Picture-perfect coffee meets creative space at Qreate Coffee + Studio.
Qreate Coffee + Studio is a combination coffee bar and professional photography studio. It greets you like any good java house, with a long espresso bar and pastry case near the front. Just inside to the right, there’s a cute nook with a couple of cozy chairs surrounded by plants. Farther into the shop, a half dozen wood tables with black metal chairs flank the wall.
It wasn’t until my eyes traveled to the back of the shop that I noticed the photography studio with white walls and a professional lighting setup. The space can be rented by anyone who wants a place to shoot photos. You can bring your own photographer to take pictures of your family, practice your skills by taking shots in a professional studio, or work on a project you may have.
Photography buffs will be inspired by the collection of photographs on the wall. A few long tables near the back are meant for collaboration and creative work.
But you don’t have to be a shutterbug to enjoy Qreate; most people just come for the coffee. It’s a bit of a hidden secret, tucked away on a side street off the main intersection of Mills Avenue and Colonial. If you find Ming’s Bistro, one of Orlando’s best-loved dim sum restaurants, you’re close enough to smell the coffee.
Qreate describes itself as a spot where “coffee meets creativity.” That’s true both in the nature of the shared creative space and the enticing drinks on the menu. They’ve got the standard espresso, cold brew, and tea drinks, but where Qreate shines is in their seasonal and signature drinks. I was tempted by the Wasabi Rose, a combination of pistachio and rose milk over espresso, but the barista steered me to the Purple Pearl, their best seller. The staff is friendly and helpful in explaining the drinks and making recommendations. My barista even gave me tips on the best way to enjoy this layered concoction of espresso poured over a taro latte.
“If you like it sweet, just drink straight through the layers. If you like it less sweet, mix it up before you drink it,” he suggested. Good advice. I plunged the straw into my iced Purple Pearl latte and sipped from the bottom, drinking in the sweetness of the lavender-colored Taro layer. Qreate makes the creamy, thick syrup that gives the drink its distinctive hue from the popular Southeast Asian purple Taro root, a starchy plant like a potato. It was one of the prettiest coffee drinks I’ve ever had. I was tempted for a minute to set my drink in the studio for a photo shoot but decided to snap a quick shot with my phone instead.
The seasonal menu included a drink called Good Vibrations, combining the flavors of key lime pie topping, graham crumbles, vanilla foam and espresso, well suited for Florida summer.
Coffee purists will find all their straight up favorites, like cappuccinos, americanos and cold brew. You can grab a growler of cold brew coffee to fuel your creativity at home, as well as whole beans. Tea lovers will find an interesting selection of matcha drinks (Strawberry and taro matcha to name a few), flavored iced teas and fruity oolong and green teas. Milk options include whole, oat, coconut, and almond for those who don’t do dairy.
If you need a nibble, they have an assortment of tempting pastries and some savory munchies like avocado toast and cream cheese garlic bread. No matter whether you are a fan of fancy coffee combinations or classic pours, Qreate beverages are picture perfect and tasty too. I’ll be lured back to see what kind of creative caffeinated concoctions appear on their summer menu. I might even bring my camera next time.