Anywhere but Foxtail. Sorry, what? Where was I? Oh right, we're talking coffee shops. Coffee shops should feel very similar to Friends (Friends is a TV Show from the 90's- early 2000's, I don’t know my age demographic yet).
A place where you can converse with friends, study, have a little snack, feel relaxed for a moment, and move on with your day.
‼️Coffee Shops should NOT feel like:
- You are an inconvenience or burden because you exist
- Your questions about coffee / what to order are invalid
- The chairs you're sitting in will break your bottom after 30 min of sitting
With that being said, I’m going to list some Orlando coffee shops where I have visited and enjoyed the people, environment, and most importantly, the coffee!! All (except Qreate, but! You can always order to-go and still enjoy) these locations have outdoor seating as well, in case you still don't feel comfy with sitting inside.
I will also mention all of these coffee shops have✨milk alternatives✨ for those, like myself, who need it.
CFS Coffee - 430 W New England Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789
- CFS Coffee has 3 locations. You can find them in Lake Nona, Dr. Phillips, Kirkman Rd, and Downtown Orlando.
- All the coffee at CFS is Columbian so the strength is nice and high. 🙌🏻
- For friends and fam who aren't coffee fans, they also make blended drinks like limeades and smoothies! (The Coconut limeade is perfect on a hot day).
- CFS Coffee has very cozy chairs, couches, and hand-crafted mugs.
- CFS is a beautiful environment where folks are coming in and out, it has a great energy to it.
- There are LOTS of food options here. From pancakes to arepas, you will not go hungry here!
DUO58 Community Coffee Bar & Cafe - 2842 S Alafaya Trail Orlando, FL 32828
- Duo58 gives to Mission of Hope: Haiti. It's nice paying for coffee/pastries knowing your money is also going towards something.
- My favorite thing to order there is a cortado called ‘The Lorax’ with their house-made orange lavender syrup. I never thought those flavors could go well together but I'm a believer now!
- The environment is very helpful for Students, having long study tables available. I see virtual schoolers there all the time!
- Duo58 also has spaces with couches for conversation or meetups.
- The sound level is relatively low, which I enjoy.
- They also have a great !!VEGAN!! banana bread in case you're looking for something to go with your coffee.
- When I'm ordering food here, I usually order a Cuban Sandwich with a side salad. The cortado and the sandwich seem to go really well together!
Barnie’s Coffee Kitchen - 118 S Park Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789
- This is probably the busiest coffee shop on this list, it's always buzzing with activity from Park Ave.
- CAPPY HOUR STILL EXISTS – If you don't know what this is, it's M-F 2-4 PM, you get $1 off your drink.
- If you're in a group and you order 2 or more drinks you get half off. (In middle school I'd always get the Mocha freezer for $3 on a Friday night and I felt SO cool).
- Barnie's Coffee Kitchen also has plenty of food options in case you're needing more than just a coffee. I usually order the Eggs Your Way because I'm usually there for breakfast.
- Their fresh fruit is quite fresh so whatever dish you order, ensure you're getting some fruit!
- My "grownup" favorite drink that is not a Mocha Freezer, it is their ‘specialty’ coffee drink – The Mexican Chocolate Iced Mocha – OMG so nice and spicy 👌🏻.
- Barnie's Coffee always has a specialty drink available and they rotate specialty selections regularly, so it's always fun to see what they're brewing up!
Piccolo Coffee Co. - 18 N Boyd St, Winter Garden, FL 34787
- Piccolo Coffee Co. is located in Winter Garden which is a bit of a drive but if you're committed to comfy vibes then it'll be worth it.
- They have a friendly staff. I just love baristas who aren't pompous.
- You don't have to know what a latte or cold brew is, they will happily explain it to you.
- When I was visiting, they were playing Food Network on one TV, and HGTV on another. That was the moment where I said to myself 'people need to know about this place.'
- Piccolo shares a space with a DELI so you can get some fresh meats or a sandwich with your coffee
- Piccolo also makes my personal favorite novelty beverage: The 'Cold-Brew Cola.' Yes, cold-brew with cola syrup and carbonated water. It's a guilty pleasure that I think everyone should taste at least once.
Qreate Coffee + Studio - 1212 Woodward St #1, Orlando, FL 32803
- Qreate Coffee has a slight Asian flair to it which I love, providing taro & Thai tea options.
- Their space doubles as a studio, you could probably catch an exciting photoshoot while you’re there! Qreate creates (aha) space where creatives can come and thrive. I always see one person coding while I'm there.
- Their Instagram videography is amazing. Even if you don't like coffee, watching the way it's made is still so satisfying.
- They have a kindle-type menu and Qreate's staff is happy to help you decide on what to order.
- The Qreate creations are not the standard and that's what I like about this coffee shop. For instance, the next time I go I'm definitely trying the Wasabi Rose.
- What I order when I go to Qreate Coffee is typically the Purple Pearl – Taro Syrup, Oat Milk, Espresso, ice. It seems like it would be sugary but it really isn't. The creaminess level is amazing!
That is my list (for now!) I know there are TONS of coffee shops in Orlando that have great coffee. However, the actual space/environment doesn’t do it for me. I need cozy, calm, and some sort of respect.
If you wind up trying any of these coffee shops, please let me know what you think! You can tag on @allysoneatz or #allysoneatz so I can see what you got! ☕️
- Allyson