Buzzy California coffee chain makes Florida debut in Tampa Bay

Brandon’s morning commute is about to get a West Coast jolt.

San Diego-based Better Buzz Coffee Roasters will open its first Florida cafe on Thursday in the footprint of the former Steak ‘n Shake at 1402 W. Brandon Blvd. The drive-thru restaurant offers a breakfast-and-lunch menu featuring fresh bread from a local bakery and its signature beverage with a bold billing: the Best Drink Ever.

The drink — an Americano with creamy vanilla — will get a tropical makeover to celebrate Better Buzz’s first Florida store. For its first 30 days, the Brandon cafe will offer an exclusive coconut cream version topped with coconut and blue spirulina cold cream, toasted coconut and an orchid garnish, the company says.

The opening gives Better Buzz a foothold far from its Western roots. Founded in 2002 by two college students with a coffee cart, the company has grown across California, Arizona and Nevada, according to its website. Florida will be the fourth state to get a Better Buzz location. 

There’s a long-term commitment behind the caffeine, too. A Marcus & Millichap listing markets the Brandon property with a new 15-year lease to Better Buzz and a renovated, 3,625-square-foot building with a drive-thru.

The company says it already has a Florida following: The state ranks among its strongest markets for brew-at-home coffee orders outside areas where it operates cafes, the release says.

“We know how much a great neighborhood coffee spot can become part of someone’s daily routine, and that’s exactly what we hope to create here,” Amanda Cameron, Better Buzz’s vice president of marketing, says in the announcement. “Whether you’re stopping by for your morning coffee, grabbing breakfast with the family or catching up with a friend, we want Better Buzz to feel like a place you’ll look forward to visiting.”

The menu stretches beyond the standard caffeine fix, with drinks including a banana matcha latte, horchata iced latte and cinnamon cream cold brew, as well as fruity refreshers and energy drinks. Food options include the Better Breakfast Sandwich and baked goods.

Better Buzz says it roasts coffee in small batches and delivers it to cafes several times a week. The company is certified as an organic coffee roaster by CCOF and says it prioritizes sourcing Fair Trade and Rainforest Alliance coffees.

For opening day, the chain is adding merchandise to the mix. The first 200 guests will receive a limited-edition Brandon hat, and visitors can pick up a reusable Better Buzz cup while supplies last. Holiday drinks and seasonal treats will debut on Monday, Nov. 2.

The Brandon cafe’s daily hours are 4:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. — leaving early birds plenty of time to investigate that “Best Drink Ever” claim.