Let’s be honest, the unspoken rule of a theme park vacation is exhaustion. Yes, zooming through the dark on Space Mountain is nothing short of fun, but after trekking eight miles around Epcot for the fifth day in a row while ALSO running on three hours of sleep, you’re going to need some caffeine.
Every Orlando park has a Starbucks inside, but it would be a crime to miss out on Orlando’s coffee scene! I can promise the trek outside theme park gates is worth it. The following list is not subjective; favoritism was in play to pick these, not to rank. Here are my favorites:
Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company
So this one is kind of cheating as Joffrey’s are inside all of Disney’s parks. Typical with Disney, this isn’t your standard theme park coffee. With a flagship roastery(?) in Tampa, the company has partnered with the mouse to become the OFFICIAL specialty coffee for all of Disney’s properties, from Disneyland to in-room brewing! With Disney’s help, they produce a new “signature roast” every month, creating flavors derivative of the season. Right now, the signature “50th blend” is in full demand around the resort. If convince takes over, Joffrey’s is an unbeatable in-park choice.
Achilles Art Cafe
A chic coffeehouse just north of Universal, Achilles is a homey place to decompress and do some work. Large couches, oversized plush chairs and coffee served in large mugs maximize hospitality. It’s the perfect place to take a break from screaming on Universal’s Incredible Hulk! At night, the cafe converts into a wine bar – equally as inviting as the morning.
Deeply Coffee
Carefully tucked on the first floor of an Orlando skyscraper, this coffee shop serves up excellent lattes with stunning views of Lake Eola. I really enjoyed my Lemon Poppyseed muffin and work seemed much easier gazing at the fountain only blocks away. The real star is the Florida-inspired Orange Blossom Cream Cold Brew. What I thought would be conflicting flavors actually blended together quite nicely, it’s the perfect spring drink! With Orlando’s large citrus industry, you’d be hard pressed to find a more fitting brew for “The City Beautiful.”
Craft and Common
I LOVE Craft and Common. I can confidently say they serve the best mochas in the city. Want to try something new? This shop seems to have endless craft coffees, including the intriguing Banana Chai Latte and one they call The Dunes (Espresso, Condensed Milk and Orange Cinnamon.) Even cooler, each recipe is inspired by a unique memory from the owner’s travels. Their food is delicious too, the Cali Club is SO good. This shop places equal emphasis on the coffee and the vibes, and takes pride in their nineties playlist.
CFS Coffee
“Coffee for the soul,” this Colombian roaster is personally my favorite coffee shop in Orlando. Their mochas are to DIE for! Served in a glass with chocolate dripping down the side, the Colombian coffee is complemented by the dark chocolate notes. Occasionally serving up specialty flavors, they make sure the lattes are as beautifully presented as they taste. Their coffee is of the highest quality possible and they load their lattes up with chocolate.
Lineage Coffee Roasters
Lineage is one of Orlando’s hometown coffee shops. With three locations around Central FL, Lineage caters more to a wholesale market, roasting beans for other shops around town. Their cafes can be found full of locals busily working and sipping on their delicious roasts. Like their coffee? You too can place an order for wholesale!
Vanessa’s Coffee Shop
Vanessa’s has mastered the art of craft coffee! This nifty little shop is as much of an Instagram mecca as coffee shop. Their signature lattes and food items are presented perfectly staged for a photo, and they taste as amazing as they look! Following a dream, owner Vanessa opened two locations in the Central Florida area, with the easiest being right by the airport — the perfect place to grab lunch before flying away!
Qreate Coffee
Qreate Coffee wins the award for the most unique beverages, with things like the key lime inspired ‘Good Vibrations’ (a blend of key lime, graham crackers, espresso, and coconut foam). Others to note are the Tiger Latte (brown sugar and espresso) and the Strawberry Shortcake (Strawberry White Mocha over espresso). Fancy a photoshoot? The Mills 50 coffee shop also doubles as a studio!
Foxtail Coffee
Orlando’s own coffee shop, Foxtail keeps the city caffeinated. Starting as a small cafe in Winter Park, their success has granted them dominance over the MCO scene. With a ton of locations around Central Florida, and now outside, this iconic chain specializes in unique cold brew combinations. I recently had the dark chocolate infused cold brew – it was delicious! The closest shop to Disney is at the Orlando Vineland Outlets, while Universal’s is off of Sand Lake Road.
xoxo coffee shop
The easiest coffee shop to access from Disney, xoxo is a new coffee shop based off Highway 192, only three miles from the mouse. This small shop specializes in homemade caramel, vanilla and chocolate syrups. They have a few pastries available and ample sitting room. A welcome addition to Kissimmee, the friendly staff are more than happy to guide you through their recommendations.
Lobos Coffee Roasters
Spanish for wolf, this coffee shop is making its mark in Audubon Park. Their friendly staff are waiting for the opportunity to help create your perfect beverage. This is the place to experiment, try something new! The baristas take pride in their creations, and are excited to know your opinion. Don’t like what you get? They’re even happier to remake it for you! The coffee tastes fresh, even moreso when you see the roaster in the back of the store. Lobos roasts their beans daily on-site!
Turquoise Skies 