I’m no economist, and I don’t have exact figures on Volusia County’s growth, but it certainly feels like we’re in the midst of a coffee boom. Lately, new coffee spots seem to be popping up everywhere. In just the stretch from Daytona Beach to Port Orange, we’ve seen the arrival of two Foxtail Coffee locations, two 7 Brew Coffee stands, a Dutch Bros Coffee, and a Scooter’s Coffee that’s opening soon. While I genuinely enjoy grabbing a drink from these newcomers and welcome them to the area, I also want to take a moment to advocate for slowing our sip and continuing to support the small, locally owned coffee shops that make our community unique. For now, I’ll focus on one small area with three of my favorite local brew stops: South Daytona.

Coffee by KADA

The most recently opened coffee shop here is Coffee by KADA at 3133 S. Ridgewood Ave. Named after the couple that runs it, Keone and Adalicia, Coffee by KADA was previously a food truck in Daytona Beach that specializes in Cuban coffee, such as café con leche and cafecito. Their new space allows you to sit comfortably with a friend and enjoy specialty Cuban drinks or fun latte flavors like flan and Biscoff cookie. They invite local food vendors like Boricua Empanadas and Daytona Bakes pastries to pop-up with their specialty food to enjoy, as well. They live their slogan well, “It’s not just coffee. It’s a lifestyle.”

Aguadulce Colombian Café

For a taste of Café Colombiano, natural fruit juices, and treats, Aguadulce Colombian Café is located at 569 Beville Rd. They roast and sell their own bags of Colombian coffee to bring home after you’ve enjoyed your sips at the shop. On my most recent trip, I enjoyed a mocha and the most delicious avocado toast, loaded with bacon, cheese, and a mustard sauce. You really must pair your drink with a sweet guava pastry, savory arepa con queso, or filling empanada for the full experience! The family behind Aguadulce just celebrated their 1-year anniversary at the shop by joining the community at Ormond Beach’s recent International Day Festival and by announcing an upcoming celebration on July 19. It’s sure to be a delicious event!

Coffee Therapy

The last South Daytona spot has Instagram reels as creative as their drink menu: Coffee Therapy. Coffee Therapy is located at 2031 Anastasia Drive and specializes in lattes, cold brew, tea, and Lotus energy drinks. While they always have unique flavor combinations, I love how they develop special menus for holidays, such as Father’s Day last month. How can you not enjoy drinks named Maple Beard Brew and Grill Master? Like KADA and Aguadulce mentioned before, Coffee Therapy has a variety of seating options for you to slow down and enjoy your drink.

As a busy mom-on-the-go, I understand why we have so many new drive-thru coffee spots. There is certainly a time and place for them! When you do have some extra time, though, be sure to make a stop at a smaller, slower, local spot for your coffee enjoyment!