For being what a USA Today survey calls one of the most caffeinated cities in the United States, Tampa lacks many quality coffee shops. When I moved down here, there were more empty and abandoned coffee shops than open ones. Sure, there’s a couple here and there, but for the most part it’s just Starbucks that you see on every corner.
To fight that drought, a brand new coffee shop and roastery opened in the middle of Tampa last month. It’s called Buddy Brew Coffee and is the creation of Dave Ward. The shop might be brand new, but Dave has been roasting coffee for sale locally and online for more than two years now.
It started out as a hobby, where he was roasting coffee at home with his wife. Later he decided to put up a website to see if people would buy the coffee. They built and like in Field Of Dreams, they came.
In his prior life, Dave was a mortgage banker until the credit crisis hit. That’s when the focus became the coffee. He said it’s what God wanted him to be doing, because it took miracle after miracle to make the coffee shop a reality.
The coffee shop is located at 2020 West Kennedy Blvd, on the corner of Albany St. and just a few blocks away from one of the many Starbucks in Tampa. However, Dave isn’t worried about the chain coffee shop down the street. Buddy Brew Coffee is a place where locals can hangout and people can learn about specialty coffee. He says once people taste their coffee, they’ll know the difference.
Buddy Brew Coffee only buys the top 2% of beans, the specialty grade, grade one. The coffee beans are roasted right in the shop and is for sale in bag or cup form. On any given day, there will be two to four different types of coffee brewed for sale. The bags of coffee are $12 and a bottomless cup of coffee runs just $2.
I couldn’t resist picking up a bag of their Bali Blue Moon, Organic.
The organic Bali Blue Moon coffee is cupping “over the moon”. The cup starts off with low acidity and smooth, syrupy body. An accompaniment of dark chocolate, vanilla bean, and black licorice flavors leads to a bold presence with an unforgettable aftertaste.
description from the Buddy Brew Coffee website
The next morning, I brewed some of it in my french press.
When I poured it into my cup, my nose was greeted with a mouthwatering aroma, led off by a layer of chocolate. Underneath that there were hints of licorice and vanilla like their website described. I also picked up on a little bit of cinnamon too.
On my tongue, there was just a hint of the chocolate that had dominated the aroma. There was also the licorice and vanilla balancing it out.
The after taste was exceptionally smooth and had a more nutty, darker roast flavor.
The coffee had a full city roast flavor with a very smooth feel.
Made in the french press, the coffee had a heavy body to it.
Overall, the coffee had a clean, fresh taste and was very drinkable. It earned a well above average score of 4 on the Daily Shot Of Coffee scale.
Dave says about Buddy Brew Coffee “try them, you be the judge.” So far it looks like the people are voting with their wallets. When I was there on a late Friday morning, there was a small crowd. He said that earlier in the morning it was so busy that he couldn’t keep up. It’s great to see an independent coffee shop succeeding and someone turning their passion into their career.
Check them out in person or online.
{ 15 comments }
I am so glad you found this coffee shop. I can’t wait to check it out, and it’s even on my way home from work. I’m excited to hear that they have been busy. The Tampa Bay area needs many more independent coffee shops.
You have to stop by there soon and check it out. They even have cream for people like you. JK!
Sounds like a place I need to check out. Next time I am in the Tampa area I will be sure to do that, but I will be ordering some coffee online from them in the meantime.
.-= Jamie Ferguson´s last blog ..Moloka’i Island Princess from Coffees of Hawaii Review =-.
You definitely have to stop by there next time you’re in Tampa. This is a coffee shop that you would definitely like.
aha! a coffee with superb flavor.
that must have been why i purchased a
‘Pounder’ from their website on your rating.
Awesome news. Let me know what you think about it.
you mentioned ‘…after taste was exceptionally smooth and had a more nutty, darker roast flavor….’
my tongue must be on the same wavelength as
i enjoyed the nutty roast flavor immensely.
just finished the bag today AM.
i admit to also getting a fine ash flavor since it was the full city roast!
Mike, thanks for the review – South Tampa is starting to have a quiet buzz about Buddy Brew Coffee – it’s the best coffee you can find in the Bay area. I’ve got to make it into the store.
Any other recommendations?
For us in Pinellas, I bought a bag of superb Coffee from the Buddy Brew Crew at Bay Coast on Gulf to Bay Blvd. that was great! Though the owners aren’t always there I think their coffee is and it is REALLY good.
On the Pinellas side of the bay, Bay Coast is definitely one of my favorites, although I didn’t know they were selling Buddy Brew coffee until Dave told me.
The hours posted on their site seem lame. 7 til noon Mon – Fri; Saturday – “sometimes”, and Sunday – “never”. Doesn’t sound sustainable. And I am supposed to drive there on a Sat morning on the odd chance that the “sometimes” means they’ll be there? I think not.
The best coffee I’ve found in Tampa is at the Ybor Sat Morning market – it’s unbelievably good.
The hours are a little rough, but it’s a one man operation, so you have to give him a little slack for that.
As far as the coffee at the farmer’s market, which one did you have? There’s a couple different companies there?
Thanks for sticking up for me Mike!! The hours are meant to reflect our relaxed attitude and atmosphere here. That said, I am here with coffee made by 6:30a M-Sa. The doors may be closed at noon but most days I am roasting in the afternoon so if do come by you will never by turned away and there will be a great cup waiting for you! The miracle of modern technology has also given us this crazy thing called a “telephone” so reach out and touch us: 813-258-BREW (2739).:-)
Just received some fresh roasted Bali Blue Moon in the mail and couldn’t wait to brew up some! It was worth the possible insomnia tonight! Very very tasty with my french press! Thanks David!
Thank you Sarah!!! Glad to hear you enjoyed it!:-)
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