Truebrew and the Heart of Ybor City
A Neighborhood Built on Connection
Coffee is more than just a drink in Ybor City. In the 1880s, Cuban, Spanish, and Italian immigrants built this neighborhood around the cigar industry. Along with their craft, they brought the cherished ritual of coffee breaks and the beloved café con leche. Coffee quickly became a cornerstone of community life, a moment to connect, share, and recharge.
The Rise and Challenges of Ybor
By 1900, Ybor City was the cigar capital of the world. Grocery stores, restaurants, and coffee shops filled the lively streets. Shotgun-style homes lined the brick roads. Almost every backyard had a chicken coop for fresh eggs. Large families gathered at community halls and churches, and children’s laughter filled the air. Coffee was never just a drink. It was a pause, a conversation, and a bond between neighbors.
But times changed. The Great Depression reduced demand for hand-rolled cigars. Factories closed or mechanized, and the artisan culture that made Ybor special began to fade. After World War II, housing programs encouraged many families to leave because benefits only applied to new homes outside the neighborhood. The 1962 Cuban embargo cut off Havana leaf imports, delivering a severe blow to local cigar makers. Federal urban renewal programs demolished many homes and businesses, but promised redevelopment never happened. Ybor City slipped into quiet decline.
Reviving Community Through Coffee
During this quiet decline, the local roasting house that Truebrew partners with opened in 1968. With a small roaster, a modest warehouse, one delivery truck, and a deep passion for great coffee, they played an important role in bringing life back to the community. While many efforts to revive the district fell short, these roasters helped restore something essential: the connections and sense of community that come from sharing a cup of coffee.
A New Chapter for Ybor City
By the 1980s, artists, preservationists, and entertainers started breathing new life into the brick storefronts along 7th Avenue. Slowly, culture and spirit returned. When Ybor was named a National Historic Landmark District, one of only two in Florida, tourists began to flock to the neighborhood. Historic buildings were transformed into hotels, restaurants, and creative spaces. Today, Ybor is once again home to a vibrant community of artists, dreamers, and entrepreneurs.
Coffee as a Community Thread
It is no coincidence that nearly every block in Ybor City now has a coffee shop. The legacy of Cuban and Italian immigrants, the resilience of local roasters like Truebrew, and the enduring culture of connection live on with every cup. Coffee here is not just a beverage. It is a thread linking the past to the present. It brings neighbors together, inspires creativity, and shows that even in tough times, community can be rebuilt one conversation and one cup at a time.
Discover our hand-roasted coffees and taste the tradition of Ybor City. Shop the collection and connect with coffee made for real people.
