Every collegiette enjoys a good cup o’ joe, and luckily we have several great establishments on campus where you can fulfill your caffeine needs. Located at the three main parts of campus, the Wired Scholar, Crossroads, and Conrad’s Coffee Company all cater to the busy schedules of App students. And with the opening of Beans 2 Brew, a new coffee concept in Peacock Hall, getting your daily coffee fix is easier than ever. However, with the easy accessibility and flexible hours, that magical meal plan monopoly money can disappear quickly. So, to help out your wallets and your knowledge of God’s favorite beverage, I’ve dug deep into the world of coffee to find out secret drinks and sneaky hacks so you can enhance your daily coffee experience.
First, don’t let the overgrowth of Starbucks let your coffee knowledge dwindle. Our campus coffee shops offer a wide variety of drinks and flavors that most corporate stores would neglect. For example, Wired Scholar has seasonally flavored syrups to add a little spice to your morning latte. They can be added to any drink, including chai lattes and drip coffees. One popular flavor mixture is the mocha chai latte, a coffee shop favorite with added mocha syrup served hot or iced. Another fan favorite is London Fog, a combination of Earl Grey Tea, steamed milk, and vanilla flavoring. It was news to me that this drink even existed, but every barista on campus can fix you one at a breezy $2.50.
After a late night of studying, get your day jump started with a caffeine-full, $2.88 Red Eye, which is only reserved for the bravest souls. This combo of drip coffee and shots of espresso has a trademarked bitter taste, but will get you going as soon as you take the first sip. If you are a coffee newbie and don’t want to jump right into something super strong, the coffee shop regulars recommend a dirty chai latte. This popular, mild tea is brewed and combined with steamed milk, then espresso shots are added to your liking, However, this drink does not come cheap, averaging around $4.80 for a medium.
Along with a variety of flavors, all of the shops offer cheaper alternatives to specialty drinks. However, you have to know exactly what to ask for to get the deal! Instead of spending $5 on a fancy mocha-pumpkin-extra large latte, ask for a pump of your favorite syrup in a medium drip coffee. You’ll only end up spending a little more than $2 and you can fix up your cup to your liking. Also, if you’re looking for an extra caffeine jolt, ask for an Americano (espresso and hot water) with a fun flavor. If you want to be kind to the earth and use your own mug, you can ask the friendly baristas to fill it for the price of a small house coffee. Cheap and ecofriendly? Sign me up!
While most students flock to Wired Scholar and Crossroads for their morning coffee, Conrad’s in Roess Dining Hall is a hidden gem of it’s own. While grabbing a quick breakfast, you can order a good cup off coffee for a reasonable price to have on your walk to class. Along with the traditional café fare, Conrad’s offers daily specials and seasonal drinks that can only be found there. My personal favorite is the Fall Festival latte, which combines pumpkin, cinnamon and vanilla flavors in a warm brew of autumn goodness. You can also pick up a shop specialty, chocolate covered espresso beans, for a cheap and sweet pick me up.
Whether it’s your first year or your last, the coffee shops of App State have been there with you through the exams, papers, and late-night breakdowns. These on-campus staples will continue making your day a little brighter and taste a little better.