Tampa’s Coffee Era
My general vibe.
Has anyone noticed a surge in new coffee shops around the Bay area lately? I don’t know if this is a national or local trend, but coffee shops are popping up everywhere. I mean like comparable to the brewery trend from a decade ago. From standalones in storefronts and houses to conveniently-located coffee trucks, entrepreneurs are taking the green and white behemoth head on. And with them they are bringing their own unique style and niche.
I have a love for coffee that almost borders on addiction so for me this has been a wonderful development. It’s quite tantalizing to go into a new shop and check out their definitive vibe, specialty drinks, and their clientele. Below are a few notable places worth checking out. This list is by no means representative of the whole scene. I’ll likely do a part two to this article soon.
Lattes and smoothies at SOG Cafe.
SOG Cafe
This spot is like home to me and it's the place that I go to the most on this list. I’m appropriately writing this piece from here. SOG, which stands for South of Gandy, is in a cozy storefront on Interbay and MacDill. They serve several different styles and a number of lattes, including seasonal flavors like coconut and churro. They also serve smoothies and acai bowls, which I hear are delicious. They also have outstanding breakfast sandwiches using Cuban bread. There are a number of places on this list that serve Cuban bread, but SOG stands out because its thin, crispy, and deftly buttered.
The crowd here are young yuppie families who have some association with MacDill Air Force Base (defense contractors, currently serving, or retired military.)The staff here are some of the nicest people you’ll encounter. Very sweet. Very accommodating. Shout out to Omar, Ron, Sophia, and the crew!
Toasted Coconut Latte at Kubana Kafe.
Kubana Kafe
This is a Cuban-themed cafe that occupies a space on South Dale Mabry where two previous coffee shops fell victim. Not only is it thriving there, it’s doing so in the shadow of a recently opened Dutch Bros.Coffee.
Kubana Cafe’s specialty are specialty lattes. The Toasted Coconut and Spanish lattes, in particular, are bangers. The Toasted Coconut is like a sweet and light coconut milkshake. It’s quite frankly one of the best coffee drinks I’ve had locally. The Spanish Latte is not as sweet, but quite delicious. It’s just well-made. My one caveat with Kubana Kafe is that it's likely the most expensive place on this list. They pretty much only do specialty drinks and the price point on average is about 8.00ish. When you get it with oat milk, which I do as a favor to anyone I sit next to, the price adds up. However, the drinks are tasty for sure.
The vibe is young, gen Z hot girl. So fellas (and ladies) if you’re looking to meet an attractive, in shape young lady, this may be your spot. Also, Kubana Kafe does plenty of events that give women a chance to hang and connect, like painting classes.
Wee Vegan Cafe
Wee Vegan has sorta become the standard for vegan eats in the Bay area. What started out as a delivery-only bakery has also been a standalone shop since 2021. They are known for delicious and decadent bakery treats. However, they also have outstanding coffee and what’s better, because they are a vegan cafe, you don’t get charged extra for gut and friendship-saving oat milk options.
The vibe is local, neighborhoody, and diverse. You pretty see all types, sizes, shapes, and colors here. A beautiful thing. The staff is super-friendly, you’ll feel like home when you’re here.
Ivry
A newcomer among newcomers. Ivry is located across the street from Plant High School. Ivry has a variety of coffees available, but it is slightly more food-focused. They have outstanding, Middle Eastern-themed flatbreads that are rich, full of savory spices (but not spicy), and delicious. I particularly liked the egg and cheese. They also have delectable pastries. Harper got the creme brulee donut.
Ivry has clean lines and a comfortable setting. While people work there, it feels like a place that you just chill, catch up with friends, or take a date.
The Beach House
Perhaps the newest of the newcomers, The Beach House, as you would imagine, is beach-themed right down to the images of a woman tanning on the beach in the bathroom. And tons of shells and pastel colors throughout. They are similar to Kubana Cafe with the high-end latte focus. However, they also have matcha, fresh juices, and protein shakes.
The service is super-great here as well (shoutout to Lauren). But I find the most interesting about The Beach House is the layout and the crowd. The Beach House is literally a house and the sitting areas are like bedrooms in it, which actually makes it a good place to quietly take a meeting. Also, every coffee shop has an audience, The Beach House’s appears to be South Tampa stay-at-home moms. Lots of young women with strollers yapping and sipping.
