To be blunt, there are way too many places serving great coffee in this town to have to resort to chains. So, here are some of our favorite coffee hubs in the metro Orlando area that should definitely perk your interest.
Lineage Coffee Roasting
1011 E Colonial Dr. Ste 102 , 407-205-8096
This shop roasts and grinds its own beans for the perfect rich cup, but the house-bottled cold-brew coffee – black or mixed with milk and honey – chills out hot Orlandoans, as well.
Photo via lineagecoffeeroasting/FacebookFoxtail Coffee
Multiple locations
Looking to change things up? Foxtail Coffee is a newer joint in Winter Park that has already made a big impression on the community through its home-grown brews and espresso.
Photo via foxtailcoffeeco InstagramStardust Video & Coffee
1842 E. Winter Park Road, 407-623-3393
Now one of Orlando’s best hangouts, Stardust Video and Coffee started out as a video store renting out bulky VHS tapes. It has grown since then into an eclectic mix of young and old, where hipsters and nerds put aside their differences to discuss old books and foreign movies over a cup of joe.
Photo via the_tori_story InstagramAustin’s Coffee
929 W. Fairbanks Ave., Winter Park, 407-975-3364
This Orlando mainstay set the trend for aspiring artists looking to catch a break in their neighborhood coffee shop. While you’re sipping your micro-roasted coffee on an eclectic mix of furniture, enjoy the open mic night offerings, which range from local bands to poetry readings.
Photo via austinscoffee InstagramAxum Coffee
146 W. Plant St. #110, Winter Garden, 407-654-7900
Axum Coffee was named after a city in Ethiopia and that name carries with it the shop’s mission to change the world, one cup of coffee at a time. All the profits made at Axum go toward charities helping impoverished countries around the world, which makes a sip of that chai tea latte that much sweeter.
Photo via whitehysteria InstagramBarnie’s CoffeeKitchen
118 S Park Ave, Winter Park, 407-629-0042
While you might find Barnie’s coffee on the shelves of your local grocery store, nothing beats the atmosphere you’ll find when you head to its locations in Winter Park. Plus, its coffee is organic, fair trade and certified by the Rainforest Alliance, so you can feel good about skipping the lines at Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks.
Photo via barniescoffeeandtea InstagramDrunken Monkey Coffee Bar
444 N. Bumby Ave., 407-893-4994
They aren’t monkeying around with their coffee over at the Drunken Monkey Coffee Bar. The house speciality is the Mojo Jojo, a cinnamon-spiked coffee-and-condensed milk hybrid that will put your Coolatta to shame. Plus there’s a drive-through for those who are too busy to stop in on their way to the office.
Photo via zvierk0 InstagramVespr Coffeebar
626 N. Alafaya Trail #105, 407-476-3093
This popular study locale is filled with college students cramming for exams. But, if you can get past the regulars, the shop’s relaxed vibe and unique menu items, like the rose-lavender latte, are sure to mellow you out. When it opened, it was one of the only places in town serving vacuum-brewed coffee.
Photo via iobeysin InstagramBenjamin French Bakery and Cafe
716 E. Washington St., 407-797-2253
If you’re looking for a taste of France in Florida, Benjamin’s has got you covered. Enjoy a flaky croissant or a colorful macaron while you sip your cappuccino and stare smugly in a classic French style at passers-by who dare to walk past your bistro table.
Photo via tripadvisorDandelion Communitea Cafe for their vegan chili.viaBikes, Beans & Bordeaux
3022 Corrine Drive, 407-427-1440
This cozy neighborhood cafe is a haven for urban bikers and health nuts. It offers a wide variety of choices on its menu, from lattes and waffles to craft beer and sandwiches, but don’t miss some of the cyclists’ favorites, like the Tour de Force espresso.
Photo via fbcorlando InstagramHouse Blend Cafe
10730 W. Colonial Drive, Ocoee, 407-656-7676
Customers have raved about the House Blend Cafe’s above-average cafe fare and super friendly service, but the best thing about this coffee joint is its mission: It gives 100 percent of its net profit back to the local community. Eating good and doing good – it’s a win-win for everyone.
Photo via floor.cake InstagramCafe 906
4932 New Broad St., 407-960-5906
One of the better French bakeries in town, Cafe 906 offers guests an experience on par with a Parisian cafe by the Seine with a wide variety of light, flaky pastries and a charming outdoor patio overlooking Lake Baldwin. While the coffee is a big hit among patrons, it is the almond croissant that really draws in crowds.
Photo via bungalowerCozee Cafe
1145 Townpark Ave., Lake Mary, 407-804-0066
Lake Mary might not be the first place you think of for great coffee, but Cozee Cafe’s dirty chai is worth the trip. Complement your steaming cup of joe with a succulent caprese flatbread and you’ve got yourself a relaxing afternoon in the ‘burbs.
Photo via cozeecafe InstagramBoston Coffeehouse
12789 Waterford Lakes Parkway #1, 407-277-2220
If you prefer your caffeine underneath a mountain of whipped cream and in a cup so big you could jump in and take a swim, then you might want to try Boston Coffeehouse over in Waterford Lakes. It’s the perfect place for UCF students to take a break or drown their financial sorrows after a long day of shopping and splurging.
Photo via bostoncoffeehouse InstagramLe Cafe de Paris
5170 Dr. Phillips Blvd., 407-293-2326
Say bonjour to the most authentic French cafe in Orlando. Le Cafe de Paris was opened back in 2007 by two French coffee-shop owners from Metz, France. They created a special blend specifically for their Orlando customers, and it has become a favorite among locals looking for that particular French flavor.
Photo via Le Cafe De Paris FacebookNatura Coffee and Tea
12708 Collegiate Way, 407-482-8599
This UCF hotspot owns its “hippie” vibe. Students often find solace in the shop’s chilled-out atmosphere, where hookah and beers are house specialties, but guests of all ages can enjoy a relaxing latte or Americano.
Photo via ginnic InstagramRabbitfoot Records & Coffee Lounge
307 E. 2nd St., Sanford, 321-926-3154
If your neighborhood Starbucks is just too mainstream, check out Rabbitfoot Records. Enjoy its grungy, hipster vibe as you flip through its modest vinyl collection and sip a Jackrabbit latte, a local favorite.
Photo via rominshahpo Instagram