Bringing Neighborhood to Espresso With Florida Espresso Tradition

March 28, 2026

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BY VASILEIA FANARIOTI
SENIOR ONLINE CORRSEPONDENT

Images courtesy of Florida Espresso Tradition

Once I sat down with Jared Tucker, founding father of Florida Espresso Tradition, one factor turned instantly clear: this wasn’t a mission constructed round espresso alone. It was constructed round individuals.

Florida Espresso Tradition, which started as a easy Instagram web page in 2023, has rapidly grown right into a statewide motion connecting baristas, roasters, and low lovers. However at its core, the mission stays deeply private, rooted in Jared’s personal expertise behind the bar and his need to domesticate one thing typically ignored within the business: belonging.

A shot of espresso is brewed into a white cup labeled "Florida Coffee Culture" in bright pink lettering. — What started as a easy Instagram web page three years in the past is now a statewide motion, connecting espresso employees and fans throughout Florida.

The thought for Florida Espresso Tradition started quietly. Jared recollects mendacity in mattress one evening, speaking together with his spouse about how a lot he missed being a part of a espresso group after transferring to Orlando. As a former barista, he missed the every day interactions—the conversations, the camaraderie, and the shared ardour that exists behind the bar. “I needed to discover a method again into that world,” he says.

What began as a small Instagram web page (then referred to as Orlando Espresso Tradition) was meant to focus on and humanize baristas. Jared needed clients to see cafés as greater than transactional areas and as an alternative acknowledge the individuals crafting their drinks.

Jared Tucker, founder of Florida Coffee Culture. — Jared Tucker, founding father of Florida Espresso Tradition, shares that the inspiration for the motion got here from his personal need for group. “On the core, this has all the time been about creating areas the place individuals really feel seen,” he instructed *Barista Journal*.

That intention nonetheless defines the group immediately: celebrating espresso professionals not only for their craft, however for his or her humanity.

A “gradual burn” into one thing greater

Relatively than a single turning level, Florida Espresso Tradition’s development got here by way of a collection of moments.

One of many first got here when a follower reached out and instructed turning the net platform into an in-person gathering area. That concept led to the group’s first group meetup: an off-the-cuff Saturday morning occasion, the place espresso professionals and fans merely confirmed as much as join.

Quickly after, one other dialog sparked the thought for month-to-month latte artwork throwdowns. The primary occasion drew almost 100 attendees and over 30 rivals, signaling a transparent demand for community-driven areas in Florida’s espresso scene. What adopted was 20 consecutive months of occasions throughout the state.

The ultimate shift got here throughout a multi-day competition weekend in 2024. With dozens of firms and a whole lot of attendees from throughout Florida, Jared realized the mission had outgrown Orlando. Florida Espresso Tradition was born.

A scene from the Florida Coffee Festival, which Florida Coffee Culture hosts annually. — A scene from the Florida Espresso Competition, which Florida Espresso Tradition hosts yearly.

Greater than occasions

Whereas occasions have been central to its development, Florida Espresso Tradition has expanded far past gatherings.

The group now hosts competitions, cuppings, café meetups, and the annual Florida Espresso Competition, which has drawn hundreds of attendees and over 160 distributors. However simply as essential are its initiatives geared toward supporting espresso professionals immediately.

One standout is the Barista Improvement Fund, which helps take away monetary boundaries inside the business. By way of the fund, Florida Espresso Tradition has lined competitors entry charges, supported journey to business occasions, and sponsored coaching alternatives like Specialty Espresso Affiliation (SCA) certifications.

“There are such a lot of gifted individuals in espresso who simply want entry,” Jared says. “We’re attempting to create pathways for that.”

A "coffee talk" hosted by Florida Coffee Culture at Zap Cat Espresso Bar in Atlantic Beach, Florida. — A “espresso discuss” hosted by Florida Espresso Tradition at Zap Cat Espresso Bar in Atlantic Seaside, Florida.

Connecting each side of the bar

A defining problem for Florida Espresso Tradition has been balancing the wants of pros and customers. Jared is intentional about designing occasions that serve each.

Throwdowns, for instance, are constructed for baristas, however stay accessible to newcomers by way of options like residence barista brackets, the place non-professionals can study primary expertise and compete. Equally, the competition blends business components with a broader cultural expertise, incorporating meals distributors, artwork, and music.

“The objective is to shut the hole between the barista and the client,” Jared explains. “When that hole shrinks, your complete business turns into stronger.”

In a moment of victory from the Zap Cat Latte Art Throwdown, participants cheer as the winner is announced. — A second of victory from the Zap Cat Latte Artwork Throwdown.

The facility of in-person experiences

Regardless of its digital beginnings, Florida Espresso Tradition’s influence is rooted in bodily areas. “In-person occasions are the place actual relationships type,” Jared says.

He factors to moments that occur after occasions—conversations between café house owners, first-time rivals discovering confidence, collaborations sparked over shared tables—because the true measure of success.

For Jared, occasions usually are not the tip objective, however the place to begin. The hope is that attendees go away impressed to construct group inside their very own cities, making a ripple impact throughout the state.

A grassroots method

In contrast to conventional business organizations, Florida Espresso Tradition operates as a grassroots collective—one thing Jared believes is essential to its success.

This method permits for flexibility and responsiveness, but in addition requires intentional collaboration with native communities. Because the group expands, it really works intently with baristas and café house owners in every metropolis to make sure occasions mirror the native tradition.

“Grassroots collectives work greatest once they hear,” Jared says. “The group ought to form what you’re constructing.”

Participants of a coffee cupping session with Florida Coffee Culture. — Neighborhood cupping for the Florida Espresso Field, that includes a particular launch from 5 roasters.

Creating alternative

Past fostering connection, Florida Espresso Tradition has turn out to be a platform for alternative. By way of competitions, partnerships, and its rising community, the group has helped baristas entry jobs, coaching, and business publicity.

At one competition, the winner of a latte artwork championship walked away with a totally geared up espresso cart setup, providing a tangible step towards entrepreneurship. “These occasions can do greater than have fun expertise,” Jared says. “They will change somebody’s trajectory.”

A participant of a Florida Coffee Culture competition pours latte art into a cup of espresso. — Florida Espresso Tradition’s espresso competitions additionally typically function a “residence barista” bracket, the place residence baristas can put their expertise to the check.

Trying forward

As Florida Espresso Tradition continues to develop, its focus is shifting towards long-term sustainability inside the business.

Future plans embrace increasing instructional alternatives, strengthening mentorship pathways, and rising the Barista Improvement Fund. Jared additionally hopes to collaborate extra with nationwide and worldwide espresso organizations whereas supporting different grassroots collectives throughout the nation.

Nonetheless, the imaginative and prescient stays grounded in the identical concept that began all of it. “On the core, this has all the time been about creating areas the place individuals really feel seen,” says Jared.

Winners of Florida Coffee Culture's Valentine's Throwdown. — Winners of Florida Espresso Tradition’s Valentine’s Throwdown.

And people hoping to begin their very own espresso collective, he affords easy however sensible recommendation: Be inclusive, construct a staff, ask for assist—and simply begin.

He emphasizes the significance of reaching past “fashionable” cafés and investing within the full spectrum of the espresso group, together with these simply coming into the business. “If you wish to form the way forward for espresso,” he says, “you must put money into the individuals originally of their journey.”

From a late-night thought to a statewide motion, Florida Espresso Tradition is proof that significant change in espresso doesn’t all the time begin with massive infrastructure or funding. Generally, it begins with a dialog throughout the counter—and a willingness to construct one thing greater from it.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Vasileia Fanarioti (she/her) is a senior on-line correspondent for Barista Journal and a contract copywriter and editor with a main concentrate on the espresso area of interest. She has additionally been a volunteer copywriter for the I’M NOT A BARISTA NPO, offering content material to assist educate individuals about baristas and their work.

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