Albany coffee shop launches bar service 'Fuel & Spirits'

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Motor Oil Coffee, located in Albany's Slip 12 apartment building, has debuted its bar program called Fuel & Spirits. After coffee service ends, the shop will stay open to serve alcohol.

"Fuel & Spirits aims to provide a different experience than your normal bar. It is part coffee shop, part bar, and part lounge," said Rich Fazio, co-founder and CEO of Motor Oil Coffee. "We've had a successful soft opening phase and looking to invite guests to try out Fuel & Spirits themselves."

Fuel & Spirits serves cocktails with some using Motor Oil Coffee ingredients, as well as beer, wine, cider, and mead from local brands including Chatham Brewing, Nine Pin Cider, New Scotland Spirits, Yankee Distillers, and Albany Distilling.

"I've always loved the combo coffee shop/cocktail bar. There are some local examples and I've seen it executed well in places across the country. I'm pleased we're able to bring this concept here for Albany Slip 12," said Joe Bonilla, Motor Oil Coffee co-founder and chief experience officer.

Fuel & Spirits is open Wednesday and Thursday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Daytime hours for the coffee service are Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

"What makes this experience different is this is, first and foremost, a coffee shop and as your favorite coffee guy, that's what I love most. The ability to infuse our coffee into these drinks is truly special," said Jermaine Carter, president of Motor Oil Coffee.

Motor Oil Coffee has two other Albany locations on Madison Avenue and State Street. The company has applied for a liquor license for the Madison Avenue location, which will transition to a wine bar concept after the license is issued.