The Strip District distillery Kingfly Spirits is known for its whiskeys, spiced rum, vodka, gin and liqueur, served in cocktails at its lively bar in the evenings. Now Kingfly has added fresh-brewed coffee to the mix, looking to claim the daylight hours as well.
Kingfly Café opened within the 11,000-square-foot space on Wednesday, selling coffee and fresh pastries as well as alcoholic drinks made with caffeinated brew. The doors open at 9 a.m.
The java is supplied by Commonplace Coffee House & Roasters, which has several Pittsburgh locations in addition to its original home base in Indiana, Pa. Kingfly owner Mark Willson sees collaboration with Commonplace owner T.J. Fairchild as harmonious as cream and sugar is to coffee.
“T.J. has the coffee background. We can grow with him, and we can help his business grow,” Willson said. “It just feels right working with him and his entire team.”
Before the pandemic, Willson had been thinking of adding a coffee shop. He wanted to give another daytime option to the Strip District, which is bustling with new businesses as well as new residential units.
The café is also a way to fully use the large space, which was originally a horse stable and hayloft built in the early 1900s. Kingfly hosts private events, stand-up comedy, weekly jazz and an artist collective market that launched last fall.
Willson said they imagine the cafe also serving as an informal working space, in between the home and office. The space is large enough to accommodate people who want to burrow into a corner and work, or linger over a cup of coffee and socialize.
Kingfly’s signature brew is Commonplace’s Bohemian Blend, as both straight-up coffee and the ingredient in coffee-infused cocktails.
Coffee is offered with dairy and non-dairy options, and the natural cane panela sugar from Colombia that is used in Kingfly’s white rum.
Scott Burke, special projects manager, is the maestro of the coffee-inspired drinks and much more.
“I am all about the details,” said Burke. “We use natural ingredients to elevate the experience, including raw sugar, real ginger, real vanilla and real maple. I love starting new things.”
He said Kingfly offers a different vibe than other places in the city. “Everything we make here is in small batches and is organic,” Burke said. “They are allowing me to be creative.”
He will be concocting coffee and tea drinks and alcoholic and non-alcoholic selections. He plans to partner with a nutritionist to create blends for anxiety and upset stomachs and will offer a “make your own blend” option.
“It’s about casting a wide net,” Burke said. “Welcoming everybody and giving them a wide range of choices.”
Kingfly is also teaming with local establishments such as Black Radish Kitchen to cater meetings and corporate events as well as Pittsburgh Juice Co., Vanilla Pastry Studio, Colangelo’s Bakery & Café and Bistro To Go. Teas will be supplied by SerendipiTea, based in New York.
When asked why he wanted to partner with a distillery, Fairchild didn’t have to think twice.
“I like bourbon almost as much as I like coffee,” said Fairchild, nursing a glass of bourbon. “I love Mark’s approach to this beautiful space. It’s a perfect spot for Commonplace Coffee to be.”
Kingfly Spirits (kingflyspirits.com) is located at 2613 Smallman St., Strip District. Hours are 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday. “Coffee Cocktail Happy Hour” is from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.
