On Sunday, July 7, cocktail aficionados gathered at New Penny Cafe in Avondale, an all-day cafe that encourages guests to “come for the coffee and stay for the cocktails.” We caught up with the eatery’s events manager John Acosta before the festivities to discuss New Penny’s cocktail program. Learn more and check out some photos from the event below.
Summer Cocktail Camp is a 12-week, rotating event series that bring guests up-close-and-personal with the Valley’s best mixologists and bartenders to showcase their craft. Tickets for the final installment at Kasai Scottsdale on Sunday, September 1 are still available here.
How did you get your start in the beverage/restaurant industry?
I started working with Saddle Mountain Brewing Company several years ago as a dishwasher. I quit my job in graphic design and came into Saddle as a regular. They needed a dishwasher, so they brought me on, and that’s kind of how it started.
Tell us about the cocktail program at New Penny.
After I started at Saddle, I kind of grew into the bar as serving bartender, bar manager and developed the cocktail program here at Saddle Mountain. At the moment, I’m the curator of the director of marketing and events, and Laura [Hansen], the owner of Saddle Mountain Brewing Company went into a joint business with Enroute Coffee & Tea House to create New Penny Cafe. The concept is to come for the coffee and stay for the cocktails.
What kind of cocktails does New Penny offer?
There is a wide range of cocktails at New Penny, and as a coffee house we are using fresh espresso. We’re doing a lot of fun stuff with espresso martinis and also doing different types of highball variations on lotuses. We’re [adding] candy and fruits to making cocktails very fun and enjoyable.
What is your favorite cocktail drink in the summer?
My personal favorite cocktail drink is a Mai Tai. Fresh limes, mint garnish and crushed ice is an absolute necessity for that as well. It makes the whole drink come together.
