Modern Times Coffee and CH Projects Partner Up in the East Village

The East Village headquarters of CH Projects (Born & Raised, False Idol) might be one of the city’s top places to work. Part one of its reconfigured new hangout, now open daily at 7 a.m., is the Invigatorium, a coffee bar featuring Modern Times Coffee paired up with mostly vegan pastries from Split Bakehouse.

Decked out with a large-scale Post-it mural that’s become a Modern Times signature, the Ninth Avenue cafe is brewing up a menu of drinks that ranges from single origin pour overs to vanilla lattes and horchata slushies. Its version of Boilermaker, a beer and a shot, punches up cold brew with a shot of espresso. Starting Monday, the space will start pouring Modern Times Beer and extending its hours to 7 p.m.

The Invigatorium is a first offshoot from Modern Times Coffee’s roastery at its Lomaland Fermatorium. Founder/CEO Jacob McKean said, “We’re excited to see how this one goes, and we’ll make any decisions about future locations from there. We’re simultaneously putting a significant amount of effort into expanding our cold brew distribution in Southern California and doing more coffee special releases, so the future of Modern Times Coffee is looking bright.”

Expect coffee cocktails to appear on the menu at CH Projects’ companion piece, J & Tony’s Discount Cured Meats and Negroni Warehouse, which will open in mid-August in the other half of the space. Centered around an intimate 10-seat bar, it’ll serve Negronis and other amaro-based drinks and a light menu that of cured meats, cheese, and sandwiches.