A painting and dollar bills on the wall of Jet City Espresso. Photo courtesy of Kailey Aiken.
Tucked away on a quiet road off Platt Street, Jet City Espresso sits inside a repurposed 103-year-old Hyde Park home that doubles as a cozy bed and breakfast.
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By Kailey Aiken
TAMPA, Fla. – The crimson walls of the coffee shop are an eclectic mix of dollar bills signed by adoring customers with notes like “Good luck, Jessica” and “Best Coffee Ever,” and paintings of musicians, mermaids, and a checkered-floor cafe called B&O Espresso. Each canvas is hand-painted by Jessica Glover, the owner of Jet City.
The painting of B&O Espresso hangs far from home. The Seattle cafe is where Jessica first fell in love with the ambience and community that coffee shops create. She started as a barista at B&O during college and worked her way up to general manager.
After opening several coffee shops in Seattle in the 1980s, Jessica brought her talents to Tampa in 1994 and opened two Jet City locations by 1997. She loved the collaborative and creative atmosphere that coffee shops offered in Seattle, and wanted to bring that energy to Tampa. She left Tampa to open a restaurant in Colorado, but returned to open a Jet City location in Seminole Heights in 2009.
Upon her return, she originally wanted to open a Jet City on the University of Tampa’s campus prior to Starbucks being selected. Unfortunately, plans to open on campus fell through, leading Jessica to Seminole Heights. In 2011, she opened the current shop in Hyde Park.
Grabbing a coffee or a bite to eat at Jet City feels more like stopping by a friend’s house for breakfast than sitting in a restaurant. Jessica is the kind of person who remembers her customers’ names, orders, and stories. Regulars are greeted like old friends, and first-timers are warmly welcomed.
“I love being the neighborhood coffee shop where people can have a sense of community and companionship here at my little haven,” said Jessica. “The people I meet are so wonderful, and I feel like they become part of the family.”
A cozy corner in Jet City Espresso. Photo courtesy of Kailey Aiken.
Inside the shop are two tables where guests can sit and chat with Jessica over a scone-wich or a specialty latte. For the adventurous and sweet-toothed coffee drinkers, Jessica recommends the Almond Joy iced latte, a chocolate and coconut-flavored espresso-based drink topped with homemade whipped cream.
In addition to other fun flavors, including the Mocha de Menthe and the Milky Way, the basics are just as delicious.
After 40 years in the coffee industry, Jessica is an expert on balancing espresso drinks and crafting the perfect cup of coffee. Her drinks don’t need any frills, syrups, or sugars to mask the coffee flavors — they stand on their own.
The food menu doesn’t disappoint either; everything is fresh and made to order. There’s no freezer stocked with pre-made sandwiches here, and you can taste the difference. It’s a home-cooked meal away from home.
The scone-wich features Jet City’s signature Irish cheddar/asiago scone served with two eggs, any style. You can add a slice of bacon (and you absolutely should) for $2. Along with scones, the menu features a selection of breakfast and lunch sandwiches and toasts.
In a world where people order food through apps and select “leave at door” to avoid interacting with another person, Jet City is a breath of fresh air. It offers something increasingly rare: a genuine human connection. And of course, great coffee.