The 1,820 square foot coffee shop and café will be the eighth location for Buddy Brew Coffee and the first in Pinellas County. Owners Susan and Dave Ward currently operate five locations in Tampa (with a sixth on the way) and one in Sarasota.

The new outpost will be located at 2424 4th Street North in a new retail strip that was constructed following the demolition of the former Holiday Motel.

What started out as a hobby of roasting coffee beans at home has become a successful business spanning numerous cafés and Buddy Brew products in Publix stores all over the state of Florida.

According to their website, over a decade ago, Susan and Dave jokingly created a label for the brew, named after their dog Buddy, and gave bags of their home-roasted creation to friends for Christmas. People fell in love with the coffee, the name stuck, and Buddy Brew Coffee was born.

Buddy Brew serves every kind of espresso-based coffee drink you can think of, including an americano, cortado, cappuccino, latte, flat white and red eye.  Customers can also order a Buddy Brew Screw consisting of a shot of espresso chased with fresh squeezed grapefruit juice, which contains an enzyme that slows down the body's ability to process caffeine, resulting in a longer lasting caffeine buzz.

Additionally, for the coffee purists, and to truly taste the difference between coffee from different regions, the slow bar offers pour-overs of a single origin roasts. The daily selection depends on what has been recently roasted, but expect to see beans from Brazil, Guatemala, Ethiopia, Bali, Columbia, Peru, and more.

Not in the mood for coffee? Buddy Brew also offers a wide selection of non-coffee beverages, such as fresh juice, hot chocolate, smoothies, iced tea, matcha tea, and more. Beer, wine, and bubbles are also available. 

As for food, on the lighter side, a variety of toast is available. Options include avocado toast, peanut butter and banana toast, and olive oil and poached egg toast. Add-ons like cheese, egg, and bacon come with a surcharge. 

On the heartier side, grab one of the sandwiches (or salads). The Hyde Park consists of egg, onions, poblano peppers & Swiss American cheese on ciabatta bread. Or check out The Classic, with egg, ham and Swiss American cheese on Cuban bread.

An opening date is still unknown, but we are happy to see Buddy Brew finally ‘hop the pond’ and join the St. Pete coffee scene with a new café at 2424 4th Street North.

Be sure to follow Buddy Brew Coffee on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates and grand opening plans.