Shortwave Coffee

Came here with a friend the first time to study and it was such a great experience. Not only was the coffee actually good, the vibes of the place really made it cozy and enjoyable. Definitely will be coming here more often.

Cozy and spacious seating but I’m a bit disappointed with the service and the quality of coffee. Unfortunately it took 15 minutes for one cup of coffee and the staff weren’t very welcoming. They only have one size, small, and the coffee itself was a Guatemala roast that was very fruity. For those who like a more robust, less acidic and less fruity coffee will have a hard time liking the flavor. I wish they had a more caramel and full bodied roast available. But I’m looking forward to trying it again!

This was the best coffee shop I went to on my visit to Tampa. Loved the atmosphere and it was a great place to do some work!

A welcome and much needed change to the coffee scene in Tampa and specifically Sparkman Wharf. Shortwave coffee is impeccably designed with a tasteful color palette that is warm and welcoming. There's plenty of open seating for you to enjoy the great coffee and delectable pastries. 5 stars!

UPDATE:
I still come to this place frequently and I decided to up my review to a full 5 stars because their pastries have improved dramatically. Coffee is still great here. Haven't had a bagel here in a while though. They look the same. Overall, this place is improved and I still highly recommend coming here. It's a nice place in a great location.

OLD REVIEW:
I really like this place. I plan to come back repeatedly. Coffee is excellent, atmosphere and vibe is great. The only thing I have issue with is the food. The pastries/desserts are instagramable but are nothing special taste-wise. The bagels are absolutely devoid of flavor some how. It's like eating cardboard. The bagels are in desperate need of salt. I strongly recommend getting the pastries/desserts and bagels from somewhere that makes them delicious. That'd bump my review up to a 5.

One of the best matchas I’ve had out - quality and color are really nice. They weigh the matcha powder for each serving which makes for a consistent beverage every time and eliminates the problem of feeling like it’s skimped on.

They default to vanilla syrup for the matcha latte but can change it if you ask for a different flavor. Their hot espresso lattes are also very nice.

This was the best smoothie I've ever had. Just a simple smoothie. Done right. You gotta try the strawberry oatmilk!

This is what I would describe as a "big city coffee shop" which Tampa doesn't have much of. It would be typical in San Francisco or New York, but Tampa's coffee scene is much more hipster and small.

The coffee was great, I enjoyed my pour over and the place was packed. They probably need more seating since people waiting for cruises were just lounging around at the cafe. Also with people working remote downtown there could be a heavy crowding problem if more seating isn't added (especially when non-paying customers are everywhere).

I appreciate the outside tables, maybe add more and some long benches or something. The Ethiopia pour over was made just right. I liked the flavor of it. Definitely also need more plugs and Wi-Fi as well. Tampa is not the kind of town where plugs are not found at coffee shops.

Staff was friendly, but not too-friendly. When you're new to town, you should explain more about the coffee to customers. I would return.

High quality. Great space a seating area. Friendly and relatively quiet.

Went on a Saturday with a couple of friends. From the start we should have just turned around. Walking in we overhead a group of girls complaining about their pastries. As we ordered a girl was returning her matcha latte. It took us 35 minutes to get our coffee and the entire time we heard people complaining about their drinks. I ordered their special "Charlie Bravo" and it tasted like lukewarm bath water. My friend ordered a vanilla latte which tasted like water. Neither were drinkable. We ultimately requested a refund and the manager advised that they've had "bad batches" of cold brew and that it wasn't the coffee.

However - we purchased coffee beans which were undrinkable when made at home. Folgers tastes better.

My advice. Don't waste your time and money.