Hogg Batch, the St. Pete-based coffee brand known for its experimental small-batch roasts, is opening HB Gold Bar, a weekend-only luxury coffee experience at 2340 Central Avenue. The grand opening will take place May 17 on the second floor of Grand Central Brewhouse in St. Pete’s Grand Central District. The exclusive pop-up will operate Fridays through Sundays and showcase Hogg Batch’s most rare and refined barrel-aged coffees.
Founders of Hogg Batch building a new space for coffee lovers
For founder Duane Hogg, HB Gold Bar marks a turning point. It’s not just about pouring great coffee — it’s about creating an immersive, high-end tasting experience.
ADVERTISEMENT
“We’ve spent years crafting these complex, small-batch coffees,” Hogg says. “But we realized handing someone a cup to-go wasn’t doing them justice. We needed a space where the depth of flavor, the story, and the craft could all shine.”
At its core, HB Gold Bar is a curated coffee tasting room. It’s slow, intentional, and built around savoring coffee in its purest and most experimental forms. Everything — from the limited hours to the minimalist menu — has been designed to elevate the experience.
A menu built around innovative offerings
At HB Gold Bar, guests can expect much more than a typical drip or latte. The menu is built around Hogg Batch’s most innovative offerings, including:
- Barrel-aged coffees aged in bourbon, whiskey, and rum barrels for smooth, layered complexity.
- Nitro fermentation, which enhances clarity, sweetness, and fruit-forward notes by fermenting coffee cherries in an oxygen-free, nitrogen-rich environment.
- Signature drinks, including a coffee twist on classic cocktails like the espresso martini and Old Fashioned.
“These aren’t just drinks,” Hogg says. “They’re sensory experiences born from patience, precision, and pushing the limits of what coffee can be.”
One standout is Jamboree, a nitro-fermented, barrel-aged coffee with notes of strawberry jam, citrus, and warm rum. It’s an example of the kind of unique flavor profile HB Gold Bar is built to showcase.
A focus on aroma and craft in St. Pete
The upstairs space at Grand Central Brewhouse already sets the stage for something special. With its upscale ambiance and clean layout, it offers the perfect backdrop for HB Gold Bar’s elevated concept.
“We kept the space minimal so nothing distracts from the coffee,” says Hogg. “No clutter, no chaos — just a focus on aroma, flavor, and craft.”
Even the menu reflects that mindset. Rather than offering dozens of choices, the bar features a rotating lineup of HB’s most prized beans — served as espresso, pour overs, or cold brew.
Food pairings are just as carefully curated. Guests can expect light bites that enhance the tasting experience without overpowering the coffee. It’s all part of an intentional atmosphere designed to slow you down and help you truly connect with what’s in the cup.
For first-time visitors, Hogg recommends the curated pour over experience. It’s the perfect way to appreciate the precision that goes into every cup.
A deeper appreciation for what coffee can be
“From grind size to water temperature, everything is dialed in to bring out the best of each bean,” he explains. “It’s a moment where coffee slows down and becomes something immersive.”
The team wants every guest to walk away with a deeper appreciation for what coffee can be — and maybe even a sense of wonder.
While HB Gold Bar is intentionally exclusive — open only on weekends and serving a limited menu — Hogg sees potential for the concept to grow.
“This is meant to feel like a hidden gem, something truly special,” he says. “But our hope is to grow it into a destination for specialty coffee lovers — not just in St. Pete, but beyond.”
Still, growth won’t come at the expense of quality. Hogg is clear: they’ll only expand if they can maintain the craftsmanship, intimacy, and soul that make HB Gold Bar what it is.
For now, St. Pete coffee lovers can get ready to experience something truly unique starting May 17. Whether you’re a connoisseur or just curious to try something new, HB Gold Bar invites you to rediscover what coffee can be — one intentional sip at a time.
Learn more about the coffee roaster on its website and Instagram.
ADVERTISEMENT
