Tampa, it’s time to settle one of the great philosophical debates of our generation: should you get a latte before or after someone permanently stencils ink into your skin? HYPHEN Coffee has decided the answer is “both,” and frankly, it’s the most sensible thing anyone has done in years.
Nestled inside Hyphen Tattoo Studio at 2166 W. Busch Blvd., HYPHEN Coffee is exactly what it sounds like: a full-service coffee bar sharing a roof with professional tattoo artists. That sounds chaotic. It’s actually a stroke of creative genius. The whole thing operates under the Somos Hyphen brand, a creative space built for people who want more than the usual, with the somewhat ominous tagline, “Nothing ordinary happens here.” They’re not lying. They couldn’t if they tried.
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Photos via HYPHEN Tattoo Studio
Let’s talk about the menu, because it deserves your undivided attention. Sure, you’ve got your standard lattes, cappuccinos, and Americanos, which are fine and perfectly adequate. But HYPHEN’s signature drinks are where things get truly interesting. There’s the Spritzee, a sparkling Americano topped with house-made fruit syrup. There’s the Hyphen Sunrise, combining espresso and orange juice in a way that sounds deeply alarming but apparently works beautifully. And then there’s the Americola, a cola-flavored coffee beverage that is either the most inspired or the most unhinged thing ever poured into a cup. We mean that as the highest possible compliment.
The food side is no slouch either. There’s a Cheesy Panini Melt with sharp cheddar, creamy havarti, and a spicy aioli. Colombian pandebono gets pressed into waffles and served with guava sauce in the Waffle de Bono, a dish name so delightful it deserves its own fan club. There’s also Dulce de Leche Turnovers and Guava Chicharrones, which are, to be clear, a flaky pastry and not pork rinds, though honestly both would pair beautifully with an Americola.
There’s something almost poetically correct about pairing a coffee shop with a tattoo parlor. Both involve a level of commitment and a slight chance of regret. You walk in, you order a Bombón Latte, you stare at the flash art on the walls, and suddenly you’re reconsidering every life decision you’ve ever made, in the best possible way. And that’s entirely the point.
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