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Which FSU Starbucks Location Is the Best?

Aubrey Thompson Student Contributor, Florida State University
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at FSU chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.

For many college students, grabbing a coffee or a quick treat has become a part of their daily routine. FSU has picked up on this, with four different Starbucks locations across its campus!

However, these locations, as you may expect, aren’t created equal. First, it’s important to put into perspective that these locations aren’t owned by corporate Starbucks. Rather, they’re operated by the licensing company Aramark. This is important because franchised locations typically don’t get the same stocking as corporate ones, so there are discrepancies in the stock of the on- and off-campus Starbucks. 

Aramark owns four Starbucks locations: the Student Union, Robert Manning Strozier Library, next door to Paul Dirac Science Library, and the 1851 dining hall located on the bottom of Azalea dining hall. 

With all of that taken into consideration, this is my ranking of each of the Starbucks on campus!

The Student Union

This is the most visited location on campus as it’s located within the Student Union. In 2025, the Student Union had over 2.3 million visitors! It has such high traffic from students, parents, and applicants alike; it’s the most consistent and well-stocked Starbucks on campus. 

Additionally, it has very good hours, with it being open from 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on most days. It also has the ability to mobile order ahead through your own payment or pay in person using your Dining Dollars or FSU Cash. Its versatility in payment and ordering makes this Starbucks the most efficient.

The only real caveat with the Union Starbucks is that sometimes there are pretty long wait times given the demand; however, I confidently declare it the superior Starbucks location!

Robert Manning Strozier Library

This Starbucks location is most likely the second most visited Starbucks on campus given how much traffic the library brings in, with almost 1.8 million visitors each year! This location is nestled inside the library, with customers being able to access it before and after swiping into Strozier.

Additionally, its hours are also great, being open from 7:30 a.m. to midnight most days. You can’t mobile order, so lines sometimes get a bit long, but you’re able to use Dining Dollars and FSU Cash, as well as your own payment method if you prefer.

Another factor to consider is that their food stock is sometimes a bit low; however, it’s pretty consistent for drinks. Given its consistency and hours when studying, I can confidently conclude that Strozier Starbucks is my second pick!

Paul Dirac Science Library

Now, into my lower-tier rankings. This location is outside of the Paul Dirac Science Library, which is a bit on the outskirts of campus towards the STEM buildings. It’s a bit out of the way for most students and gets fewer visits compared to Strozier or the Union.

Additionally, the hours at this location are typically 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., which makes late-night pick-ups difficult. You do have the option to mobile order ahead through your own payment method or pay in person with your Dining Dollars or FSU Cash; however, the major drawback is that their food stock is inconsistent, and many things are normally not available.

Wait times are also a bit longer, especially during morning and afternoon cafe rushes. It has a pretty solid operation; however, its limited hours, stock, and location make this location more of an “if I’m already over here, I will go” rather than specifically seeking out Dirac Starbucks. I think it’s fair to give this location the number three spot!

1851 Dining Hall

Lastly, the last location on this list is the 1851 location, which is located on the ground floor of the Azalea dormitory hall in the 1851 dining hall. Unlike the other franchised locations, this location is an exclusive pickup location on the outskirts of campus targeting students in dormitory halls. 

You’re unable to order in person or use your Dining Dollars and FSU Cash, so you have to pre-order on the Starbucks app with your personal payment method. Additionally, the hours for this location are 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekdays and 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. On weekends, they also stop accepting new orders at 4:30 p.m. 

Wait times have been consistently long at this location during passing periods, and in my experience, they’re arguably the least stocked and maybe the least profitable location on campus. They run out of food quickly and have very limited payment options. 

I don’t have access to all these places’ revenue, stocking, and activity, so it’s hard to accurately rank the Starbucks locations. But from my observations as a student, this is my assessment of which locations are worth the visit and worth the skip!

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Aubrey Thompson is a new Staff Writer at the Her Campus at Florida State University chapter.

Beyond Her Campus, Aubrey currently works part-time at Ausley McMullen- a local Tallahassee law firm- in which she helps with administrative tasks for attorneys and paralegals. Additionally, she is an ambassador for the Florida State University Career Center as well, a position that allows her to educate students about resources that the school provides. Furthermore, Aubrey also has an internship with the Museum of Everyday Writing under the Florida State University English Department, where she archives common utilizations of rhetoric. She is currently a sophomore at Florida State University, double majoring in Editing, Writing & Media and Criminology & Criminal Justice with a minor in Innovation set to graduate in 2028. Her aspiration is to attend law school in the Southeastern United States and eventually become a criminal defense attorney.

During her free time, Aubrey enjoys listening to music and curating playlists on Spotify. She also dabbles in creative writing and loves web design. She also loves Grey's Anatomy, Criminal Minds, The Lincoln Lawyer, and has recently finished His & Hers. Aubrey also loves fishing and cooking- specifically Italian food and has recently taken up the hobby of making artisan bread!