I never realized what a challenge this assignment would be to investigate local coffee shops in my area. In the past I knew many existed, so I assumed they were still there. Was I ever in for an awakening. Unfortunately the ginormous coffee shop conglomerates seem to be taking over now. The mom & pop coffee shops that dotted the many neighborhoods in Tampa are vastly becoming a thing of the past.
All was not lost on me. I did find three extraordinary gems of coffee shops that offer something unique to the most discriminate coffee enthusiast. These are, for the most part, locally owned, or family operated, or an independent business. You may have to travel out of the way to get to these wonderful coffee haunts, but once you are there it will be worth it.
Let’s break down what these three places have to offer and why they are a favorite among many of their regular customers:
1.) Sacred Grounds Coffee House – 4819 E. Busch Blvd., Tampa, near Busch Gardens and USF (University of South Florida). Hours: Sunday – Thursday 6PM -Midnight, Friday & Saturday 6PM-2AM.
When you think of coffee houses what may come to mind are the ones from the 50’s & ’60’s in Greenwich Village with beatniks, artists, poets, and other bohemian types congregating in a like-minded setting. Then Sacred Grounds is your quintessential coffeehouse. College students from nearby USF, as well as professionals, mostly make up this diverse community. It is smoke free indoors, however, an outdoor smoking area is provided. There are a number of activities going on such as Live Music, Game Room, Library, among others. It first opened in November 1996.
The one drawback is the prices, $6 for coffee. They serve a variety of delicious good quality coffees, along with creative coffee concoctions, teas, and snacks. One of their notable dessert coffee drinks is the Almond Joy, mixed in with coconut milk, chocolate syrup, and amaretto. If its atmosphere you want, more than coffee, than Sacred Grounds Coffee House is your place.
2.) Tre Amici at the Bunker – 1907 N. 19th Street, Tampa, located in the historic district of Ybor City. Hours: Sunday to Tuesday – 7:30AM to 4PM, Wednesday to Saturday – 7:30AM to 11PM.
Oftentimes it is rare to find an establishment with excellent food, or coffee in this case, in addition to great atmosphere. Tre Amici manages to superbly do both. Definitely one of the great coffee shop jewels in Tampa. Rave reviews have been written about them. Besides their coffee bar they serve imported beer and wine. Also, there are baked goods, especially the famous Cuban sandwich which was brought over to Ybor City by the Cuban immigrants. The coffee is ground and measured to your liking. The waitstaff bring it right to your table. No pre-made, push button concoctions, or fast food mentality allowed here.
The staff is friendly and so are the prices. Ranging from under $9 to $9-$15. Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner are the meals served. Bring your laptops, because they offer free WiFi. Sit in one of their comfy chairs while being in awe of the incredible décor inside, featuring local art on the walls and a unique chandelier. The building was constructed in 1926. Read more about its history on their website. This is not your typical coffee shop it’s something you need to experience for yourself. You’ll be glad you did.
3.) La Ideal Sandwich Shop – 2924 W. Tampa Bay Blvd., Tampa, close to Raymond James Stadium. Hours: Monday-Friday 6AM – 5PM, Saturday 7AM – 4PM, Closed on Sundays.
If atmosphere isn’t so important, but a great cup of coffee, along with a mouth-watering Cuban sandwich, then I encourage you to stop on by La Ideal Sandwich Shop. Their specialty is the authentic Cuban sandwich, in addition to espresso and café con leche (Spanish for coffee with milk). They definitely serve the best coffee in Tampa. First established in 1985 as a neighborhood grocery store, serving food & drinks on the side, it then turned into a restaurant based on its popularity.
The prices have to be amongst the lowest in town, starting as low as $1.10 to the highest at $6.75. No matter where you live in the Tampa Bay area a visit to La Ideal is a must for coffee lovers. It may be off the beaten path, however, it harkens back to the old days of West Tampa.
These are three very different and unique places to go to for coffee. Make the effort to patronize these local coffee shop businesses before they too become a thing of the past.
SOURCES:
http://www.sacredgroundstampa.com/
http://tampabay.metromix.com/restaurants/pizza/sacred-grounds-coffee-house-tampa/366719/content
http://tampabay.citysearch.com/profile/2678920/tampa_fl/sacred_grounds.html#profileTab-reviews
http://www.laidealsandwichshop.com/home
http://www.insiderpages.com/b/3713119056
www.yborbunker.com
http://tampabay.metromix.com/restaurants/baked_goods/tre-amici-the-bunker-ybor-city/400421/content
http://www.yelp.com/biz/tre-amici-the-bunker-tampa
