By Ryan Kasley
CRAFT KAFÉ With two locations in St. Pete, downtown and Pasadena, and a newly opened Hyde Park Café, Kraft’s reputation for gluten-free artisan eats is catching on. Their specialty drinks like the “Pretty Woman” blend house-made almond milk and vanilla syrup with small batch espresso. DTSP, Pasadena
PARADECO Treat yourself to inventive takes on coffee classics inside the airy, Art Deco-inspired shop just off Beach Drive. I tried the non-alcoholic “Cold Fashioned”– single origin cold brew, Vermont maple syrup, oat milk, orange bitters, topped with express orange peel and a maraschino cherry–and it’s easy to see why the new kid on the block has quickly developed a cult following. DTSP
BANDIT This buzzy minimal-chic Grand Central spot roasts their own coffee fresh every week. They also offer locally sourced bites and beer and wine. You can’t go wrong with anything on the menu, but the Masala Chai Latte is exquisite. DTSP
BLACK CROW The enduring popularity of this Grand Central fixture could be attributed to their expertly sourced and roasted beans, their commitment to Zero Waste, or the friendly baristas. Whatever it is we’re hooked. Keep an eye out for rotating special drinks like the Cherry Match Lemonade. Delicious muffins, rosemary shortbread cookies and chocolate croissants sweeten the day. Central Ave., Old Northeast DTSP
BAD MOTHER Tucked inside St. Pete’s Station House, Bad Mother offers a rotating selection of coffee roasters sure to keep any aficionado coming back for more. Their pour over coffee is served on a tray with a glass carafe, sparkling water and an information card, so you can learn more about what you’re drinking.
THE CHELSEA This boho cafe features Dancing Goat coffee, amazing iced mocha latte and a delish iced green tea with hibiscus syrup as well as growlers of cold brew for sale, witty cards and gifts and locally made sweet and savory eats from muesli to handheld chicken pot pies.
GRASSROOTS KAVA HOUSE Need a pick me up or something to chill you out? Enjoy a full coffee menu as well as kava and kratom till midnight. Get the best of both worlds with a CBD infused espresso shot.
HOGG BATCH The special ingredient in their java is bourbon. Single origin raw coffee beans are aged in fresh-dumped bourbon barrels (or other spirits) to extract their unique flavors, creating non-alcoholic coffee with complex tasting notes. Start with their “Old St Pete Batch #1.” Online, order the Coffee+Rum, Coffee+ Peppermint Liqueur and decaf Coffee+Whiskey.
