Best Places For Coffee in Orlando

When you need to know the best places in Orlando for coffee (that isn’t a Starbucks, Dunkin’ or other big-name brand), we’ve got you covered.

If there’s one thing we know most of our British visitors want, it’s to know where to go for a coffee break outside the theme parks. And the good news is – there is a LOT of choice when you’re keen to try something new.

Yes, you will find plenty of the big names throughout the region, and you are never far from a Starbucks wherever you are (including in all the theme parks and Disney Springs). But you want to try something original on holiday, right? Right!

From chic Winter Park and downtown Orlando to International Drive and Posner Park, there are a host of one-off coffee shops and local brands that are well worth sampling, and they will quickly make you forget about missing your daily trip to Costa Coffee, Greggs or Caffe Nero.

These are also different to the best places for breakfast we’ve covered in the past, although you can still get a good array of pastries, snacks and even full meals at many of them.

Coffee is their watchword and, whether you like a latte, cappuccino, cold brew or something simpler, there are some fabulous options in store.

Winter Park

Starting in Orlando’s most upscale suburb, this is home to perhaps the original local outlet, Barnie’s Coffee. Established in 1980, this café in the heart of gorgeous Park Avenue is a locals’ hot-spot and highly popular for its range of flavoured coffees as well great lunch options with its pavement dining space.

Equally well known these days is Orlando’s hottest brand, Foxtail Coffee. Originating in Winter Park but now spreading throughout Central Florida (including inside the Tommy Hilfiger store in Vineland Premium Outlets), it has an unmistakable interior design style, as well as a delectable range of hot and cold brews.

A real one-off – and utterly delightful – is the Glass Knife coffee bar and restaurant, which serves a magnificent range of cakes and pastries, as well as an excellent breakfast and lunch menu. Their coffee selection is truly sumptuous, too.

A relative newcomer is the CFS Coffee series of shops, specialising in Colombian coffee, as well as smoothies, breakfast items and artisan pastries. They opened here in 2016 and now have five outlets, including in downtown and Lake Nona.

Downtown Orlando

While the attractive city centre of Orlando now boasts several outlets of the Foxtail chain, it is also home to Craft & Common, a delightful coffee bar and local gathering place that also serves wine and beer. A real highlight here is their Espresso Shake with vanilla ice cream – heaven in a glass!

Looking for something completely different? Check out the Drunken Monkey on Bumby Avenue, a complete one off and ultra-laid-back coffee house that specialises in organic and Fair Trade coffees, as well as an excellent all-day breakfast menu.

Winter Garden

In addition to lots of cute shops and restaurants, lovely Winter Garden features another keen local brand, Axum Coffee, both in their main shop on Plant Street and with a small server in the Plant Street Market. They roast all their own coffees and currently have a delicious Bourbon Barrel-Rested variety, which is well worth trying.

Don’t miss the brand new – and large – outlet of Foxtail Coffee on Plant Street, too, with an extensive front patio.

International Drive

In the heart of this bustling tourist corridor is ICON Park, and, in the centre of this wide-ranging complex is iCafe de Paris, a lovely indoor/outdoor location for enjoying the view as well as some fine coffees, pastries, snacks and even a beer or two.

Head over to the Fountains Plaza, just off Sand Lake Road, and you’ll find a tempting outlet of the** CFS Coffee chain**.

Lake Buena Vista

Still firmly in tourist territory, the popular Lake Buena Factory Stores on Highway 535 boast a long-standing British favourite in the shape of World of Coffee, an old-fashioned internet café that also has a neat array of familiar sweets and snacks, as well as cakes, pastries and savouries. It’s also a nice place to sit and watch the (shopping) world go by!

And don’t forget the new Foxtail Coffee outlet inside the Tommy Bahama outlet store at the big Vineland Premium Outlets shopping centre on Vineland Avenue.

Clermont

Getting closer to home in this villa area is the family-owned Minch Coffee, with another distinctive take on espresso, blended coffees and other specialities, including macaroons and cupcakes. Our tip – go for the Ooh-La-Latte for a truly delightful blend of lavender and white chocolate flavours. Dreamy.

Davenport

Thankfully, the heart of our villa territory isn’t forgotten when it comes to individual and memorable coffee shops. Stop in Posner Park and you’ll find Books-A-Million and, inside this extensive bookstore is the neat Joe Muggs Coffee, another one-off hideaway to enjoy a good range of hot drinks and pastries.

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