“Wanna go get some coffee?” That phrase is music to the ears of most college students whether for the potential connotations of a date (depending on the course and depth of conversation steadiness of eye contact and who pays) or merely for the promise of hot sweet swift caffeine intake. Coffee and tea wake us up calm us down encourage conversation and empty our wallets. College life would be a little emptier without the art of the coffee shop an institution to which we are eternally grateful for the Casual Date and the Caffeine Binge. There’s a style of coffeehouse for every avid coffee drinker out there; all it takes to find the perfect one is a little push in the right direction.The Casual Coffee Shops – Starbucks and The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf: Having turned coffee from a beverage into a lifestyle chain coffeehouses like these are easy to find and be comfortable in. They’re easily accessible to soccer moms and film students alike: They bank on the appeal of fine coffee and mellow music to the inner hipster in all of us. The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf (on Cross Creek in the Malibu Country Mart) and Starbucks (on Heathercliff; on Pacific Coast Highway in The Colony; and on Cross Creek) locations near Pepperdine all offer this basic casual vibe. Steamed iced shaken stirred whipped non-fat and fat-free drinks at these spots will taste the same every time. It’s the predictability of the drinks and the interior decorations that make these spots so dependable but there comes a time to branch out.The Conversation Coffee Shop – Urth Café:Though it’s a chain Urth Café has a little something extra that bumps it a step ahead of Starbucks in terms of both hipstericity and authenticity. That little something extra is more than just higher prices; the wide open Main Street location in Santa Monica has a laid-back atmosphere that begs to be filled with deep conversation and warm laughter. Doubling as a legitimate café with an impressive breakfast menu this café boasts indoor and outdoor seating at tiny tables that make it clear that close conversation is the name of the game. Urth ups the ante by offering only organic coffee and 27 varieties of tea to enjoy in the store and all their coffee beans and teas can be ordered for home use. Sampling from this wide array of choices is better done on Main Street though; this coffee shop was made for conversing in the Santa Monica sunshine.The Café Coffee Shop – Mogan’s Café: When Santa Monica seems too far away and Coffee Bean just won’t cut it try Mogan’s Café in Pacific Palisades. The spacious outdoor patio is sunny during the day and cozy at night which is a plus because of limited indoor space. Mogan’s offers the expected Starbucks knock-off coffee and tea concoctions but its breakfast and lunch menu shines. Everything from frittatas to macaroni and cheese comes at a reasonable price. Located in a small strip mall Mogan’s doesn’t feature the hip location or quite the atmosphere that Urth does but it’s a great choice for catching up with a friend over a bowl of soup and cup of tea. Mogan’s keeps it simple and sweet.The Contemplation Coffee Shop – 18th Street Café: This beauty on 1725 Broadway in Santa Monica returns to the basics of what a real coffeehouse should be. The square building with its open beam ceiling and slow-turning fans evokes the essence of calm warmth. Chill and unpretentious (a careful balance to keep and one that this café holds well) 18th Street feels like home. The patio is like a garden lined with greenery and wind chimes and filled with sunshine. 18th Street prohibits cell phone use inside and outside encouraging an environment of thoughtfulness where creativity and contemplation reign supreme. Frequent visitors to this spot include artists writers and students in search of a delicious cup of coffee and an unassuming quiet environment. 18th Street Café is the king of laid-back coffeehouses winning major points for both atmosphere and sustenance quality which makes this spot ideal for afternoon-long stays on the patio with a pile of textbooks and a good iTunes playlist.
The coffee culture of co-eds demands options for sources of delicious drinks in an atmosphere with good vibes. These options are great starting points in the search for the ideal coffeehouse. The greater Los Angeles area offers endless options so boredom of the same old same old should never be the reason to say no to “Wanna get some coffee?”