Photo by Danielle Romeo
Imagine the inevitable 3 p.m. slump. Your eyelids feel as heavy as your 85-pound backpack stuffed with your textbooks for the day. With two classes over and two remaining, you fear what your state of sanity might be in four hours when you must tackle the mound of homework menacingly staring you in the face. Every college student has experienced this hopelessly dire situation. Such a predicament would be exponentially more daunting if it were not for a simple, yet impactful solution: coffee.
For the many coping with the pain of 8 a.m. classes, long Mondays or hours spent with Payson, coffee is a best friend. When desperate for the extra kick that will provide strength to complete that last item on a never-ending to-do list, that seemingly small bean can work mighty miracles. That begs the question: Which on-campus coffee vendor will most considerably satisfy your specific coffee needs?
When the situation is urgent and coffee is needed immediately, chances are you’re within two minutes of something that will quench your thirst. On-campus coffee enthusiasts frequent the Caf, La Brea Bakery, the HAWC, the School of Law Cafe, the CCB’s Cafe Fresca, the random vending machine along the back wall in Payson Library or perhaps even the elusive Wave’s Break Coffee Cart that occasionally appears in Joslyn Plaza. Whatever your preference, it is critical to be educated on alternative possibilities.
The Caf — Three Stars
The Caf is a staple spot for coffee. Brewing Starbucks coffee, the Caf offers students the choice between the Cafe Estima Blend, in dark roast, and the Organic Serena Blend, in medium roast, caffeinated or decaffeinated. In addition to these varieties of hot coffee sits the option of iced coffee, modestly in the corner, ready to help you combat September’s heat. A reason to indulge in the Caf’s coffee might be the lure of the various creamers, including hazelnut, original and French vanilla, or the array of milks, including 2 percent, fat-free, whole, soy and even vanilla soy. The Caf’s prices range from $1.95 to $3.25, and the hours are convenient. It opens at 7:30 a.m. and closes at 8:30 p.m. on weekdays, and it opens at 9 a.m. on the weekends and closes at 7:30 p.m.
La Brea Bakery —Four Stars
What if you are in the mood for a specialty coffee drink? Your cravings may, in this circumstance, take you to La Brea. Interestingly, La Brea has undergone a makeover, as the coffee bar and sandwich shop now brews Starbucks coffee rather than its former supplier, Peet’s. With an extended 20-item menu that has reportedly attracted a greater influx of customers — according to Rico from Pepperdine Dining Services — look no further for your coffee niche. Whether you are longing for a latte, craving a cappuccino or feeling a frappuccino, La Brea will deliver. With diverse flavors and the ability to ice or blend practically any beverage, students that prefer coffee creations to merely drinking it black find La Brea satisfying. Is there a downside to La Brea? Unfortunately, there is. Prices, although beginning at $1.95, rise as high as $4.75. If you want to conserve those meal points, perhaps La Brea is not for you. The hours are not ideal for early-morning classes, late-night studying or Saturdays, but if you are struggling from an afternoon crash, La Brea is an existing solution. Monday through Friday, La Brea is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed on Saturday and open on Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The HAWC — Four Stars
It’s midnight, and you’re just starting a five-page paper. You need coffee — fast. What do you do? In this scenario, the only answer is the HAWC. Similarly to La Brea, the HAWC possesses an array of coffee and espresso drinks students can order, ranging from a vanilla latte to a caramel frappuccino. The distinguishing features between the HAWC and La Brea are the hours of operation and the prices. The hours vary depending on the day, but it is generally open late. It remains open until 2 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, and until 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. The HAWC’s prices also are generally lower than La Brea’s. While La Brea’s most expensive beverage is $4.95, the HAWC charges $4.65 for its priciest drink.
School of Law Cafe & Cafe Fresca — Four Stars
The School of Law Cafe and the CCB’s Cafe Fresca are alike, as they both provide the standard three-blend assortment. However, the law school also possesses a vending machine with coffees, cappuccinos and prices as low as 85 cents. For coffee before early-morning CCB or SAC classes, I recommend heading to the Law School Cafe as opposed to Cafe Fresca, because it opens one hour earlier at 7:30 a.m.
Payson Library Vending Machine —Three Stars
Now consider that it’s an ungodly hour, and you’re in the library, in utter despair. There is a light at the end of the aisle of books. Even though it may seem unappealing, the machine in the library does serve an assortment of coffee beverages for affordable prices. However, beware of its strict acceptance of only cash or credit card.
Wave’s Break Coffee Cart —Two Stars
Lastly, the dark horse of the coffee establishments — the coffee cart. Although in my opinion it is perhaps the most mysterious of all on this list, it does offer a mix of Starbucks espresso and coffee drinks. If you consider yourself a holiday drink enthusiast, the coffee cart may be your ideal coffee hub. The cart will be serving traditional Starbucks holiday drinks, such as Pumpkin Spice Lattes and Peppermint Mochas. It can be found from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on weekdays, near the fountain in Joslyn Plaza.
Which establishment you choose to frequent depends on several constituents: your location, the time, your craving, your budget and of course, the urgency. Regardless of the particular instance, when you feel the coffee cup-shaped hole in your stomach beginning to form, hold fast to this reassurance: You have options.
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