Orlando named Best Coffee City in America

By Jim Carchidi

September 17, 2026

The City Beautiful can now be dubbed “The City Caffeinated” thanks to a recent WalletHub ranking that names Orlando as the Best Coffee City in America.

Brewing success

Lobos Coffee Roasters co-owner Pablo Sierra works several pop-up events and helps oversee operations at the brand's locations in Audubon Park and Å La Cart-Sodo. Photos by Jim Carchidi

Orlando’s coffee crown was based on a comparison of the 100 largest U.S. cities across 12 key metrics, including coffee affordability, the number of coffee shops per capita, shop ratings and hours, and the number of households owning coffee makers, espresso machines, and other home brewing devices.

Study results place the average Orlando household coffee budget at $154 per year. Orlando is also home to several affordable coffee shops with a 4.5-star rating or higher. And has the highest number of coffee shops offering free Wi-Fi – a key factor, which enables java lovers to treat their favorite shop as an offsite office.

Coffee culture

Nutella and pistacchio cappuccinos at M'ama Napoli Italian Bakery & Deli in Winter Park.

According to the National Coffee Association, nearly 195 million American adults imbibe in the magical brewed beverage every week. And health benefits have been reported with studies linking coffee to a lower risk of chronic conditions like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and liver disease.

Another big win

Aside from the Best Coffee City distinction, WalletHub bestowed another high honor on Orlando, noting the number of donut shops as the most per capita of any U.S. city.

Java joy

Longtime local fave Austin's Coffee reopened at a new location in January.

Orlando’s love of coffee was spotlighted last year when the Florida Coffee Festival came to Festival Park. The event promoted the coffee community, helped foster entrepreneurial connections, and showcased the talents of statewide baristas in latte art competitions.

Espresso aficionados have their pick of locally owned fixes. What’s your favorite Orlando coffee shop?

Sponsor: The Orlando Real is sponsored by the Pozek Group — the #1 real estate team in Orlando and the Official Real Estate Team of the Orlando Magic.

About the Author
Jim Carchidi is an Orlando journalist and photographer with previous work at the Orlando Sentinel and Orlando Business Journal. He covers development, arts, culture, and local stories for The Orlando Real.