Best Orlando Coffee Shops

Going full-tilt for the theme parks can be totally exhausting if you don’t factor in some chill-out time along the way, and the good news is there are now several dozen opportunities to try a unique coffee stop that isn’t called Starbucks.

If that idea appeals to you, then you’re in for an absolute treat in Orlando these days. The proliferation of several local chains, plus plenty of one-off cafes, has been remarkable in the past 10 years, and that’s definitely to the benefit of our visitors. In fact, with approaching 200 outlets of various kinds, we can safely say that Orlando is the Coffee Capital of the US, as well as the Theme Park king!

The national coffee shop brands in Orlando

Even if you have never been to the US before, Starbucks is still pretty much a universal name when it comes to coffee, and there are no fewer than 68 locations for the famous Seattle-based chain in the greater Orlando area. That is more than any other city in the US, especially when combined with the other big nationwide brand, Dunkin’, which has 50 throughout Central Florida, with more being added all the time. When you add in the McCafes of McDonald’s, you’re up to 150 outlets of the three biggest names alone.

But, unless you’ve never tried one of these, we think there are (much) better options with some of the smaller chains and one-off outlets, which offer a more distinctive style and flavour. There are also several up-and-coming brands that are opening new shops all the time, albeit with much smaller numbers.

The unique Dutch Bros franchise (originally from Oregon, with small-scale drive-through locations and their own range of protein-enriched coffees) has opened its first three outlets in the region in the last couple of years, with two more being built, while the high-quality New Orleans-based PJ’s Coffee has spread across the south-east US in recent years and plans to open its first outlets south of the Panhandle in both Orlando and Kissimmee this year. When it does, watch out for their highly touted seasonal specialities, including a heavenly strawberry rose white chocolate latte in the spring!

The Orlando coffee house originals

When it comes to the true brewed-in-Orlando coffee houses, there are several excellent options to choose from, but the undoubted king of this particular hill is Foxtail Coffee, founded in Winter Park as recently as 2016 but now with fully 30 locations spread across the downtown area, Winter Garden, Lake Nona and Clermont, plus another 50 in the rest of Florida and into Georgia, Virginia, Nevada and even Michigan. That’s an astonishing growth rate, but it’s easy to see why as soon as you step inside any outlet, with an exciting rustic-industrial design style and plenty of great flavours to explore (hint: try their Vanilla Caramel cold brew for a tasty treat!).

Head out to our favourite suburb of Winter Garden and you’ll find Axum Coffee, both in Plant Street Market and on Plant Street itself, with lots of outdoor seating and a real community vibe, plus some tasty local bakery muffins, croissants and cookies. Another Orlando standout is Craft & Common in the downtown area, a truly hip and happening venue with a completely original menu for drinks and light meals, including a delightful latte flavoured with honey, lavender and sea salt. Winter Park has another highly-rated local choice, with Barnie’s Coffee & Tea Co. a great choice for coffee or lunch, as well as a tempting range of their own flavoured coffees to buy by the bag. Look out also for The Glass Knife, which is a super-chic café and restaurant specialising in cakes, desserts, pastries and doughnuts, as well as some seriously tasty coffees.

Among Orlando’s various districts, the Thornton Park area is notable for Bynx, an imaginative café and shop that also sells vinyl records, books and musical knick-knacks as well as excellent teas and coffees that include some impressive toppings and syrups. If you’re looking to go further afield, the suburb of Apopka has two superbly individual offerings that also have the essential community feel. Canon Coffee is an old home conversion that has a profusion of small rooms that offer board games and communal chatter as well as an impressive seasonal drinks menu and lunch specials, while Propagate Social House is another bar/café hybrid (like Craft & Common and Bynx) that boasts a superb outdoor patio that becomes an evening hub for live music and special events.

Latin (and other) flavours of coffee in Orlando

When you’d like to take your coffee sampling to the next level, there are also a notable handful of Latin-owned and influenced cafes that feature the tastes of South and Central America, as well as Cuba and Puerto Rico.

Mecatos Bakery & Cafe is a Colombian variation on the coffee theme, with a tempting array of baked goods, breads, hot bites and desserts in addition to their selection of drinks, which include signature hot chocolate and smoothies as well as classic lattes and cappuccinos, plus South American classics like cortaditos and coladas. Mecatos has nine cafes in the general Orlando area, including downtown, Lake Nona and Apopka.

Likewise, CFS (which stands for Coffee For the Soul) deals in 100 per cent Colombian coffee and has 12 current locations and another three on the way, including Winter Park, Lake Nona, Dr Phillips and Winter Garden. They offer an all-day breakfast, featuring their signature yucca waffles and smoothie bowls, as well as salads, subs and arepas for lunch and dinner. Coffees include their Café Bombon (condensed milk, espresso and whipped cream) and Cuban Café con Leche.

For something different, the Vietnamese style and culture of Good Roast at Kool Bear in the Curry Ford West district is a true original and boasts probably the best iced coffees, boba teas and affogatos (coffee mixed with ice cream) in town. Try their Toasted Black Sesame Cloud or the Ube Cloud for real taste sensations, or just sample their unique range of ice creams and pastries. Either way, this is a really unexpected flavour profile that is well worth trying.

And there are still others to discover, including the likes of the amazing Gideon’s Bakehouse (in both Disney Springs and East End Market in downtown Orlando) and Everglazed Donuts & Cold Brew (also at Disney Springs). We heartily suggest you give some of them a try, as we’re sure you’ll discover your new favourite!

Have you sampled any of Orlando’s unique coffee cafes?