Miami loves its coffee.
At the ventanita window along Calle Ocho. In the coffeehouse in Wynwood. At the airport right before you board the plane. Just about anywhere.
The 305 loves coffee so much that it even has its own signature coffee break. At 3:05 p.m., of course.
Now, Miami has been nationally recognized as a Coffeetown, USA.
But in 2009, things were different when Leticia and Joel Pollack moved to Miami and opened the first Panther Coffee location. back then, Miami wasn’t a town known for coffee roasted by hand.
But now?
“We are pleasantly surprised and proud to be a part of an amazing coffee scene,” Leticia Pollock said via email.
Financial site WalletHub rankings released in September list Miami as the third-best coffee city in America, just in time for National Coffee Day on Sept. 29
“This recognition is a nice boost for the vibrant and growing coffee culture here,” Pollack said. “The ranking reflects the incredible dedication of our local baristas and the passion of our community for coffee.”
In Little Havana, Versailles has become a go-to Cuban coffee spot for tourists and locals since it first opened in 1971. Versailles restaurant manager Jesus Verde wasn’t surprised at Miami’s No. 3 ranking.
“Cuban coffee from here is authentic coffee with flavor,” Verde said in Spanish.
Miami is joined by two other Florida cities in the Top 10 in the coffee rankings. Orlando was crowned the top coffee city in America and Tampa Bay was ranked sixth.
Miami earned its Top 5 ranking through the number of coffee shop options, many of which are rated 4.5 out of 5 stars. Having Wi-Fi helps, too – Miami has the third most coffee shops with wireless.
On average, Miami residents spend almost $151 on coffee every year, the WalletHub study says.
For some people, selling coffee in Miami means helping people experience a different country.
“Miami is a city shaped by Latin American cultures, where coffee is deeply tied to community and hospitality,” said Fabio Caro, the founder of Macondo Coffee Roasters.
The Macondo chain is based in Miami-Dade County and prides itself on its Colombian beans and brew.
“Growing up Colombian, that was my experience with coffee,” Caro said. “It wasn’t something you grabbed and rushed through. It was something you shared.”
To rank the cities, WalletHub looked at 12 metrics that included the average price of a pack of coffee, the average spending on coffee by household and Google search traffic for the term “coffee.” The researchers went through data from sources including the U.S. Census Bureau, Council for Community and Economic Research, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and Google Trends.
Whether Miami coffee drinkers go to mainstays like Panther Coffee or Versailles, one thing is for sure: Coffee is a hot (and sometimes cold) commodity in Miami.
The list of Top 10 cities:
- Orlando
- Portland, OR
- Miami
- Long Beach, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Tampa
- San Francisco, CA
- Oakland, CA
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Austin, TX
%20Cropped.jpg)
Michael Butler writes about minority business and trends that affect marginalized professionals in South Florida. As a business reporter for the Miami Herald, he tells inclusive stories that reflect South Florida’s diversity. Just like Miami’s diverse population, Butler, a Temple University graduate, has both local roots and a Panamanian heritage.
