Black Gold Coffee Roasters

2385 E. Venice Ave., Venice, (941) 488-8242, blackgoldroasters.com
Coffee maniac Gary Lauters travels the world selecting beans and then roasts them in his Venice warehouse and shop on a machine from San Francisco, which is on display along with big bags of beans. He also works with local businesses from bakeries to breweries to craft coffee-flavored products. Lauters has concocted a menu that includes coffee, red-eyes (espresso and coffee), lattes, cappuccinos, mochas, blended drinks and cold brew that’s been dubbed “liquid crack.” Nice pastries, breakfast items, sandwiches and salads available, too.

Breaking Wave Coffee

1310 Main St., Sarasota, breakingwavecoffee.com
This laid-back shop is owned and run by Radu Dehelean, with a menu of familiar favorites like pour overs, cortados, flat whites, espresso, cold brew and more, plus friendly service and a minimalist design. A perfect place to stop after browsing books at Bookstore1Sarasota just down the way. (Pictured at top.)

Buddy Brew Coffee

1289 N. Palm Ave., Sarasota, (941) 374-7186, buddybrew.com
An offshoot of a Tampa operation, Buddy Brew is owned by Dave and Susan Ward. The pair picked the perfect downtown location when they opened here a few years ago—beneath the Palm Avenue parking garage and next door to Kojo. It’s always buzzing with customers, from condo residents and office workers to employees at nearby arts organizations. They’re sprawled on sidewalk seating and lining up for strong coffee (order it black to savor the fruity acidity), creamy lattes and sweet treats like affogatos and cold-brew floats.

The Clever Cup

6530 Gateway Ave., Sarasota, (941) 447-8383, theclevercup.com
Nestled in a little storefront in Gulf Gate, The Clever Cup exudes a cheery, warm vibe, with a scattering of tables and chairs up front, a vintage couch in the back and interesting art on the walls. The coffee lineup includes Americanos, lattes, café con leche, café au lait and more, and the baristas will whip up whatever you request. Good seasonal flavored milk drinks, too, like the cinnamon-and- rice-infused horchata latte we enjoyed over the holidays. It all comes in giant mugs—they don’t skimp on the good stuff.

Kahwa Coffee Roasters

1487 Second St., Sarasota, (941) 203-8971; 8317 Market St., Bradenton, (941) 351-1551; 1308 S. Tamiami Trail, Osprey, (941) 932-8388; kahwacoffee.com
Another popular Tampa Bay chain, Kahwa has a handful of locations in the area. The name is a spin on the Arabic word for coffee (“qawha”). It specializes in one-of-a-kind blends of single-origin beans from countries around the world, and the menu offers the usual line-up, including cappuccinos, lattes, macchiatos, Americanos and more. The space has an industrial-chic vibe—concrete floors with minimal decorations—and shaded outdoor seating. The nitro cold brew is the region’s best.

O & A Coffee and Supply

1316 Main St., Sarasota, (941) 552-8659, oandacoffee.com
Justin Banister built a substantial local following with his mobile coffee cart Out and About Coffee, which sets up on street corners and at farmers' markets and private events. He expanded on that success by opening O & A Coffee and Supply, a stylish Main Street joint that serves all kinds of espresso drinks, cold brews, pour-overs and teas. A basic pour-over here is one of the area's best. The shop typically offers a choice of either its basic bean blend or a more adventurous option. We suggest the latter. On one visit, we were told our coffee would taste like a green apple Jolly Rancher, and that turned out to be spot on. Unusual, and unusually delicious.

Pastry Art Bakery, Espresso, Sandwich Shop

1512 Main St., Sarasota, (941) 955-7545, pastryartbakerycafe.com
Pastry Art buzzes from open until close, thanks to its strong coffee (an iced coffee had us vibrating at our desks all afternoon), central location and ample outdoor seating that’s perfect for people watching—especially during the Saturday farmers’ market. On its menu are iced and hot coffees; hot, iced and frozen espresso drinks; specialty sippers like a dirty chai (chai tea with a shot of espresso); and the popular iced Americanos. This spot has the widest selection of pastries of any local coffee shop, all made in house and worth the indulgence. The gargantuan chocolate chip-studded espresso muffin packs a punch and is the perfect partner for that iced coffee.

Perq Coffee Bar

1821 Hillview St., Sarasota, (941) 955-8101, perqcoffeebar.us
Keith and Erin Zolner brought coffee concoctions such as flat whites and Gibraltars to Sarasota when they opened their Southside Village shop in 2013. From the beginning, they made it their mission to educate locals about the art and science of coffee. They’re sticklers for detail: beans are fair trade and single-origin; the bright-green Slayer espresso machine is Instagramable; and drinks are made and measured to exacting specifications. You can savor your drink on one of the sleek black leather couches or at an industrial-chic wood table.

Project Coffee

538 S. Pineapple Ave., Sarasota, projectcoffee.us
Owned by Sarasota’s Ian Steger and Emily Arthur, the all-vegan Project Coffee offers good coffee and minimal and modestly priced fare, like biscuit sandwiches made with Impossible breakfast "sausage" and the ever-popular avocado toast. Everything is dairy free, including the coffee drinks. They use oat milk, instead, and you will not notice the difference.

The Reserve

1322 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, (941) 400-8396, thereservesrq.com
This coffee shop, bookstore, restaurant and market is housed in buildings once owned by Charles Ringling. Owners Jessica Simmons and Kim Cressell have converted them into airy, light-filled, multi-use spaces where you can grab a great cup, along with house-made pastries, sandwiches and more. The Reserve menu features cold brew, lattes, cappuccinos, macchiatos and more—using regular or alternative milks—plus kombucha on draft, wine and local craft beer. Grab your coffee and pastry and head to one of the outdoor tables when the weather is nice.

The Overton

1420 Boulevard of the Arts, Sarasota, theovertonsrq.com
A fun indoor-outdoor Rosemary District hangout, The Overton offers a rotating cast of different roasts, plus seasonal specialty drinks that go great with the tasty food and the laid-back atmosphere. A great meetup spot in a neighborhood that’s undergoing dramatic change.

Cooper Levey-Baker and Isaac Eger contributed reporting to this story.