Orlando is becoming a coffee-lovers paradise with incredible coffee shops on every corner. We’ve tried most of the spots in town so you don’t have to, but you should. These are the first six of the 12 best Central Florida coffee shops:
Axum Coffee | Winter Garden
Axum Coffee is a long-time resident of the bustling Plant Street in Winter Garden, having opened its doors in 2010. It’s located amidst busy restaurants, local shops, and the renowned Garden Theatre. With relatively early opening hours, plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, and ample free parking, you don’t have to work too hard to enjoy a cup of your favorite drink here.
Their coffee is high-quality, mild, and flavorful, but is also ethically sourced, locally roasted, and handcrafted. In fact, a huge part of their business model is giving back to the Central Florida community, and to communities on the other side of the globe.
If you’re more in the mood for a grab-and-go coffee, head to their Plant Street Market location just down the road. This indoor artisan market is home to local merchants like Crooked Can brewery, which we reviewed last year. And to make things even more interesting, swing by Axum on your way to the Winter Garden Farmer’s Market every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Bynx Orlando | Downtown Orlando
Part coffee shop, part live music venue, part vinyl record store, Bynx is a recent addition to the Downtown Orlando coffee scene. They serve a little bit of everything, with a decent coffee blend, a large selection of bottled drinks, beer and wine, and light fare. This family-owned and operated cafe has a dedicated stage for its weekly lineup of local artists, as well as plenty of space to get some work done. Besides selling vinyl records, they sell books, music ephemera, and some pretty cool merch.
The one downside is you typically will have to pay for parking to visit, but there are plenty of areas to park, including street parking and the nearby Camden Thorton Park Apartments garage. They’re conveniently located near Lake Eola and lots of shops. If you have time to explore the area, we highly recommend checking out the ice cream boutique next door. Greenery Creamery has a variety of unique artisanal flavors and many vegan options.
CFS Coffee Shop | Winter Park
CFS (originally cafe frutos selectos, now coffee for the soul) opened in Winter Park’s Hannibal Square in 2016. With a mission to bring Colombia’s rich history and culture to the Central Florida community, they make a conscious effort to highlight the work of Colombian farmers and artisans in the products. This is evident in the shop’s Latin atmosphere, charming tableware, and light fare food including empanadas and pandebono. The best part of visiting one of CFS Coffee Shop’s six locations is the extremely inviting atmosphere and friendly staff.
Our favorite location is the original in Winter Park. Located just a few blocks from the highly-walkable Park Avenue, this shop is surrounded by fantastic restaurants and cute boutiques like the Rifle Paper Company flagship store. There is usually ample free street, lot, and garage parking, unless you visit during the Winter Park Farmer’s Market on Saturdays from 8 .a.m. to 1 p.m.
Craft & Common | Downtown Orlando
Craft & Common located in the heart of Downtown Orlando offers some of the most unique craft coffee concoctions. The Dunes is a fan favorite, with espresso blended with condensed milk and orange cinnamon flavors. If you’re more of a purist, they have several pour-over and espresso options from around the world. If you don’t like coffee, try their matcha, chai, or any of their beers or brunch cocktails. Of their seasonal offerings, don’t miss the strawberry milk matcha, which features organic matcha and a strawberry purée.
When visiting the shop, you may find it difficult to find parking nearby. It’s usually not free and will likely need to be street parking. It’s fun to stop by during the Orlando Farmer’s Market on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. but be warned that will make parking even more complicated. As a trendy spot, it can be pretty crowded on the weekends and the seating is limited, but it’s well worth the wait! The cafe’s aesthetic is a trendy photo op with fun wallpaper, plants, and neon lights.
CREDO Coffee | Health Village
CREDO Coffee is a staple of the Ivanhoe Park/College Park area and has been around since 2010. They build positive relationships with their suppliers to avoid supporting the exploitation of people or the environment and ensure all purchases have a positive impact. In fact, all their coffees are on a pay-what-you-will model with a suggested range for donation. Beyond coffee, they have high-quality teas and delicious baked goods that taste homemade—with vegan options!
Our favorite location is in the Health Village, where AdventHealth invited CREDO to open its doors in 2015. It features two stories of work areas with 30-feet-high windows to let in plenty of natural lighting. It has a very convenient location near College Park with two parking garages with validated parking. Another great location is a co-op called North Quarter Market where they share the space with other vendors including the ever-so-delicious Pop Parlour.
Deeply | Downtown Orlando
Deeply offers a great assortment of single-origin brews and high-quality teas. The careful preparation of their teas is much appreciated by local tea lovers, and they have bottled beverages or natural wine for non-coffee drinkers. Their kitchen menu is wonderful, with a solid breakfast sandwich and well-made avocado toast. The atmosphere is spacious with organic shapes and materials and plenty of natural lighting. You’ll typically have to pay for parking in a nearby garage or find paid street parking.
Unfortunately, they’ve discontinued their crown jewel: authentic Belgian waffles. Orlando natives used to flock to Deeply for their delicious liege waffles with little bits of sugar baked in, as it was arguably the best in town. If you’re now craving waffles, we recommend heading to the Winter Park Farmer’s Market to get some from the Waffle Brothers.
Did we miss one of your favorite spots? Stay tuned for the rest of our best Central Florida coffee shops next month!
