar installed in the back room. Other than the occasional special event, it sat unutilized, much to the consternation of the owners.
“We always wanted to keep working towards having the coffee house being active from morning till night,” says Joel. “The addition of After Hours has allowed us to create a dynamic space that pairs with our community events and evening food service.”
Last year 11th Hour debuted After Hours—a Wednesday-through-Saturday bar serving creative cocktails, beer and wine. Opening hours have dovetailed with Full Steam Dumpling’s pop-up, ensuring a steady stream of customers.
“Our hours are really dependent on whether or not there’s food service,” he says. “We plan to increase them soon, so on Tuesdays we’ll feature Chubb’s Chicken sandwiches, and Sundays we’ll have guest pop-ups.”
It took the brothers six months to develop After Hours, including remodeling the space, installing custom metal work, and finding team members who could bring the vision to life.
Integral to the project was securing local bartender Joey Driussi as bar manager. He describes his drinks as “experimental” and frequently working “in harmony” with the coffee bar, utilizing components like coffee, matcha and other teas. A current menu example of the latter is his Agent Couper, made with mezcal, Amaro di Angostura, vanilla, cold brew, pomegranate, lime and chili bitters.
Driussi also designs cocktails around coinciding pop-ups, like a recent event for San Diego’s Golden Mushroom Co., a company that sells organic mushroom cultivars and growing supplies. That pop-up inspired the Oloroso Sunset, made with gin infused with Far West Fungi pink oyster mushrooms, oloroso sherry, lemon shrub and grapefruit juice, garnished with a turkey feather mushroom.
Driussi changes the bar menu twice a year and emphasizes California-made craft spirits, beer and wine. “His style is out-of-the box but approachable,” says Joel. “Although he’s playing with diverse flavor profiles, there’s something on the menu for everyone.”
After Hours also hosts theme nights: Wednesday is open mic, Thursdays are trivia. Fridays are reserved for DJ’s and Saturdays mean live music. The diversity of the events is keeping with the Estby’s desire to provide community-centric offerings that will spark conversation and foster connection.
“The response so far has been very good,” says Joel. People love the aesthetic and concept, and the bar menu gets rave reviews. We still have many ideas in the works, so stay tuned.”
After Hours 1001 Center St. Santa Cruz • afterhourssc.com
About the author
Laurel Miller is a food, spirits and travel writer and the former editor of Edible Aspen. She grew up on a California ranch and has been writing about regenerative agriculture for over 20 years. When she’s not tethered to her laptop, Miller enjoys farmers markets and any trip that requires a passport. She’ll take a Mission burrito over a Michelin star, any day.
