Brewing Community: A Guide to Orlando North’s Coffee Scene

Want to know the quickest way to learn about the culture of a community? Make your way to a local coffee shop. Orlando North’s coffee scene is buzzing with options, from cozy mom-and-pop shops to socially conscious cafes. Visit any shop and you’ll likely find friends meeting to catch up and work, the regulars talking about what’s happening around town, and busy parents running around with their kids. At the heart of it all, you’ll likely find community building at work.

Let’s Talk Coffee

I recently caught up with Michael Quigley, co-founder of Quigley Coffee Co. in Sanford, Florida, to learn more about how they curate their space to spark connection. Grab a cup of coffee and join us as we explore the bright and colorful world of Quigley Coffee Co.

Q: How do you foster a sense of community at your shop?

Our saying is “Coffee is our thing; people are our heart.” And everything we do lives within that motto. Our goal is to be the most welcoming coffee shop in Florida, so we made our interior super bright and happy to make people smile and give them a place to sit and have conversations in our living room or at our 14-person community table, which is centered along the right wall underneath the cork board filled with Polaroids of all our guests. Everyone can come and take a picture and hang it on the board and see how many people you know.

It’s always fun to see people find their friends from back in the day and stop in and take a picture for the wall. This warms our big happy hearts.

Q: What’s your favorite thing about having a business in Seminole County?

My wife and I were both born and raised in Sanford, which is almost unheard of nowadays. We love our city. It feels like a small town where everyone knows each other, but it’s huge, so there are tons of friends close to you and even more friends to make. We love being on the side of Sanford, which hasn’t seen specialty coffee yet, to give people in the area an elevated experience without having to drive to Orlando.

Q: What’s your top drink recommendation?

We are known for our signature drinks, of which we have four. We also take massive pride in crafting a fantastic cup of coffee for the people who are more focused on the art of brewing and tasting coffee. So that’s a tough question to answer. But a great start for most people would probably be the Koda Brew. It’s a bit adventurous, but not too far out there for the standard coffee drinkers. It’s a brown butter cold brew with a pistachio cold foam, topped with sea salt. It’s only available cold, but we live in a perpetual summer, so it works. Ha!

The goodness doesn’t stop here. There are coffee shops throughout the county that are worth the drive. Let’s explore!

Social Sipping

NewCity Coffee Co. in downtown Lake Mary offers the most photo-worthy seasonal coffee flights — making it easy for you and your family to try new drinks together. Even better, it’s located 10 feet away from Lake Mary’s Central Park, where the weekly Saturday Farmers’ Market takes place.

Coffee for a Cause

Palate Coffee Roasters changes lives with every cup sold. This social-impact coffee shop located in the heart of downtown Sanford partners with Love Missions, a Sanford, Florida-based nonprofit dedicated to ending human trafficking. Not only are their drinks beautiful and delicious, but their cause is even better. Try the Dark Chocolate Pistachio Latte – it’s a local favorite!

Coffee Meets Bagels… to go

Foxtail Coffee Co. in Altamonte Springs has a convenient drive-thru location, making it easy to get coffee and some of the most delicious bagels in town in just a few minutes. They even have two vegan cream cheese options.

Our Coffee Shops Picks in Seminole County

Coffee Shops in Lake Mary
  • CFS Coffee Heathrow – 1140 Townpark Ave #1280, Lake Mary, FL 32746 (@cfscoffee)
  • Kava Culture Kava Bar – 245 Wheelhouse Ln Lake Mary, FL 32746 (@kavaculturelakemary)
  • NewCity Coffee Co. (AdventHealth Lake Mary Health Park) – 960 Rinehart Rd, Lake Mary, FL 32746 (@newcity.coffeeco)
  • NewCity Coffee Co (Downtown Lake Mary) – 124 N 4th St STE 1500, Lake Mary, FL 32746 (@newcity.coffeeco)
  • French CAFE 1515 – 187 E Crystal Lake Ave Ste 1021, Lake Mary, FL 32746 (@french_cafe_1515)
  • The Den Café – 600 Rinehart Rd, Lake Mary, FL 32746
  • The Cafe View – 400 International Pkwy Suite190, Lake Mary, FL 32746 (@thecafeview)
Coffee Shops in Altamonte Springs
  • Foxtail Coffee Co. – 478 N State Rd 434, Altamonte Springs, FL 32714 (@foxtailcoffeeco)
Coffee Shops in Casselberry
Coffee Shops in Longwood
Coffee Shops in Oviedo
  • Cup of Love Cafe – 1500 Alafaya Trail #1024, Oviedo, FL 32765 (@cupoflovecafe.inc)
  • CFS Coffee Oviedo –  222 E Mitchell Hammock Rd #1000, Oviedo, FL 32765 (@cfscoffee)
  • Martin’s Coffee & Ice Cream – 1945 County Rd 419 Suite 1151, Oviedo, FL 32765 (@martinscoffeeandicecream)
  • Cafe Natura – 1505 Oviedo Mall Boulevard, Oviedo, FL 32765 (@cafenaturaorlando)
Coffee Shops in Sanford
Honorable Mentions

As you explore Orlando North’s diverse coffee scene, you’ll discover that every cup is more than just a drink – it’s an experience that brings people together. Whether you’re looking for a cozy spot to catch up with friends or a socially conscious cafe that gives back to the community, there’s something for everyone.

Happy Sipping!

About the Author:

Chauniqua Major is a creative based in Central Florida. She is the founder of Whatever’s Good, a PR and creative shop, and the creator behind Major’s Project Pop, a celebrated, organic and vegan popcorn company that ships nationwide. She contributes to outlets to write about food and culture.

 

 

 

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