One of my main concerns when first moving to UConn’s Storrs campus (other than how terrified I was of gettting the equivalent of Leighton Meester in The Roommate as a roomie) was finding my main method of survival on a daily basis: a good cup of coffee. After discovering that my roommates weren’t psychopaths or serial killers and were actually avid coffee drinkers like me, our mission to find a good cup of joe began.
Jitters
The only good thing about this coffee place is that they remain closed more often than open. After my first (and only) sip, I tossed it out and walked away feeling discouraged about whether I could bring myself to finish this quest or not.
The Beanery
I went in and ordered a caramel iced coffee (with the syrup, not the flavor shot). To my surprise, it was only a little more water than coffee, but at that point it was a lot better than my coffee that morning from Jitters. Plus, the caffeine deprivation was at an ultimate high so this drink did the trick.
UConn Bookstore Café
My expectations were high for this café since they serve Starbucks drinks. However, it was, unfortunately, a bit of a disappointment. My caramel macchiato lacked caramel so maybe I’m just holding a grudge, but still, that is a key ingredient. A lot of the employees are new this year so the service was a bit slow, so make sure you have the time before class to wait in line and for your drink if you plan on stopping by.
Dunkin
This one’s a given. Basic coffee for your basic college girl and it tastes just like any Dunkin you’ve ever been to. It’s a go-to for UConn students as there are about 50 on campus, but beware of the line in the morning for the one in the Student Union.
Bookworms Café
This was the first great coffee I’ve had other than the Keurig back in my dorm room. My French vanilla iced coffee actually tasted like French vanilla. Plus, it was simply a regular iced coffee, brewed perfectly. The best part was, you didn’t have to pay extra for the soy milk — cha-ching!
Wilbur’s
I decided to switch it up a little since coffee was becoming my breakfast, lunch, and dinner for several days now. I ordered an iced vanilla chai with soy milk, which was up there as one of the best chais I’ve ever had. The only downside is is that if you don’t have a sweet tooth like I do, you may cringe a little on your first sip.
At the end of this long and somewhat brutal journey, I’ve discovered that this campus serves more average than delicious coffee. Bookworms Café is by far and away my top coffee place recommendation. However, if you’re looking to save money and get a cup of joe you know you’ll love, sticking to your Keurig cups might be the best bet in the long run.