The second I open my sleepy eyes in the morning and roll over to turn off my alarm, there’s only one thing motivating me to crawl out of my bed—a fresh cup of rich, steaming coffee.
When it comes to good coffee, I’m spoiled and I know it. Growing up near Seattle, I could always be sure that if I needed a caffeine fix there would be a Starbucks or other great coffee shop waiting for me on the corner of every block. And the coffee I’m used to drinking at home every morning is far from Folger’s—my family has always mixed a medium and dark blend of premium whole beans and then ground them fresh before starting up the coffee pot. This formula creates the perfect cup of rich, smooth coffee I’ve become accustomed to over the years.
When I started my time at Notre Dame, leaving my little espresso-flavored sanctuary was a shock to my system. Where could I find good coffee in the morning or in between classes? I ventured near and far looking to get a good cup o’ joe and these are my findings:
Dining Hall Coffee
It’s hard for me to even start with how much I hate this coffee. I have so many problems with Dining Hall coffee (North or South), beginning with the coffee mug size. You expect me to drink about 4 ounces of coffee in those little mugs? Not going to happen. Even if I can get past the mug size by pouring the coffee straight into a thermos or a plastic cup, the taste is something hard to get past. The coffee is so thin you can practically see through it and the bitter taste is awful. To try and reconcile this issue (bad coffee is better than no coffee, right?) I pump it full with Vanilla Coffee-mate and try my best to mask the original flavor.
The Huddle Coffee
I went through a period where I would only buy coffee from the Huddle because it was about 50 cents cheaper than a Starbucks drip coffee, and I stand by my decision. This coffee isn’t the best I’ve ever had, but it’s also far from the worst. If you’re cramming for finals or just trying to make it through the day (their extra-large cup is HUGE), this is a great place to go. They also carry fancy creamer flavors like Almond Joy or Milky Way if you’re into sweetening up your coffee.
Au Bon Pain Coffee
If you’re looking for a quick coffee in between classes or during a study break, ABP will be your best bet as they’re conveniently located in the library and have a booth open in DeBart. ABP manages to have fairly cheap (a medium is $1.99) and fairly tasty coffee. I love the hazelnut flavor they carry!
Green Mountain Coffee
This brand of coffee is carried in multiple ND cafés including Waddicks in O’Shag and A la Descartes in Grace Hall. Green Mountain is a great option for people who love to mix it up with the flavors of their coffee. My favorite is the French Toast flavor, but I do have to admit that when the coffee is strongly flavored, it loses some of its richness. If you’re a true coffee connoisseur, stick to the classic roast.
Starbucks
Call me basic, but I love Starbucks. Sure, their fancy drinks are great, but I’m a sucker for a good ‘ol Pike Place roast. It’s so hard to mess up Starbucks—if my bank account allowed for it, I would be at the front of the line every single morning.
Einstein’s Coffee
Bagels + coffee = perfection. Einstein’s coffee is really delicious and is amazing paired with your favorite treat.
Also be sure to hit up some of the tasty FREE coffee Notre Dame has to offer in places like the Campus Ministry office and Geddes Hall!
The HCND application is now open! For more information contact Rebecca Rogalski at rebeccarogalski@hercampus.com or Katrina Linden at katrinalinden@hercampus.com