Zaza Cuban Coffee

Café con leche in the Main Terminal before security lines

Zaza Cuban Coffee sits in Tampa International’s Main Terminal, landside, so you can grab a shot of caffeine before heading through security. It’s a straight Cuban bakery setup: espresso, pastries, breakfast plates, and pressed sandwiches served from early morning through the midday rush. Expect a short counter-order line around 7:00–9:00 a.m., especially on weekdays when office workers cut through the terminal.

Drinks run in the $3–$6 range for Cuban coffee, café con leche, and cortaditos, with larger iced versions closer to $6–$7. Food is mostly under $12: egg-and-cheese breakfast sandwiches on Cuban bread, pastelitos, empanadas, and media noche–style options later in the day. If you want something quick, grab a guava pastry and a colada; if you need real fuel, go for a pressed Cuban with roast pork and ham.

Portions lean generous for an airport: a single colada easily covers 3–4 espresso shots, and one Cuban sandwich can carry you through a 3-hour flight. Turnover on pastries is steady during morning and lunch waves, so you’re usually getting fresh-baked items rather than something that has been sitting since 5:00 a.m. The trade-off: they can run low on specific pastries after 10:30 a.m., especially guava and cheese.

Service is counter-style and fast; even with 6–8 people ahead of you, you’re usually out in under 10 minutes. Seating is limited to a few small tables near the stand, so most people take their order to the general Main Terminal seating near the central atrium. If you’re trying to keep a tight boarding time, order to-go and walk toward your shuttle train while you eat.

Tip: If you care about strong coffee, order a colada or straight Cuban instead of a large latte; the espresso-to-milk ratio stays punchy enough to keep you awake through a late-night TPA–ATL hop.