Circadian Coffee Co launches new drive-thru option in El Jebel

Something’s been brewing in El Jebel.

Now, after years in the making, Circadian Coffee Co soft-launched on Friday, offering convenience coupled with an assortment of coffee options, from blended drinks to lattes with homemade syrups, along with local food menu items.

How did it all come together? Founder and owner Heather Short said that the story began in 2021, when she started operating a coffee shop out of a shared space with another restaurant in town. As her business grew, her landlords, the Crawfords, approached her with what she called “a simple but significant question” about what her vision for the future looked like.

“It was a big question, but for me the answer was always clear,” Short said. “My vision has always centered around a drive-thru coffee concept — one that reflects the pace of modern life while still creating a welcoming, community-focused experience. I wanted to build a place that values people’s time without sacrificing quality, service or connection. A place that supports local growers, partners with other small businesses and serves as a gathering point for the mid-valley community and beyond.”

For Short, her passion for drive-thru comes from growing up in the state of Washington, where she said drive-thru coffee stands were a staple of her everyday life. Her first job was at a drive-thru coffee shop, and throughout college, she worked within the drive-thru coffee franchise Dutch Bros Coffee while pursuing a business degree, which she said helped shape her understanding of efficient service, strong community relationships and the impact a local coffee shop can have.

She added that now, as she and her husband — Keith Gabel, a Paralympic snowboarder who trained out of Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboard Club — are parents, the convenience of a drive-thru is an even bigger draw.

“We’re parents, we’re always on the go, we need convenience,” she said. “There’s a lack of that in this valley.”

When she shared her business plan and vision with the Crawfords, she said they not only listened but believed in it. It was with their support navigating resources and obstacles to development that she began bringing Circadian Coffee Co to life — powering through roughly three years of permitting, meetings, pouring concrete, landscaping, inspections and more.

“What has emerged is exactly what we hoped for: a quality mid-valley operation built around community, connection and convenience,” Short said. “It has been incredibly rewarding to work alongside the Crawfords to create something that honors the needs of busy people while maintaining a commitment to exceptional products, meaningful service and local partnerships.”

Circadian Coffee Co’s starter menu offers both caffeinated — served hot, iced or blended — and non-caffeinated drinks — smoothie bombs, juice and hot chocolate, among other items. Pastries are both sourced from local bakers and made in-house.

“It’s exciting to see a locally owned business create a new spot for locals in the mid-valley — especially one that comes with caffeine and fancy toasts!” Basalt Mayor Pro Tem Hannah Berman said.

As of Friday, the community walk-up window is open at 70 El Jebel Road, serving coffee, açaí bowls and a variety of pastries. The drive-thru will open on Monday, June 29.

“This project has been years in the making, and seeing it come to fruition is both humbling and exciting,” Short said. “More than a coffee shop, it represents what can happen when a shared vision is met with trust, collaboration and a genuine investment in community.”

Hours of operation are Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., closed on Wednesdays, according to the company Instagram. For more information, follow @circadian_coffee_co_333.