Barrista Katie Callihan prepares a Chemex-brewed coffee at the new Buddy Brew in downtown Sarasota.
Artisan coffee lovers finally have a new place to go for a cup of joe, conveniently located in downtown Sarasota. Buddy Brew Coffee opened last week on Palm Avenue, next to Louies Modern in a small space off the restaurant's outdoor courtyard. This is Buddy Brew's third location, with two spots in Tampa, including a facility where they hand-roast the beans they source from around the globe.
Drinks: Currently, Buddy Brew offers traditional drip, espresso and Chemex brewing, with a handful of coffee varieties that include a natural-process option and a limited, "barrel-rested" bean that has absorbed the aromas and flavors from a cocktail barrel used at Tampa's famous SideBern's restaurant. Want complexity? Hints Milagro Resposado Tequila, Hudson Baby Bourbon, Balvenie "Double Wood" Scotch, Averna Amaro and Bitter Truth "Jerry Thomas" Bitters add a lot to that interesting brew.
Food: According to Buddy Brew Manager Jason Childs, the coffee shop is working with Louies Modern for fresh-baked pastries -- available now -- and plans to offer pressed sandwiches constructed at the neighboring restaurant and finished in the shop.
Scene: There is a small amount of bar seating inside, a long bar outside with a wide window that opens into the shop, and the padded sofas that make up the Louies courtyard, all under cover and free from sun and rain. Buddy Brew closes at 5 p.m. now, but might stay open later on weekends in the future.
Buddy Brew Coffee
1289 Palm Ave., Sarasota
buddybrew.com
Mon.-Fri. 7 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sat.-Sun. 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
