Stepping into the Starbucks at the GSU, it’s really hard not to be overwhelmed with the extremely long line to order that Cinnamon Dolce Latte and nowhere to sit while you sip. To be honest, so many Starbucks coffee shops are overcrowded. You’d think it would be a great atmosphere to study at, considering that us collegiettes like to flock to where the coffee is, but the noise, the crowd and the cramped space can all hinder and distract.
After sitting in bed and staring out the window for 15 minutes, I decided that neither doing work in my room nor at a Starbucks would help me, and thus, I turned to independent cafes.
Independent cafés have a calming, yet charming atmosphere, which a Starbucks personally cannot give me. Every independent café is different and they each have their own personality. I’m also a big fan of adventures, well, when I have enough time to have them! While there are some independent coffee shops on campus like Blue State or Espresso Royale, sometimes, we need to get out of our “BU bubble.” Our campus is lovely, don’t get me wrong, but sometimes, we just need to get away from anything that reminds us of academia and clear our minds, at least for a little while.
Here are a couple of independent coffee shops that are off of campus, but aren’t too far to venture to. They will certainly give you the pick-me-up you need with the ambiance you deserve.
Café Fixe
1642 Beacon Street
Washington Square
Brookline, MA 02445
If you’re looking to “declutter” your mind, Café Fixe is the right place. The café itself is very minimalistic from the white walls to the wooden tables. The tea list however is very extensive and if you don’t know what you’d like, the barista will allow you to smell the teas to help your decision process. The food menu is limited, but the flavorful teas and coffees make up for it, trust me, they’re amazing.
L’Aroma
85 Newbury Street
Boston, MA 02116
This café and bakery has a Parisian feel, as if you stumbled into Rome (talk about studying abroad, huh?) There are plenty of tables and can be a little busy, but the view of Newbury street is lovely. If you get hungry while reading that hefty book for class, fear not, L’Aroma has a wide selection of baked goods, as well as pizzas, quiche and unique sandwiches. The sounds of the barista making coffee behind the counter overpowers the music, in a good way to further the European coffee shop feel and not overdo it.
Wired Puppy
250 Newbury Street
Boston, MA 02116
The small brick wall arches and great modern instrumental music is something that brings character to Wired Puppy. The coffee shop is a little small, so that doesn’t help with a lot of seating, but there are a lot of things that are unique about it. Most of the beverages are organic and are relatively cheap in price for it. They have more sizes than a “tall” or “venti,” like a “Wolf Hound” and the coffee shop gives customers the option of having vanilla or chocolate whipped crème. Typically young college or graduate students come here, probably because the coffee is great. It’s not too sweet or overpowering and it gives just the right about of energy to focus on my school work (and how many times can we say that coffee didn’t make us over energized or have a crash?)
So whether you’re looking for a different view beyond your text books or a new type of coffee, independent coffee shops are the way to go. Many off of campus aren’t too well known, which is perfect for studying and it’s a great change of pace. Sometimes we just need to get out of our comfort zone a little to do our best on our work. Just don’t go too crazy with the caffeine. Being a coffee addict isn’t the most fun, but you might become one after visiting a couple independent coffee shops. So beware and drink up!