Brendan Smith thought his days of working in the coffee industry were over.
In 2015, he got another chance.
The 10 friends on the tour loved it, and Smith realized he was on to something.
A year later, Smith openedSt.
Petersburg Craft Coffee Tourto the public.
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To him, high-quality coffee is more than just caffeine.
Coffee is definitely very trendy right now, he says.
Its a very social activity.
Its not as utilitarian as it once was.
The craft coffee scene in Tampa Bay has exploded over the last three years, according to Smith.
Coffee is like produce it doesnt last forever, he says.
One of his goals is to make every tour seamless.
Legitimately, people make friends, and I love that, says Smith with a smile.
Cupping is how buyers and roasters evaluate the quality of the coffee.
You never think there can be blueberries or flowers, she says.
Owner Jarrett Sabatini highlights the non-traditional ways someone can enjoy coffee.
He lines up a series of glasses and pours an espresso mint julep, using coffee instead of bourbon.
The tour-goers smile from ear to ear as they sip their drinks on a humid day.
At the end of the tour, the patrons thank Smith for everything they learned on the trip.
Theyre always very appreciative, and its really gratifying, he says.
They see it as an incredible marketing and outreach opportunity.
Educating the people is great for our business, Martin says.
Even if they never buy our coffee again, its helping to grow the specialty coffee industry.
For McCreary, these tours helped to open her coffee horizons.
She attended Smiths first tour in 2015.
After the tour, she changed her mind.
Heading Into the Future
Smith didnt start St. Petersburg Craft Coffee Tour for the money.
I just wanted to make my coffee habit free, he jokes.
Now he has plenty of opportunities to satisfy his habit.
But until then, hes happy sharing his passion with anyone wanting to learn more about the caffeinated arts.
Its really, really great.
Matt Reinstetle is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder.
Hes looking forward to ordering another espresso mint julep in the near future.
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