JUST BREW IT Coffee Shops Offer More Than a Cuppa Jo

Just Brew It

Local coffee shops go far beyond a simple cuppa joe

PHOTOS/KAYLA GLEASON

All over St. Pete, coffee and pastry shops work hard to cater to their neighborhoods and specific clientele. Some roast their own unique blends, others buy from and support local roasters. Some offer foods for those with dietary restrictions, others experiment with alcohol to make caffeinated cocktails. But wherever their specialty lies, these are some of the best spots in town to grab a quick pick-me-up or take a seat and hang out for a while.

A vegan galaxy bar and cappuccino at Craft Kafé

BY KAYLA GLEASON

Valhalla Bakery at Baum Ave. Market 1113 Central Ave.

Opened last November, Valhalla Bakery brings a variety of vegan treats to the hopping EDGE District, hoping to break the stigma around the diet. “I think it’s a great fit for us and we want to be a fun place for the community to just come hang out,” said owner Celine Duvoisin. Some of their most popular bakery items include the fresh biscuit sandwiches and Nanaimo bars – a pastry popular in the Pacific Northwest and Canada consisting of a graham cracker-coconut crust and

vegan dark chocolate. The bakery is hoping to grow into wholesale and begin taking more custom cake orders. “We’re going to see what the community wants from us and do that,” Duvoisin said. www.valhallabakery.com.

Intermezzo Coffee and Cocktails 1111 Central Ave.

Right next door to Valhalla Bakery, Intermezzo Coffee and Cocktails, owned by Jarrett Sabatini, has been serving up specialty brews and mixed drinks since 2016. To make their roasts, the shop

works with both Kuma Coffee in Seattle and local brand Made. Espresso drinks, like cappuccinos, are always popular with customers, according to assistant general manager Katie Callihan. Cold brew and iced coffee, especially as temperatures rise, are also common orders. Other popular drinks include the alcohol-infused Caffe Mezzo and Espresso Martini. “The idea is to provide an intermission in the busy day, to encourage people to take five minutes to enjoy a cup of coffee or a glass of wine and recharge,” said Sabatini. “I wanted to design a place I would want to hang out, somewhere with a lounge sort

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Classic French pastries at Cassis Bakery

of vibe, not just a place to get work done.” www.intermezzo.com

Beans and Barlour 538 1st Ave. N.

Last August, after starting a coffee shop on the south side of St. Pete, Story Stuart came up with a concept based on her three loves – dessert, coffee and cocktails – and decided to move downtown and open retro, lounge-like Beans and Barlour. The shop is partnered with a roasting company in Asheville that creates an exclusive coffee blend focused on organic, fair-trade beans. They make some of the most unique and popular drinks in the area, like their crème brulee coffee topped with a layer of caramelized sugar and one aptly named “Campfire Story” which features a hickory smoke-infused glass, chocolate and house-made vanilla syrup and a helping of gooey marshmallow.

Beans and Barlour also gives customers the option to spike anything on the menu, making it a perfect late-night hangout. Stuart suggests a classic like the Espresso Martini or the trendy Bold Brew – cold brew mixed with vodka rather than water. Stuart hopes to open a second location and mobile Barlour soon but until then, stop by their 1st Avenue shop. www.beansandbarlour.squarespace.com

Locale Market 179 2nd Ave. N.

Locale Market in Sundial in the heart of downtown features a collection of gourmet coffee, food and wine, curated by renowned chefs Michael Mina and Don Pintabona. For those looking for a caffeine fix or just in the mood for a locally roasted cup of joe, the Locale Coffee Bar has everything from 18-hour nitro cold brew to drip coffee and single-origin espresso. The coffee bar has even worked with St. Pete based Made brand coffee to create their own special blend using beans from Guatemala and Brazil.

Coming into the warmer months, one of the most popular items is the in-house cold brew, according to barista Emma Stone. “It pulls like a Guinness, so it’s really smooth and really strong. Our pastries also all go really fast because they’re buy one, get one after 3 pm,” she said. www.localegourmetmarket.com

Craft Kafé 200 Central Ave. and 6653 Central Ave.

Craft Kafe, a gluten-free bakery and coffee shop, got its start in 2015 under owner Teddy Skiadiotis and quickly outgrew its one storefront. Now, a second

location in the heart of downtown serves up the same quality brews and pastries with plans to expand into a dinner menu. Craft Kafé’s main coffee supplier is Onyx out of Kansas City, Missouri; however, they also feature many local companies like Bandit and Buddy Brew. From these, they create some of their most popular coffees, including the highly caffeinated Kyoto drip and cold brew drinks.

The shop also mills all their own flour, ensuring everything is completely gluten free. “We want to cater to people with dietary restrictions, people who have trouble finding places where they can eat,” said barista Alexx Noumena, who recommends trying the vegan galaxy bars, cinnamon buns and pizza by the slice. www.craftkafe.com

Black Crow Coffee Co. 2161 1st Ave. S. and 722 2nd St. N.

Black Crow Coffee, opened in 2015 by owner Deana Hawk, features their own brand of coffee roasted in-house using beans from South America and Africa. The shop was opened to provide artists with

Cappuccino at Black Crow CoffeeVegan pastries at Valhalla Bakery

a space free of censorship and now hosts open mic nights twice a month at both locations. Aside from the atmosphere, regulars keep coming back simply for the great, local coffee, with some of their favorites being the Banana Mocha and Purple Haze – a chocolate, hazelnut latte for all the Nutella-lovers out there.

And while the foods aren’t exclusively vegan or gluten-free, Black Crow does have many delicious options for those with dietary restrictions, including the very popular and often hard to find vegan/ gluten-free bagels and donuts. Look for the eclectic, greenery-filled storefronts. www.blackcrowcoffeeco.com

Cassis Bakery 170 Beach Drive NE

Opened in 2010 by owners Phillipe Beroit and Lisa Wannemacher, Cassis Bakery shares both its name and mission with its next-door neighbor Cassis: to bring classic European flavors — most notably,

French – to the St. Pete area.

The shop serves locally brewed Kahwa coffee and a variety of teas from TeBella but, to locals, some of the most popular options remain house coffee and cold brew. According to front manager Jūratė Navickas, tourists – many from out of the country – also love trying out the Americano.

But Cassis doesn’t stop at coffee, they serve up a diverse bakery menu, too, featuring everything from gelato to fruit-filled tarts to colorful macarons – all made in-house by Pastry Chef Katherine Williams.

If you go, Navickas recommends trying some fan favorites like the macaron ice cream, the cassis ice cream (French for black currant) or the peppermint white chocolate mocha. www.cassisstpete.com

Kahwa Coffee 204 2nd Ave. S. and 475 2nd Ave. N.

Though Kahwa has transformed itself into a multi-store coffee shop, spreading as far as Sarasota and Tampa, the café got its start right here in downtown St. Pete with owners Rafael and Sarah Perrier and has

retained its cozy, neighborly atmosphere. Every cup is made from locally roasted 100 percent Arabica beans, though the feature brew changes from week to week according to barista Molly Beckman, allowing visitors to experience a variety of flavors from around the globe.

Cold and nitro brews have been some of the biggest draws. So popular, in fact, Kahwa started selling cans of the drink at Publix and Whole Foods. And nothing pairs better with a Kahwa coffee than a classic, flaky croissant as those fly off the shelfs, Beckman said. Seasonal items, like the strawberry vegan muffin, also sell extremely well. The honey peach matcha latte, for instance, was specially crafted for St. Patrick’s Day but was served long past the holiday due to a local love for the green drink. Find locations at www.kahwacoffee.com

Bandit Coffee Co. 2662 Central Ave.

Bandit Coffee specializes in drinks made using their own locally roasted brand. While the specific beans change from season to season – right now, they’re using some from Colombia and Ethiopia – crowd favorites remain the same.

DINING OUT

Worth Mentioning

(swah-rey), 2105 Central Ave., pronounces itself as St. Pete’s only dessert bar and features a vast and ever-changing array of handmade sweets. Brew D Licious, 667 Central Ave., serves up local favorite No Name Java Coffee and offers a pet-friendly environment with both indoor and outdoor seating.

Top Left: Crème Brulee coffee at Beans and Barlour Top Right: Vegan and gluten-free treats at Craft Kafé Bottom Left: Sweet pastries on display for spring at Locale Market

According to lead barista Madison Binder, cold brew and anything espresso based, like lattes, are extremely popular amongst the locals who come to work and hang out. Topped with fresh, in-season fruits, scones and danishes also sell out quickly and are the perfect partner to a cup of whatever you decide on. The café recently received its beer and wine license and is working on building a full-service kitchen. www.banditcoffee.com

Banyan Café and Catering 689 Dr. MLK. Jr. St. N. and 701 Central Ave.

Operating out of two locations, Banyan Café focuses on serving a

hearty brunch menu and local coffee from Buddy Brew. Since opening in 2009, it recently switched owners to Hernan Nova and his family, though it still retains its original values – bringing the neighborhood together in a classic, comfortable setting. Some of the most popular items – demonstrated by three different customers ordering the exact same meal minutes apart from one another – include the breakfast sandwich (eggs, white cheddar and a choice of spinach or bacon served on Cuban bread) and the salted caramel iced latte. Specialty coffee drinks can pop up at the locations whenever the inspiration strikes! www.banyancoffee.com

For those in need of a quick tune-up on their two-wheel transportation or those simply looking for a good cup of coffee, The Bikery Coffee & Bicycle Shop, 2222 1st Ave. S., welcomes customers with its unique aesthetic. Near Historic Uptown, Gypsy Souls Coffeehouse, 515 Dr. MLK Jr. St. N. and Flatbread and Butter, 497 7th Ave. N., help customers get away from some of the hustle and bustle of downtown while serving up roasts from around the world and vegan/gluten-free fare, respectively.

Though it’s a bit of a drive from downtown, Southside Coffee Brew Bar, 3922 6th St. S., brings a similar laidback atmosphere to the Bayou Shores neighborhood. And for those who aren’t looking for chain-store coffee but also don’t have time to get out of their cars, now there’s an option: Pineapple Espresso at 3045 Dr. MLK Jr. St. N. They serve up everything from cold brew to drip coffee and a whole menu of health food and you never have to leave your car!