The black shirts with various stick figures on them that team members at House Blend Cafe wear represent the cafe’s mission: “Others Above Self.” For 18 years, the cafe has helped those in need throughout West Orange County and Central Florida.
The cafe donates its net profit to community projects, partnering with local organizations to meet immediate needs in the area. These organizations focus on causes like ending human trafficking, helping at-risk children in East Winter Garden and supporting adoption and foster care. They also partner with Do Good Farm in Winter Garden, a sustainable farm that seeks to end hunger and malnutrition locally and globally.
House Blend Cafe opened in Ocoee on the corner of 50 and Bluford in February 2006. Josh Taylor, the cafe’s general manager, believes the cafe’s location is the perfect spot to make the most community impact. He also foresaw the potential for community growth.
“This was and still is a growing area. More and more people are moving to Florida every day. Within Florida, Central Florida is a popular spot. Within Central Florida, West Orange County is a popular spot for growth,” says Taylor. “There’s quite a number of people that move to the area every day on the west side of town. So that was one thing that we considered 18 years ago, and it’s still a factor.”
Over its 18-year history, the cafe has grown and adapted to the changing landscape of Central Florida and the economy. Just two years after the cafe opened, it was affected by the Great Recession in 2008.
“We really had to get creative to make sure that we were running our business efficiently. We worked hard to grow the catering side of what we do. Which has developed into what we have today,” says Taylor.
During the pandemic in 2020 and 2021, the cafe streamlined its menu and focused on increasing takeout orders, catering, and ready-to-eat family meals.
“Once again, we had to get creative with how we ran our business in a way that people felt safe when they did business with us,” Taylor says.
The cafe has also combatted rising inflation in the years following the pandemic, expanding its catering services to provide diverse and affordable selections for a wide range of events, from weddings to office lunches.
The cafe is less than five minutes from several major Central Florida roadways, including the Turnpike, 429 and 408. This allows the cafe to serve a wide range of customers, from people living in Winter Garden and Ocoee who grab a cup of coffee on their way to work to businesses that need to cater a 300-person lunch in Downtown Orlando.
“We can get to just about anywhere in the Greater Orlando area—even the east side—in about 30 minutes,” Taylor says.
The cafe is an extension of the community, allowing customers to gather to share a meal, connect with others and learn about causes affecting the community.
“My favorite thing about working at House Blend is the customers. We truly have the best customers in the world. They make coming to work every day so much easier,” says cafe team member Madi Murphy.
House Blend Cafe serves breakfast and lunch Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. The menu features a variety of items with American, Southwestern, Cajun and Caribbean influences. The cafe is known for its salads, paninis, soups, homemade waffles, burritos and wraps. It also has a complete coffee and espresso menu featuring locally roasted coffee beans from Axum Roastery in downtown Winter Garden.
The catering menu offers a variety of pasta dishes, fajitas and BBQ. Breakfast catering options include waffle bars, pastry and bagel platters, bacon, sausage and eggs.
In the future, House Blend Cafe desires to make an even greater impact by expanding its catering offerings and reaching more customers.
“We are constantly in awe at the outpouring of support we continually receive from our community. We are grateful for all those who have joined us in ‘doing good’ and look forward to the future,” says the cafe’s manager, Jonathan Daigle.
10730 W. Colonial Dr. Ocoee, FL 34761 | 407-656-7676 | HouseBlendCafe.com/Catering |@houseblendcafe1
The cafe is an extension of the community, allowing customers to gather to share a meal, connect with others and learn about causes affecting the community.
