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Owner story · Jersey City

“I’m just growing where I’m planted.”

Evan Santiago · Founder, Hybrid Coffee

Hybrid on Manila Avenue, with yellow café chairs out front
Braided buns baking in Hybrid’s oven

From a 1970s horse trailer

A coffee shop on wheels that grew into a home on Manila Avenue.

Evan Santiago was born in Hoboken and raised in Jersey City, and taught himself to brew and bake. Espresso bars in Sorrento, Italy, gave him the idea. In 2019 he opened Hybrid in a restored 1970s horse trailer at Exchange Place, its white-wall tires a nod to his father’s love of old cars. Storefronts followed in the Heights and, in August 2021, downtown at 398 Manila Avenue, where the Pac-Man machine from the Heights came along. Through the pandemic the team brought coffee and breakfast to nurses at Jersey City Medical Center. In 2025 Evan opened Butter, a small-batch bakery on Brunswick Street, and in March 2026 a new Hybrid on Palisade Avenue.

“We are confident we make very good coffee. But what makes us unique is the service.”Evan Santiago, to The Hoboken Girl, 2020
Evan Santiago at Hybrid’s 1970s horse trailer

The Kitchen

Brunch on buttery brioche, and coffee roasted in small batches.

Evan named it a kitchen for comfort food you could make at home, like the egg-in-a-blanket his mom made him as a kid. Toasts come on thick, buttery brioche, waffles are made in-house, and Crema is a Latin-style porridge with cinnamon and vanilla. At the bar: the OG lattes, single-origin pour overs, and bags of Hybrid’s own small-batch roasts to take home.

Avocado, feta, almonds, sriracha and honey on toasted brioche

The Kitchen

Loaded avocado toastAvocado, feta, almonds, sriracha and honey on toasted brioche
Strawberries, blueberries, almonds, maple and whipped cream

The Kitchen

Brioche French toastStrawberries, blueberries, almonds, maple and whipped cream
House granola, strawberry, blueberry, banana, peanut butter and honey

Bowls

Açaí bowlHouse granola, strawberry, blueberry, banana, peanut butter and honey
Sugar-dusted, from the daily pastry case

Daily pastries

DonutsSugar-dusted, from the daily pastry case
Cardamom, French Toast, Honey Comb or Wild Flower, with oat, almond or dairy milk

OG staples

LattesCardamom, French Toast, Honey Comb or Wild Flower, with oat, almond or dairy milk
Roasted weekly, delivered fresh

Barista at home

Coffee subscriptionRoasted weekly, delivered fresh

From a horse trailer to delivering with Pinkbot.

  1. Apr 2019Hybrid opens in a restored 1970s horse trailer at Exchange Place.
  2. Dec 2019The first storefront opens on Cambridge Avenue in the Heights.
  3. Aug 2021Hybrid moves downtown to 398 Manila Avenue.
  4. Jan 2026Pinkbot starts delivering Hybrid’s orders from Manila Avenue.
“Wherever I go, the desire for me is to create a destination spot.”

Evan Santiago · “I want people to feel comfortable and have Hybrid be a full experience for them.”

Visit Hybrid

Coffee, brunch and pastries on Manila Avenue.

398 Manila AveJersey City, NJ 07302
Order onlineBuy coffee@drinkhybrid
A coffee on a wooden café table at Hybrid, its Coffee sign behind
Made with ♥ since 2019.Monday to Saturday, 8am to 4pm, with brunch from the kitchen until mid-afternoon.

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