Café$$old-townCafe Mon-Sat 08:00-14:00; market Mon-Sat 08:00-17:00; closed SundayWork-friendly
Date & Thyme runs an organic cafe and market out of an old Key West petrol station on Fleming Street, pressing juices and building vegan-friendly bowls.
Signature drink: Cold-pressed juice
Order: An acai bowl and a cold-pressed juice on the deck
Tip: The market side stays open to 17:00 for groceries after the kitchen winds down at 14:00; closed Sundays.
Café$$historic-seaportDaily 07:00-22:00Work-friendlyWifi
Funky Rooster pours organic espresso over fresh bagels on Caroline Street in Key West, then flips to a wine bar in the evening under rooster-themed art.
Signature drink: Organic espresso by day, wine by night
Order: A cortado and a fresh-baked bagel; return after dark for wine
Tip: It is the rare Key West room that works for a laptop morning and a wine evening in the same day.
Coffee roaster$lower-keysDaily 06:00-17:00Work-friendlyWifi
Baby's Coffee has roasted 100% Arabica beans since 1991 and works from mile marker 15, the road-trip espresso stop on a Key West run up the Overseas Highway.
Signature drink: Baby's Key West Old Town Roast
Order: An iced Old Town Roast and a bag of Sexpresso beans
Tip: Look for the painted eye on the building at mile marker 15, about 20 minutes from Old Town; parking is easy.
Café$historic-seaportDaily 06:30-19:00
Cuban Coffee Queen pulls con leches at a muralled walk-up window by the Key West Bight, the waterfront original of the island's Cuban coffee mini-chain.
Signature drink: Cafe con leche
Order: Cafe con leche and the Cuban breakfast burrito
Tip: Five windows now operate across Key West, including a roastery at 6 Key Lime Square; the Margaret Street original keeps the mural queue.
Cuban$white-streetSun-Thu 05:00-00:00; Fri-Sat 24 hours
Sandy's Cafe is the laundromat lunch counter of Key West, pressing Cuban mixes and pouring con leche at a White Street walk-up window from 05:00 daily.
Signature drink: Cafe con leche
Order: Cuban mix with a large cafe con leche
Tip: Order at the window, eat on the stools facing the street; the buchi shot is the fastest caffeine on the island.
Cuban$old-townMon-Sat 06:30-15:00; closed Sunday
5 Brothers Grocery has pressed Cuban mixes and poured con leche at Southard and Grinnell in Key West since 1978, a family corner store with a bench crew.
Signature drink: Con leche
Order: Con leche with Cuban cheese toast
Tip: The Bench Crew of regulars holds court outside each morning; come before the 06:30 rush clears the pastry case.