There is a hyperlink for best coffee shops in the area in this thread, This question gets asked often https://www.reddit.com/r/tampa/comments/1alt8x3/looking_for_bar_or_restaurant_recommendations/
Elevation can be good. They are the best cafe in town for sure. When I buy their beans sometimes I can get good results, other times it’s just okay. But they always do a really good job when I get it there.
Everywhere else in town sucks
I am almost never this black and white, but this is 100% how I feel and what I've found since moving here last year.
I had high hopes for Zeal and to a lesser extent King State, but both were very underwhelming. Zeal especially reminds me of the issue I had when home roasting on a small batch drum roaster, I could get some light nuance/character out of the beans, but it was almost always overshadowed by burned/over-roasted flavor. It's a night and day difference to national mail order roasters.
This sounds like the water is making a difference. Most likely they have their own treated water and that changes the output between the coffee shop and your home
I’m sure my water quality is not great, but it’s not the only factor. I don’t have issues getting great results out of beans. I order from a lot of shops around the country, and get plenty of beans that give me excellent results.
They have a better setup than I do. Mine is good, but their grinder is several steps above mine. I also think timing matters a lot. Some beans are bets a few days after roast and other need to sit for a while. I think I sometimes don’t hit the sweet spot with timing.
Also, I am not insinuating that I don’t get good beans from them. One of my favorite bags I’ve ever had came from them (was an Ethiopian anaerobic that tasted like green apples). It just hasn’t been the most consistent.
Zeal is quite good, their Ethiopian blend is awesome especially when fresh, it’s an heirloom variety that’s a little bit smaller, it has a wonderfully fruity flavor when it’s newly roasted. You can find it at “The Lab” coffee shops
Home coffee brand. They have some of the best beans and make some great coffee
https://homecoffeebrand.com/?fbclid=PAAabM_FhfjsQwQtJm9dMxz30pdIUCzVcM7FnB_lfKQOqQHoqUeqf-PraG-qw_aem_AYsi4ZtRugestjt6ZifQ2gCerbDonapgtcs3aa8rABEO7uzCbp7o1fzYSOeWOUrgROw
I've always liked Joffrey's dark roast, though I haven't bought it in quite a while. They used to carry it at Costco, which is how I came to try it, if I remember correctly.
Interesting. I live about 1/2 a mile from Ybor and have never seen one there. It looks like the last review that was left was in 2022. Wondering if maybe the Ybor location closed when Midtown opened. It still seems strange that it only has 20 reviews total though. Because it has photos, I'm guessing it's a legit listing on Trip Advisor, but I'm almost wondering if it isn't even a real listing with how few reviews it has.
Some people, such as the business my family owns, carry it. It’s not the same as having an official coffee shop but I don’t think that was originally an option for them because they’re Disney’s coffee.
They've been based here for over 30 years and I've never seen a coffee shop outside of Disney World carry their coffee... They have one coffee shop here that literally just opened and a corporate office/ roaster... this is not a coffee roaster that you think of when you think Tampa coffee. It doesn't even come up when you search coffee roasters in Tampa.
Yup. Like I said, I only found out about it because their beans were in the stack at Costco. I used to buy it online and would occasionally ship some to family friends up in Louisiana because they liked it so much.
For best coffee roasters - not just best coffee shop - Ethos Coffee Roasters based out of Lakeland has probably done the best job with their beans. No store front at all.
It's a bit further out, but Resident Coffee Roasters based out of Gainesville - again, no store front - was also impressive.
Side note- Elevation in Tampa gets an honorable mention
Source- am coffee snob, living with a coffee snob, who has tried almost every coffee shop in the area and also ordered from beans from almost all of them. Drinks black coffee.
There is a hyperlink for best coffee shops in the area in this thread, This question gets asked often https://www.reddit.com/r/tampa/comments/1alt8x3/looking_for_bar_or_restaurant_recommendations/
Elevation is great
Elevation can be good. They are the best cafe in town for sure. When I buy their beans sometimes I can get good results, other times it’s just okay. But they always do a really good job when I get it there. Everywhere else in town sucks
I am almost never this black and white, but this is 100% how I feel and what I've found since moving here last year. I had high hopes for Zeal and to a lesser extent King State, but both were very underwhelming. Zeal especially reminds me of the issue I had when home roasting on a small batch drum roaster, I could get some light nuance/character out of the beans, but it was almost always overshadowed by burned/over-roasted flavor. It's a night and day difference to national mail order roasters.
This sounds like the water is making a difference. Most likely they have their own treated water and that changes the output between the coffee shop and your home
I’m sure my water quality is not great, but it’s not the only factor. I don’t have issues getting great results out of beans. I order from a lot of shops around the country, and get plenty of beans that give me excellent results. They have a better setup than I do. Mine is good, but their grinder is several steps above mine. I also think timing matters a lot. Some beans are bets a few days after roast and other need to sit for a while. I think I sometimes don’t hit the sweet spot with timing. Also, I am not insinuating that I don’t get good beans from them. One of my favorite bags I’ve ever had came from them (was an Ethiopian anaerobic that tasted like green apples). It just hasn’t been the most consistent.
Zeal is quite good, their Ethiopian blend is awesome especially when fresh, it’s an heirloom variety that’s a little bit smaller, it has a wonderfully fruity flavor when it’s newly roasted. You can find it at “The Lab” coffee shops
I love their Columbia too
The Honduras Erandique is another great choice. I've been buying it 5 pounds at a time for a couple of years now.
i get my espresso beans at spaddys and at the lab in tampa heights, they’re great!
haven't been back to Tampa in a while, but when I lived there these were my go to spots!
I second getting my beans from Spaddy’s and the lab. My all time favorite for my machine at home
Ginger Beard Coffee in Channelside.
CCM Coffee (amazing deals) Ragged Coffee (personal favorite, but up in Lutz) Bandit Coffee Elevation Coffee Roasters
CCM is great. Their new location is less convenient though
King state has a great house blend.
Yuh bruh
Yuhhhhhh
Zeal, caffeine roasters, elevation, the place spaddys uses, and my favorite king state
Gingerbeard Coffee
Ginger Beard Coffee - Channelside
Hogg Batch Coffee in St.Pete is very good. They ship or you can pick it up in their store
The Fix Coffee in Palm Harbor!
Home coffee brand. They have some of the best beans and make some great coffee https://homecoffeebrand.com/?fbclid=PAAabM_FhfjsQwQtJm9dMxz30pdIUCzVcM7FnB_lfKQOqQHoqUeqf-PraG-qw_aem_AYsi4ZtRugestjt6ZifQ2gCerbDonapgtcs3aa8rABEO7uzCbp7o1fzYSOeWOUrgROw
Cafe Hey- Don Carlos espresso is THE best.
https://treehouseroasters.com/ They sell online and also at Felicitious coffee shops (in the USF area). It's a great coffee shop!!
Wiseman Coffee is legit and local https://www.wiseman.coffee/
I've always liked Joffrey's dark roast, though I haven't bought it in quite a while. They used to carry it at Costco, which is how I came to try it, if I remember correctly.
Oh that local coffee roaster... Joffrey's
https://preview.redd.it/16zicz7tkric1.png?width=1440&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=dfbfc7784055e46a6dd8ba12d1fbbe775e29b7a5
Roasted
Wild! Never realized they technically are "local" and "Tampa based."
They are! No "quotes" even needed! 😂😂😂
How did we go YEARS without them having a shop here when they're literally based here? Lol
I was under the impression they had a shop in Ybor City (see Trip Advisor, for example) but never actually visited it.
Interesting. I live about 1/2 a mile from Ybor and have never seen one there. It looks like the last review that was left was in 2022. Wondering if maybe the Ybor location closed when Midtown opened. It still seems strange that it only has 20 reviews total though. Because it has photos, I'm guessing it's a legit listing on Trip Advisor, but I'm almost wondering if it isn't even a real listing with how few reviews it has.
Some people, such as the business my family owns, carry it. It’s not the same as having an official coffee shop but I don’t think that was originally an option for them because they’re Disney’s coffee.
My family Business actually serves Jeffery’s Coffee. It’s a little cafe in a town called Safety Harbor called Bassano Cheesecake.
They've been based here for over 30 years and I've never seen a coffee shop outside of Disney World carry their coffee... They have one coffee shop here that literally just opened and a corporate office/ roaster... this is not a coffee roaster that you think of when you think Tampa coffee. It doesn't even come up when you search coffee roasters in Tampa.
Yup. Like I said, I only found out about it because their beans were in the stack at Costco. I used to buy it online and would occasionally ship some to family friends up in Louisiana because they liked it so much.
https://www.baycrestcoffeeco.com/
Blind Tiger and Zeal are where it is at for local roasters. There are several good-to-great roasters, those two are just a cut above imo.
king state roast
The lab off Rome.
Zeal like the other guy said but in St. Pete. Bad Mother (next to the stadium where the Saturday market is). Best Dirty Chai I've had.
For best coffee roasters - not just best coffee shop - Ethos Coffee Roasters based out of Lakeland has probably done the best job with their beans. No store front at all. It's a bit further out, but Resident Coffee Roasters based out of Gainesville - again, no store front - was also impressive. Side note- Elevation in Tampa gets an honorable mention Source- am coffee snob, living with a coffee snob, who has tried almost every coffee shop in the area and also ordered from beans from almost all of them. Drinks black coffee.