The original location of Buddy Brew just a stones throw away from the University of Tampa, Kennedy is a great quick stop for delicious Java. There is plenty of parking around back, curbside pickup and order ahead options, indoor and outdoor dining experiences, a rewards program, and plenty of merch to bring home with you if you find yourself to be an avid supporter of the brand, such as fresh roasted beans (which theyll grind for you should you wish), mugs, stickers, shirts, light hoodies, hats, and more. For my first experience, Id say it produces a cozy vibe, stellar customer service, and pretty solid coffee. I tried the Cortado, which was prepared beautifully and was unique from others that I have tried on flavor (presumably from the choice of roast). Since I purchased beans as well, I received a drip coffee to go, so I tried their Pig Jig roast. I thought it was pretty good, but I dont usually prefer medium roast and would probably not order that particular brew again. Im very excited to try their Free Wheelin and Mexico roasts back at home in my new Buddy Brew cup since in my area back in South Florida I cant find these roast options in stores! In summary, I would say they are more like a 4.5, but since I was pleased with the overall experience, it was hard to say 4/5.
The coffee is very tasty and the food tastes good, but unfortunately each time I have eaten here I have gotten food poising and was not able to leave the house if you know what I mean. It’s worth mentioning I also have a stomach of steel. Would get the coffee again, the food, not so much.
Really liked this place. Coffee was great. Better than Starbucks.
Love the coffee, but why the change in cups for iced beverages?? Not a fan of the big bulky styrofoam cups :/
Buddy Brew is the best place to get coffee and a breakfast treat in Tampa! They have multiple locations but I like this one on Kennedy best because it gives you easy access to so many different parts of Tampa. The cold brew is homemade by them and always so smooth and easy to drink. Try a chocolate croissant too! I have heard great things about their sandwiches too! Regardless, you wont be disappointed. The staff is always so friendly and helpful, too. I highly recommend this spot. I drive over 20 - 25 minutes because its worth it. Enjoy!
October is my favorite time because of the fresh made pumpkin.
Amazing coffee. Definitely can tell the quality in this coffee. Great staff. Very friendly. Warm and welcoming. Quiet on the inside. A lot of people studying. The only problem I have with this place is it’s always over crowded and sometimes you can’t even sit down that’s the only problem with buddy brew. Once it gets warmer out I’m sure they’ll put tables and chairs outside. Thank you guys!
Great place for a coffee and quick bite.The staff is friendly and makes you feel at home. Definitely a favorite amongst us locals!
Huge fan of all things Buddy Brew Coffee! Get a pour-over, its absolutely worth the wait if you are a true coffee connoisseur, but the lattes are also wonderful. You absolutely must get the poached egg and avocado toast (they have a gluten free option as well), its TO DIE FOR! Wonderful atmosphere great for a short visit (its a fast-paced coffee shop). Have loved watching this company grow over the years and they continue to raise the bar.
Amazing coffee and chai, in a cool location.
Coffee is top notch, environment is great and service is exceptional. Especially from the barista Lauren, shes always on point and a cheerful person to be around.
We were far from home and looking for some good coffee. Buddy Brew was the best decision! Great looking shop. Plenty of space. Clean. THE BEST COFFEE! Also, dog friendly!
By far the best coffee Ive ever had in Tampa! The staff is great and friendly! The location is beautiful and very clean! Walking distance from the University of Tampa. They have almond and soy milk, which is amazing! Their coffee is not bitter at all! Their lattes, iced and hot, are really good!! Highly recommend to visit if youre in the area!
Good enough.. chased me down and said there was chemical contamination to my coffee and then had to wait 10 mins for a refill.. would def code starbucks
Very relaxed. Good people good coffee.
Coffee and food amazing. Best avocado toast I’ve ever had! 100% recommend.
Lovely coffee shop, I appreciate the seating by the coffee bar! Cant wait to come again.
The OG Buddy Brew on Kennedy! Service is awesome, coffee is anyway you want, and they usually have whatever swag you didnt know you needed! It tends to be loud and crowded with friends chatting and people working!
This is one of the best coffee shops in the area! The place to sit is nice and large and the atmosphere is just right to have a cup. The employees are very informed on coffee and can help with any coffee related question you may have whether it is Chemex, French Press, Areopress, Kalita, and even tea related. There coffee is weighed and timed along with there great selection of teas. If Im ever back in the area I will be coming back to have an amazing cup of coffee!
Buddy Brew was delicious! This was a decently sized shop, and parking behind the building was a little tight but there seemed to be enough spots. The staff was very friendly and the coffee and food were both delicious. I judge new coffee places based on their regular latte and this one did not disappoint - it was rich and smooth and delicious. I would definitely come back here again.
Initial thoughts upon coming here was 5 stars. Coffee was great, atmosphere was great, definitely a comfortable looking coffee shop to get some work done.Going to several different coffee shops a week, this was the first coffee shop that myself and my friend had to enter our phone numbers and email to use the wifi. And then on top of that, youre only limited to two hours of use? We said why not, and got to work. About 10 minutes in, the wifi slowed down severely, and then eventually stopped working. We waited to see if it would improve, but it stayed down.So the coffee is great, the atmosphere is great, but if youre looking for somewhere to put headphones in and get work done for a few hours without having to think about it, this doesnt seem like the place to go.
The staff here are all so kind and welcoming! I don’t know all their names but I recognize their faces every time I go in for coffee.I live closer to a different buddy brew but this one is the best and I drive a little extra to go here!
Buddy Brew is by far one of my favorite coffee shops in Florida. The environment is very cute and clean. I fell in love from the second I walked in. Buddy Brew is the Disney of coffee shops. It pulls you in and makes you want to go again.I ordered the cold brew lemonade; it was very different from any cold brew Ive ever had, but thats what made it great. I wish I had time to order more.Go to Buddy Brew! You will not be disappointed.
I love coming here to study. The atmosphere is relaxing, the music is nice and not too distracting. The only problem with this place is that parking is very hard to find. I also wish they were open later, like their other location.
The coffee and food is amazing. You can feel the connection the staff has to one another. When I went in there, they were all laughing at each others jokes and having a great time. Parking can be a pain at this location, though.
Been going to Buddy Brew on Kennedy when the owner had one couch...the roaster going near it and a small wooden counter to order at....We watched the owner literally run from the roaster into the backroom... it has grown...but in a beautiful way....still at the same Kennedy location but it has the entire building now and they have many more locations ..but still has that ...feeling a coffee brew house should and the most delicious coffees and some munchies too...I drive miles to get my coffee.. and have ordered on line...I am a loyal drinker and have turned on many to the Brew...Best Tampa success story...and best coffee around..the holiday blend...I look forward to it every year..and have a stash of it hidden in my house just for me..lol
First time here and it was busy my wife got a cold brew ice latte and i got a regular coffee with honey. I add half and half with some cinnamon.We both enjoyed the tast of our coffees and the service was good.I was surprised how many people were hanging out doing there thing. There was a variety of people couples with kids, businessmen and students.I see they also serve alcohol and have a happy hour starting at 4pm.
I went looking for champabay coffee and let me tell you, its a hot seller. I went online and ordered since they were out. Once it came in, I had a cup and its so good. Sumatra is my go to but this one is my #2 now, very smooth.
Since I moved here a year ago, I have had only positive experiences here. The motivated staff and smiles brings a truly genuine vibrance that I havent found elsewhere in Tampa. I have pushed many close friends and family to this great place and only have recieved outstanding feedback! If you want good coffee, great food and magnificent service come here! Also if you want to see celebrities in and out this is the place! Great seeing such wholesome nice people drinking coffee and comingling in a positive environment!
Coffee is awesome, pastries are unreal. Love going here
Absolutely love this place! Friendly service, delicious coffee and a cozy atmosphere. I own Paws & Relax - a dog walking and pet sitting business, and I often come in here to work in a relaxing place. Even though there’s plenty of bustle from those who know how great the coffee is, I’m still at peace getting scheduling done, responding to emails, making phone calls, etc. Highly recommend!
Amazing coffee and customer service! Please help the buddy brew on bay to bay they are much closer to my job!! My coffee is always gross and watered down with them🤢
This place is GREAT. Everyone knows that.Except(and with love):1. High employee turnover.2. Tables rarely wiped.3. Bathroom and floors dirty.4. Music not adjusted for traffic.I will always come back. Just trying to help. Those items should be addressed. Youre obviously do well. Maybe hire an evening cleaning service? This is a high end coffee bar. Thank you
I love buddy brew! Its always a treat and the staff is amazing!
Stopped in for a quick bite while sightseeing. I had their club on a croissant with pesto mayo. My friend had a salmon blt. Both were wonderful. We got a table out of the sidewalk in the breeze and really enjoyed it. Would definitely go back again
Buddy Brew Kennedy is always a solid choice. A wide and wonderful food menu, along with incredible coffee, wine, beer, teas, really anything you could want with plenty of vegan and vegetarian options as well.The ambience and seating arrangements make it a cozy place to share a conversation or just sit and work. This is one of my favorite remote work spots and will quickly become one of yours too if it isnt already. Brew good do good! Love this place
Please ignore the Karen below. Not wearing a mask completely disregards the safety of others and private business have the right to refuse service for whatever reason. Anyways, this coffee shop is amazing 10/10. Love the experience here! Clearly, the employees and the owner are taking the right safety precautions to ensure that customers have a safe and pleasurable experience at their shop.
Hands down the best cortados in the Tampa bat area. I love coffee and frequent places every week. Absolutely none of the others come close to making as good of a cortado as they do here
Really love their menu BUT they took away some of their outside seating and we were given a very poor excuse as to why. They said “It was out their for COVID, so now we took it away”. (which doesn’t even make sense because COVID is here to stay!) Well, they are turning away guests who prefer outdoor seating! It doesn’t take much to put a few extra tables outside. We asked and they said no.
Very calm hang out spot. The breakfast sandwiches were actually very good, it beats a lot of breakfast locations for the sandwiches alone. The coffee is a nice kicker and it feels like someones living room when youre inside, a very comforting place.
Buddy Brew has always been a great experience for me but it was different this weekend. I believe they did away with the paper menus, the food presentation wasnt good (my egg yolk was already broken when I got my food), they gave us plastic utensils, the service was slow and all of the employees seemed to have woken up on the wrong side of the bed. Ill definitely be back but Im hoping itll be the good experience that I typically have.
Always love the oatmilk vanilla lattes and stellar breakfast sandwiches. One of my favorite work away from office places!
Love the local feel, delicious food and great presentation.
Always a great experience, friendly baristas, good coffee, good food. Dog friendly! All their locations are awesome.
Today before work I was finally able to drive by and see there was parking at Buddy Bew so I decided to turn in and grab some coffee and a bite.The parking Lot is very small but, from what ive heard, you can also park along the street right near Buddy Brew. The inside of the shop is very cute and has the hipster coffee shop vibe. Love the decorations and looked like there was ample seating for the amount of spots in the parking. Some couches as well as tables with chairs made for a great setting to sit and lounge.I was greeted by a barista and the cashier, who helped with suggestions for my order. I decided to go with some other yelper suggestions and got the Iced Latte. It was a pleasant drink and i didnt have to add any sugar or milk which is always a plus.I also decided to get the Muenster Mash, which is an excellent sandwich. Muenster cheese, Pesto, and Arugala. I was very pleased with this option and had to take a bite right when i go to my car since I had to take this to work. The taste was excellent and i would definitely recommend this sandwich.Overall a nice experience at Buddy Brew, Ill definitely be coming back to try some new options but for my first time at this location I will say im a fan.
I read a lot of reviews of this place, the complaints on the parking didnt affect me as I was a walker. I entered the shop and waited in a very long line, must have walked in at the most popular time. Anyway, stood in line I guess for maybe 15- 20 minutes, I think that is the longest I have waited for a coffee, so I was really hoping it was going to be a good one, I am a big coffee fan.Once I got to the unenthusiastic server, I ordered a cappuccino and poached eggs on toast with avocado - Priced stated the avocados are MARKET PRICE this meant $4!! wow $4 for half an avocado, you are telling me, they pay $8 for an avocado? Get out of here!I did like the decor, and there were plenty different seating options, from single chairs to sofas, high top tables and bars to regular tables and chairs, I can see they put a lot of effort into the build out of this establishment. Bathroom was cute.My coffee was made but I didnt hear my name called out so it sat at the bar and got cold. Food tasted good, although eating it was bitter sweet as I know the cost of that avocado wasnt justified.When I finally got my cold coffee, it was bitter and not very impressive, so that was a shame.I did enjoy being able to relax and work on my laptop.3 stars for the decor, vibe, size and location.Adjust the cost of your avocados and train your staff to be a little more happy and it would have been 4/5 - 5/5.Also, its pretty warm inside, please adjust the AC a few notches.
This was the first Buddy Brew Coffee location I visited. The staff is very friendly and have great recommendations on drinks!Seating tends to fill up quickly. If you plan on staying for a few hours to study/work make sure you arrive early or during slow hours.The shop is easy to locate since its right off Kennedy but parking can get tricky (there is limited parking space). You can park behind the building or on the side of the street.I like to order the Old Florida Chai. Its made with orange zest, coriander, chili and cinnamon. Its a nice twist to regular Chai!
Coffee is so-so in my opinion. Parking is super tight, but nothing they can really do there. Price was good, but the coffee was WAY to HOT. I couldn’t drink it for at least 15 minutes. It would have been longer if I didn’t take the lid off.I had their rainforest blend. I should have gone with something else, I normally don’t like fruity Troyes of coffee. I will come back though.
Open indoors and out. Cool atmosphere and friendly crew!
Customer service wasn’t as expected. Unoriginal drinks snd pretty weak espresso concentrate. There are better places to get coffee from, even though this place is really well for photos. Wasn’t my hoped experience.
Lets be honest, Buddy Brew does everything by the book and they do it exceptionally and consistently. Thats what matters at the basis of coffee, but beyond that BB has some of the most well informed and friendly Baristas, some amazing food options, and by far the greatest environment to enjoy your coffee in the greater Tampa area.
I have now been here twice and it is such a cute place to meet friends for coffee. It is definitely on the young/hip vibe but it is good quality coffee and food.
Great service, and a delicious breakfast. The peppermint mocha tastes candy, so refreshing.
Horrible, pretty much sums up my whole experience here. From the moment I arrived, I was having issues. It took me about 15 mins just to find parking in the area. Before I even went inside the shop, my friend and I were heavily gazed at by the people inside, as if we were some aliens they’ve never encountered. The energy inside this place was completely off, so much so, that I rushed to eat so that I could leave. Also, the staff was dull and unhelpful.Now for the food & drinks : i ordered a vanilla iced latte with an egg avocado toast. The coffee wasn’t too bad but mostly tasted like whole milk and had no hint of vanilla . The egg avocado toast lacked in flavor, honestly not sure if it was even seasoned. I think I paid more for the presentation of the plate itself and would’ve been better off making it myself at home . Since they do feel the need to give you utensils with your toast, please offer lighter forks and knives. My friend and I were confused by the heaviness of it, which made eating our food uncomfortable. Another thing, using environmental friendly straws, I get it it’s great, and I completely support it. However, a better eco-friendly straw should be used, since I had peices of cardboard in my mouth mid-way through the drink, due to the straw becoming soggy.I suggest coming to this establishment if your looking to feel unwelcomed in a pretentious crowd! It is clear that they cater to a certain clientele only. However, if this is the ambiance you enjoy, you’ll love it and fit right in !
Cozy atmosphere with warehouse-height ceilings and industrial-rustic decor. Perfect for meetings, work or relaxing.
This coffee shop was recommended to my family. Its a great place to sip the citys best coffee that complements well with their sumptuous meals! Its atmosphere is homey, and the menu contains a variety of dishes and drinks. It is well air-conditioned, and the music played on the speakers was generally lovely. Truly a must-visit coffee shop!
Got a normal drip coffee with the Ethiopian. I was pleasantly surprised with the acidity and level of fruitiness that the coffee had. I’d definitely stop in again if I’m in the area.
Nice service.
A big thank you to Java!!! He treated my husband and I with such respect and kindness. He understood that we have a disability and looked past it. He was willing to serve us when many have turned us away because of our disability. I will always come back this this place and I hope everyone does the same. There should be more people in the world like him. Thank you, Java. You’re awesome!!!
Whenever I’m in town, I always go out of my way to stop for some fresh brewed coffee here. The quality of the coffee and the atmosphere A+
Big fan of hot chai latte with 3 shots of espresso. Tastes good. Looks good. Does the body good.
Yum! super cute and a great palette cleanser. The house-made syrups are a must-try. (Pro tip: an iced latte with whole milk and extra caramel is the way to go). I just wish it werent so pricey!
Recently Hillsborough County on the mask ordinance. If someone can’t medically wear a mask, they don’t have to. There is a Federal Law - the ADA - that protects this. Anyone who tries to make you wear a mask and asks about it, can be fined $75,000. I was asked to wear one and I said that I can’t and was told by a guy that worked there that I have to leave. Per the new adjusted ordinance, Buddy Brew and this employee can be fined $75,000. Not cool guys.
Nice place for coffee I like the set up for service too
If you haven’t traveled and tried coffee shops outside of Tampa, then it’s hard to truly appreciate how amazing Buddy Brew really is. For example, I have an obnoxious order, they oblige and make me feel like people ask for that same order all the time. They just “get it.” I’m outside of Tampa right now, ordering from a highly rated coffee shop in Charlotte. They don’t get it. Really appreciating and longing for Buddy Brew right now!
Awesome! Very friendly and educated staff. I advised them it was my first time in and what my preferences are and the young man gave me a sound recommendation and explanation for it.