Copeka, the beloved local coffee shop, is taking its offerings to the next level. With its new bar and extended hours, Copeka is now poised to become a local hotspot for nightlife.
The bar will feature signature drinks made with creative, modern twists on traditional favorites. The owners chose to stick to the equatorial theme of the rest of the shop and serve tropical drinks with and without alcohol.
“I think that [a] equatorial/tropical approach to cocktails is something that leads to a more easygoing atmosphere. A lot of times when people are going out for cocktails, it’s like you either have to go someplace where you have dinner, or you’re kind of locked into this more seemingly formal situation, so this is really approachable and fun. I don’t think there’s another atmosphere in town like this,” co-owner of Copeka and Colorado Mesa University (CMU) alumnae Kyra Rossier said.
The shop has had a liquor license for as long as they have been open. Before COVID, they used it during live music performances, but the pandemic put a stop to that. Rossier stated that they wanted to revitalize the bar and update it.
When the bar was first open, they offered “speakeasy” type drinks, but decided to move away from that to match the theme of the rest of the store. The cocktails on the menu were all carefully picked and have stories behind them.
“The Mai Tai recipe actually comes from one of the co-owner’s dad. He was a pilot in the Air Force in the 60s at Pearl Harbor. At that time, during the Cold War, he was flying these radar planes and flew this really hairy mission. When he came back, he was talking to this bartender and he was the only one in the bar,” Rossier said. “[The bartender] was really tight-lipped about his Mai Tai recipe, and apparently it was the best anyone ever had. But after Floyd, my co-owner’s father, shared this story, he said, ‘You know what? That’s worthy of this recipe,’ and he wrote it down on an envelope. And that’s the recipe we use.”
The juices used in the drinks are freshly made in the shop, along with syrups such as passionfruit. Rossier stated that most things sold are made in house, which gives the shop a unique and refreshing vibe.
Further, almost all the drinks on the menu can be made without alcohol, so those who do not or cannot drink have options as well.
Rossier highlighted that the non-alcoholic beers they serve are great tasting, unlike most places, in her opinion. She stated that they wanted to make the menu accessible to a wide range of people so the whole community would feel welcome.
Future plans include open mic nights, live music and a dinner menu. Copeka is located at 1012 North 5th Street and is open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 10 p.m on weekends. Cocktails start being served at 5 p.m.
