Shortwave Coffee Review
It’s a new New Year and I’m now back in Tampa ready to get 2023 started the best way I know how with a little productivity and a great cup of coffee. I thought it’d be fitting that my first review back in town be on the newest addition to our neighborhood, Shortwave Coffee. It was no mystery that Water St Tampa was in serious need of a local coffee shop to facilitate the need for caffeine we junkies craved working remotely. Outside of Greenwise’s Kahwa offerings and The Edition’s cafe on the first floor [review on this to come], there really weren’t any good options in the immediate area without having to walk to Victory Coffee. Situated on the north side of Channelside’s Sparkman Wharf, you can quickly grab a cup of coffee before heading to your workout at F45 or grab a seat and enjoy the upscale contemporary styling inside the shop. This place exudes an aura of inspiration that you won’t be able to resist and provides a fantastic environment to get work done for even the most serious workaholics. I myself found myself working in the shop for almost four hours without even noticing.
Hello Neighbor
This is just what the Warf was missing.
Massive windows give way to an abundance of natural light that brightens the neutral tones within the large open floorplan that Shortwave Coffee boasts that’s unlike anything I’ve seen before in a coffee shop. Changing our focus a bit, can we quickly talk about power outlets? Cause this place definitely has them. All along the bottom of the two booths that surround the huge communal table at the center of the room are power strips hosting a combination of three-ponged outlets and USB-A ports. You’d be hard-pressed to not find a spot to call your office for the duration that you’re there. If work is what you’re looking to avoid then look no further than the incredibly comfortable accent chairs they have coupled together along the left side of the shop where you can unwind for a bit.
The home barista in me couldn’t help but geek out walking up to the counter and seeing the high-quality professional-grade grinders, espresso machines, and pour-over equipment which gave me the confidence you’d want when going to place your order. As you might’ve already guessed, I ordered an oat milk flat white with an extra shot of espresso, and my wife chose to go with their Moroccan mint tea iced. The wait gave us time to check out their freshly roasted offerings packaged nicely in front of the bar along with a view of their commercial roaster. I plan on picking up a bag of their beans the next time I run out to stack it up against Caffeine’s Italian roast beans. In the coming months, I plan on testing Tampa’s top coffee shops’ cold brews for strength so stay tuned for that.
Being that they’re still relatively new, I don’t think they have all of their glassware in yet so I was handed a to-go cup after asking requesting a glass cup but thankfully didn’t affect the taste of my coffee as I thought it might. I was able to enjoy the nutty flavors the oat milk provided blended nicely with the Ethiopian blend they chose to use on this given day. The espresso was definitely present and didn’t get masked at all as sometimes is the case. Distopping the drink I was sad to once again see no latte art but what I did find was a nice layer of crema mixed into the milky foam. Temperature-wise, my drink was served at optimal temperature so I could begin drinking it immediately, if you ever find yourself struggling to take a sip upon being handed your drink then it’s likely the shop overheated the milk.
So there it is, this place has quickly become my go-to whenever I want to get out of the house and have a change of environment while I work. A great atmosphere and great-tasting coffee make this the perfect place for your early morning fix. Stay tuned as I continue to review Tampa’s growing list of local specialty coffee shops and do some fun testing for you all to enjoy. So as always, until next time.
