We’ve all said it, and we’ve all heard it. The first two weeks as a first-year at the University are arguably the most overwhelming weeks of your life. The constant pressure to socialize and say yes to EVERYTHING can take a massive toll on you and your accountability. So, we can’t blame ourselves for making plans and never following up. In the chaos of those first weeks, “we should get coffee sometime” becomes less of a plan and more of a polite goodbye.
After recently making it through this war myself, I have to wonder about missed opportunities and missed friendships. What if I had missed getting coffee with a soul sister? I have to fall back on my belief in the Universe. Destiny always finds you, right? So, now that I’ve settled into the rhythm of classes, figured out how to navigate at least some of the social scene, and have finally gotten over that vicious cold that came with the unfamiliar hedonism of college, it’s time to think about some of those coffee dates that didn’t happen. It’s not too late to reach out to that potential friend I bonded with in line for hibachi at Runk about meeting up for a coffee. She didn’t seem like the Starbucks type, so where is the best place for us to forge a new friendship? Luckily, Charlottesville has plenty of options, so here are a few I’m considering.
How about Grit on the Corner? It’s got a cool Scandi vibe with minimalist decor and light woods, and the space is designed to be welcoming for work or hanging out. The coffee is locally roasted and made from high-quality beans sourced from farmers across the globe. It would be an easy, low-pressure first meeting, close to campus, and comfortable enough for conversation to flow.
If she’d rather have a place with a mission, there’s another option nearby. Like us, Tribute Coffee is new to Charlottesville and has a more progressive vibe. It has a no-tip, living wage policy. Its Instagram is full of fundraising events for local causes. It could be a great fit if she cares about giving back to the community.
I think she might be pursuing a French minor, in which case it might be nice to have a croissant too. It’s a little farther away, but MarieBette, founded by two International Culinary Center alumni, would be perfect. The cafe’s country French aesthetic is very charming. It would make our coffee date feel like a small escape to France.
Even further afield is Cou Cou Rachou, whose founder and pastry chef is the real deal, having earned her pastry certificate from none other than Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. With its expansive outdoor patio, it’s a great place to enjoy coffee outside. It’s worth the trip if we want the date to feel like a real occasion.
Whichever spot I choose, the goal is to turn a throwaway promise into an actual plan. This is Charlottesville, after all – a foodie town with no shortage of options for a coffee date. It’s best not to overthink it, or you may never end up getting that cup of coffee with a new friend after all. So if there’s someone you’ve been meaning to text, consider this your sign to pick a place, send the message, and turn “sometime” into a real date.
