A strong craft coffee culture lives and grows in this Central Florida city. Not only is there a wide selection of local roasts from which to choose, you can also enjoy your cup with a side of artwork, film, music, comedy, or live entertainment. Check out these beloved local cafes to where you can sip alongside Orlando’s locals.
Foxtail Coffee
Cafe, American, Coffee, Tea
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Foxtail Coffee, although new on the Orlando coffee scene, already has a loyal following with lines out the door on the weekends. Foxtail’s ethically sourced beans from around the world satisfy a variety of palettes. You won’t find flavored syrups here; Foxtail’s menu resembles a European-style cafe with an emphasis on espresso-based drinks. A Florida coffee shop couldn’t survive without a cold brew, which you can buy here in growlers as big as a gallon. Served to you by suspender-clad baristas, Foxtail’s classy coffee shop is where to sip in style.
Stardust first started out as part coffee shop/part video rental store. It still pays homage to its roots by renting out DVD’s, but in a twist of irony and candor, Stardust asks its customers “…but seriously, why are you not streaming it at this point?” You’ll also find books, board games, and artwork to keep you entertained. Stop by Stardust for the coffee and vegan-friendly menu. Stay late for the full bar.
Rest assured your cup at CREDO is good for you, your community, and the coffee farm on which it grew. CREDO prides itself on being a donation-based coffee shop that sources its beans ethically and cooperatively. Beans are roasted in the store and offered up on a simple but elegant menu featuring flavor “extracts” such as ginger, orange, almond, or lavender. Everyone benefits from the final cup of Joe at CREDO, including Orlando. CREDO uses its proceeds to fund local projects such as “Orlando Together,” a parade designed to bring the community together and embrace diversity.
Lineage‘s clean white countertop lives harmoniously alongside Orlando’s best local vendors and craftsmen (think bakers, juicers, gardeners, and the like) in Audobon Park’s East End Market. It’s here at their small storefront you will find a variety of globally sourced beans artfully roasted to bring out their best flavor. Lineage specializes in pour-overs and cold brews that highlight the flavor profile of the bean’s origin. If you like your coffee with a back-story, stop by Lineage for a long pour and good people watching. Read more about Lineage’s story at Life And Thyme.
This craft coffee cafe is a necessary respite from the chain-heavy strip mall it calls home in Waterford Lakes. Stop in this award-winning cafe for an assortment of caffeinated bevies while playing their board games with friends. Vespr prides itself on their excellent assortment of roasts. Make like an Aussie and enjoy your cup with their avo toast.
Stop by this cozy South Orlando coffee shop for their famous “Brazilian Cappuccino.” The Brazilian-owned and operated cafe serves light fare, herbal teas, and of course—Brazilian-style coffee. If you’re missing the siestas and afternoon coffee breaks common in Europe and South America, then stop by Holy Grain to step back into that laid-back lifestyle.
Drunken Monkey is a college-style coffee house serving up fair-trade, rainforest-alliance coffee roasted in house. In addition to their coffee, you’ll find fresh teas and locally sourced kombuchas alongside a vegan-friendly menu of fresh soups and bakery items. Hole up in Drunken Monkey and get some studying done, then stay for the open mic.
Achilles Art Cafe has found an uncommon home in the newer MetroWest community of Orlando. Achilles brings art, spunk, and a feel-good community cafe to the master-planned community of town homes. Started by a German immigrant, Achilles oozes a European vibe with art-bedecked walls, Italian sodas, and pressed sandwiches. You’ll sip on locally roasted beans sourced from Golden Hills, a roastery in Groveland, FL. Achilles also turns into a lounge after hours serving craft beer and wine.
Cafe, Coffee Shop, American, Coffee, Tea , Fast Food, $$$
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If you fancy a midnight espresso, Austin’s is your hang. Open 24 hours/seven days a week, it’s here that you can enjoy a light menu and a full array of coffee drinks whenever you wish. All coffee is roasted on site at their bohemian home off Fairbanks in Winter Park. Sip your coffee while enjoying open mic or stand-up comedy. Austin hosts poetry slams, hip-hop battles, jazz jams, and an assortment of live entertainment to keep their customers coming back at all hours.
Cafe, American, Coffee, Tea , Pastries, Dessert, Fast Food
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Casually referred to as B3, this neighborhood cafe sits cozily in Orlando’s earthy Audobon Park neighborhood. It serves up coffee, smoothies, a healthy menu, and, of course, wine and beer to its athletically minded community of loyal customers. You’ll usually find cycle enthusiasts sharing a cup after their ride on their sunny patio. You can also find live music here monthly, in addition to resident artwork adorning the walls.
