Argonaut Coffee

Similar to many kids growing up, Jason McArthur cherished fictional characters that shared his name.

“I discovered Greek mythology in elementary school,” says McArthur, a Tallahassee native. “There’s a story of Jason, who was the leader of the Argonauts on the Argo ship, which I loved. I always thought that’d be a great band name.”

But McArthur never started a band called Jason and the Argonauts.

“I don’t have much musical talent,” laughed McArthur. “At some point, it became clear that if I don’t use the name with this coffee shop, I’ll never get to use it in a real, meaningful way.”

McArthur is the owner of Argonaut Coffee, which began its quest in November 2019 as a kiosk in Tallahassee Orthopedic Clinic (TOC). Now, Argonaut Coffee has its own location in Cascades Park and acquired RedEye Coffee in the summer of 2025. By summer 2026, the transition from RedEye Coffee locations to Argonaut Coffee will be complete.

“Our goal was to take the best of what each store was doing,” says McArthur. “If something worked at one place, we’d keep it. If something was okay, we’d strive to be better.”

Customers can expect RedEye’s strong, flavorful coffee along with Argonaut’s signature drinks such as the  Poseidon, a brown sugar sea salt latte. Food menus across all three stores will be similar, offering an assortment of baked goods, breakfast burritos, and panini.

Photography by Dave Barfield

“We had such a good base to build off of that it has been relatively smooth sailing,” says McArthur. 

But there is more to a coffee shop experience than the menu. 

“You can get coffee and food anywhere,” says McArthur. “What sets you a part if other places have drinks and food that are just as good as yours? Customer service.”

Part of brewing an enjoyable experience is remembering a customer’s drink if they order the same thing and preparing regular customers’ orders when their cars pull in, says McArthur. 

“I think the human interaction is a vital part of the modern-day coffee shop,” he says. “I feel very fortunate that we are where we are today, but at points, I’m like, ‘How did we even get here?’”

Jason’s journey into the coffee world started in the summer of 2010 when he was a sophomore at Florida State University pursuing a bachelor’s degree in information technology.

“I needed a job, and my parents were like, ‘You should make sure you have some real work experience,’” says McArthur.

Part of that experience meant persistence and the origin of a “full circle” moment.   

“I went to RedEye for like a month straight to talk to the manager,” says McArthur. “I don’t know if I wore her down through attrition or if she was like, ‘If I don’t get this guy a job, he will never leave.’ But I started here as a barista.” 

When McArthur graduated in 2012, he began working in IT for about a year.

“I realized it was not for me, so I returned to FSU to earn a second bachelor’s degree in physical therapy,” says McArthur. When he went back to school in 2014, he also returned to RedEye.  

“About halfway through the degree, I realized I didn’t want to be a physical therapist,” says McArthur. 

But like any hero’s journey, he didn’t give up. As he worked toward completing his degree, he continued to pull espresso shots. He went from assistant manager to manager.

Photography by Dave Barfield

“By the time I finished my second degree, I was like, ‘I have all this coffee experience,’” he says. “What made the most sense for me was to go off on my own to start something new using all of the knowledge I gained.”

Shortly after he opened the first Argonaut Coffee spot in TOC, the pandemic hit.

“We were very fortunate to be able to make it through,” says McArthur. “A year after we first opened, we had an opportunity to open another spot in Midtown Reader.”

Business was slow at first, but then it began to perk up. While the Midtown Reader location has been handed off to The Piebrary, you can now find Argonaut in the iconic Cascades Park location (beneath The Millstream at Cascades) they’ve operated since 2023. 

“We took a big risk by expanding during the pandemic, but it paid off,” says McArthur. 

Despite the obstacles, the greatest reward of Argonaut has been the people, says  McArthur.

“I really do love seeing people become regulars,” he says. “I’ve seen relationships start and turn into marriages with kids because people met at our coffee shop for their first date.”

In addition to relationships, McArthur has enjoyed mentorships. “The fun part about being the owner is I get to enjoy a mentorship aspect that I have found incredibly gratifying,” says McArthur. 

Giving back to the Tallahassee community has also been fulfilling for him. Argonaut donates coffee and merchandise to various charities, fundraisers, local businesses, and school events.

“I find myself desiring to give back to the community as much as I can because I wouldn’t be here without them.” 

Jason’s Shake Up

1. Fill a 12 oz. cup completely with ice.
2. 2. Pour ice into a shaker.
3. Pour 2-3 shots of espresso on top of ice.
4. Add 2-3 Sugar in the Raw packets to the shaker (1 for each shot of espresso is baseline; feel free to add more or less for taste).
5. Shake it for 10-15   seconds.
6. Pour mixture back into 12 oz. cup.
7. Top with ice if desired, then add a splash of cream to create a cool layered effect.
8. Enjoy!