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Image of cat next to coffee
Image of cat next to coffee
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Cal State Chico | Culture

A College Girl’s Guide to Coffee Shops

Updated Published
Aubrey Heaton Student Contributor, California State University - Chico
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Cal State Chico chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.

What’s a college town without coffee shops? Coffee shops are the backbones of college towns. They’re where the most magical moments take place – finishing that month-long project, sipping lattes after a dignity-testing exam, catching up with friends or classmates, first dates, and all the in-between. If you’ve ever stepped foot in a cafe in the last, maybe, 10-20 years, I’m sure you’ve seen at least a couple young adults to older adults working away at their laptops. Coffee shops are a culture of their own, but not all are created equally. Enjoy the journey as I take you along just a few coffee shops here in Chico that all serve a unique purpose to our little town. 

Coffee and Planning
Thought Catalog

You’re walking along campus, passing over the bridge between Modoc Hall and the BSS, wondering how to fill your hour gap between classes. As you walk into the BSS, the fragrant and vivid smell of fresh espresso and delicious matcha hits you like warm, soft blankets. Here, the famous LoveBird lives. From a small coffee truck outside of Holt Hall to one of the most iconic stops on campus in their very own cafe inside the BSS, Lovebird offers such a variety of well-crafted drinks with creative seasonal flavorings. With the convenience of being on campus and crafted with love, this coffee shop is one of my most recommended across the board. 

Just a few blocks over from Lovebird, lies a Chico staple – Stoble. Stoble is a four-story (yes, four) coffee shop featuring all house-made syrups and freshly roasted espresso. Their food selection is cooked made-to-order and their pastries are simply divine. Every drink is made with love, and their latte art is always picture perfect. On the weekends and select week days, there are occasional pop-up markets or trivia nights that bring together community and coffee. With breathtaking structure and divine coffee, Stoble is a must-visit here in Chico! A great place to bring any visitors.

People sitting at table with laptops and laughing
Photo by Brooke Cagle from Unsplash

Because Downtown Chico is such a hot spot, there’s two more coffee shops I’d love to recommend. Tender Loving is a queer-friendly, vegan cafe that hosts brunches on the weekends! If you’re queer, plant-based, or just love to try out new places definitely check them out! Their syrups are also house-made and the drinks are made with oatmilk at the default (you can request whole milk if you so please). The employees here are so incredibly welcoming, it makes such a great spot to relax and get some work done. Along with Tender Loving, Tin Roof is an amazing coffee shop and bakery to check out. While their drinks are pretty solid, their bakery and pastry items are to die for! If you’re looking for a sweet treat or a simple pastry, Tin Roof is the place to go, with their wide selection from cakes to macarons to cookies to simple croissants! 

Donuts and Bagel Display
Igor Ovsyannykov/Pexels

Finally venturing out of downtown, I want to take us over to Daycamp near the Meriam Barn. Daycamp is a beautiful two-story coffee shop with incredibly unique seasonal syrups. Along with their drinks, they have an amazing food selection. As a vegetarian, they do an amazing job at featuring multiple plant-based items, and they’re worth every penny. Daycamp is also a vibrant coffee shop where many people go to get their work done with a nice drink and some good food. 

Coffee being made, milk pouring in
Photo by Fahmi Fakhrudin from Unsplash

As our journey comes to an end, I’m going to make one last stop over at: The Barnes and Noble Cafe. I know what you’re thinking——this cafe is a chain across the country and can’t possibly be worth your time over other coffee shops. Well, don’t judge a book by its cover (pun intended). One unique aspect about this cafe is the fact that it’s open until 9pm, which is something no other coffee shop offers here in Chico. I’ve spent more nights than I can count at the B&N Cafe and the environment is like no other. Surrounded by thousands of books, soft music playing, and open until nightfall——sign me up! And the coffee and food offered is surprisingly delicious. They also offer $5 dollar books (pre-selected, of course) with the purchase of one cafe order, which is an amazing deal that I’ve done one or more times. If you ever find yourself just wanting out of the house in the afternoon, I’d recommend you try out this cafe. It may surprise you.

Co-workers working together on a project
Photo by Helena Lopes from Unsplash

By now, I’m sure you’re well-caffiented and ready for whatever assignment your professors will throw at you. If you ever find yourself in a need of a different environment, I beg for you to check out at least one of these coffee shops. I promise I wouldn’t lead you astray. Stay safe and remember, a latte a day keeps the doctor away! 

Aubrey Heaton

Cal State Chico '28

Aubrey Heaton is a third-year undergraduate student at Chico State, majoring in Psychology with a long-term goal of becoming a Psychology professor, but for now, she wants to make a change in people’s lives.

Aubrey was raised in Elk Grove, CA within Sacramento County where all of her family currently still lives. Here, she attended Pleasant Grove High School all four years where she graduated from in 2024. During her time in high school, Aubrey was an active member of her MESA club, completed numerous honors/AP writing courses, and worked in her school library during her senior year.

When Aubrey has down time, she fills this up with reading a book of any genre, watching Star Wars movies, or playing on her nintendo switch. When there are long breaks between school, Aubrey is excited to visit family and friends, and she loves to travel to new or old destinations. Her dream vacation bucket list is to visit every Disneyland in the world.

When it comes to writing, Aubrey is nothing short of passionate. She loves having the chance to show her personality through her works and have the ability to present her creativity and skills. She is ready to see what the future holds and be a part of Her Campus.