Tampa food photography — Khafa- shredded phyllo dough topped with crumbled pistachios and a light syrup on a bed of Nabulsi cheese

I’ll admit it. I’m kind of a coffee snob. When brewing at home, I don’t go to the trouble of using distilled water or spending $50 per pound of beans, but I still prefer a really good cup of coffee.

When fellow foodie, food writer, and Grand Poohbah of marketing for the Columbia Restaurant folks, Jeff Houck, makes a recommendation, I listen. He recently happened by the Noble Brew Botanical Coffee Co. and tells me it’s a must-try.

Noble had its grand opening on May 2 in a vintage building on N Florida Ave. The space opened in late 2024 as Bulala Botanical Coffee Co., but the owner, Safa Qassm, changed the name after a copyright dispute with a competitor began to fly.

As I enter, I am immediately greeted and made to feel at home. To me, almost as important as good coffee is the vibe in the shop, and this place is pretty Zen. I’ll leave the see-and-be-seen to Hyde Park. The interior is bright and modern, featuring Middle Eastern accents, with music playing and a relaxed atmosphere. There are several nooks for small gatherings, a counter with comfy stools, and an outdoor patio that would be fab for cooler months.

The menu includes numerous java options, including traditional coffee, 12 espresso options, and seven specialty coffees. The Java lineup is a global journey, featuring classic American offerings, strong Cuban-influenced options, and authentic Middle Eastern pours that make the place truly unique. Noble is also on-trend with mushroom, kava, and kratom brews, as well as Yemeni coffee that owner Qassm likens to getting a party bump. I am a traditionalist. I typically order a standard American brew, and sometimes a café con leche. But today, mushroom “shroom” coffee is calling my name. It’s a powdery instant coffee, selected after the owner sampled different brands over months. I’m a little anxious as it's being prepared, imagining it's going to be like a bitter, unsalted mushroom soup. It’s not. While it has an earthy tone, with a hint of added honey, it’s quite good. It also has notes of chocolaty cacao and a hint of cinnamon. It’s a rich blend of pick-me-up without the caffeine jitters.

Safa is willing to educate me on Middle Eastern traditions as I consider what kava to sample. She tells me that in some Pacific cultures, the common phrase uttered upon receiving kava is "Bula!" (a greeting meaning "life" or "health"). After drinking the kava, it is customary to clap once (called a cobo), say "Vinaka" (thank you), and sometimes clap again three times. Kava is a social experience and is also used medicinally to calm anxiety. As I drink it out of the customary bowls, I wonder about getting a caffeine buzz, then calming it with kava. The beverage is a watery, peppery brew that briefly numbs my tongue, and honestly, after a while, I feel nothing.

Any of Noble's 18 botanical brews can be enhanced with a CBD, Kava, or Kratom add-on, and the blend is based on four earth element strains. I go with the green (reportedly for mood enhancement) blend and make it tropical. It tastes slightly bitter, but the dried fruit topping adds flavor and sweetness.

Houck recommended the Yemeni coffee, and given owner Qassm’s warning, I expect to experience heart palpitations after a few sips. The blend here is 70% Yemeni and 30% robusta beans, to better accommodate American palates. The flavor profile is similar to a good Cuban coffee or espresso, and not as bitter as I expected. And no, no post-cup zoomies, just a good caffeine rush.

A cup of Dreamin' of Dubai is a chocolaty treat. It’s a cup of brew with chocolate added, foamed with cream, and topped with crumbled pistachios. Think creamy mocha coffee meets Middle Eastern dessert. It is just sweet enough and delish!

Along with beverages, I try some Middle Eastern treats. Warbat is a dessert similar to baklava. It has thin, flaky, crispy layers of phyllo dough on the outside and is filled with qashta, a creamy filling produced in a way similar to fresh mozzarella. Just before serving, the house soaks the treat with simple syrup flavored lightly with rose water. The bite is comparable to baklava, but denser. It is a treat common at celebrations and during Ramadan.

Knafa is made with thin, shredded semolina dough and sits on a base of Nabulsi cheese (a Palestinian cheese originating in the city of Nablus). Like the warbat, it is soaked in rose water-infused simple syrup (sugar water) and topped with crumbled pistachio. It eats like a sweet, squishy flatbread and is light and delicate.

The hazelnut croissant is flaky and fresh, and topped with a chocolaty hazelnut drizzle. It would do well paired with a coffee drink, but it’s standard fare.

Noble Brew has an open mic on Thursdays. Bring your instrument or spoken word and be heard. They also offer hookah products. There’s a back patio for cooler weather days, and plans are being made for chess tournaments, monthly markets, and art shows. Parking is easy, service is quick and hospitable, and prices are moderate. Their website is still under construction, and the menus are hard to find online.

Break out of your Starbucks blah and experience the Middle East influence right here in Tampa.

Noble Brew 718 N. Florida Ave. Tampa, FL 33602- (813) 334-4066

Monday - Sunday 7:30am - 1:00am

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