The topic of this post is long awaited and probably my most exciting yet. For the past few weeks, I have been waiting to visit one of the most renown coffee shops in the downtown area: Elixr. Since the first day I got to Penn State, I have heard that it is the best coffee shop around campus and is a must-visit destination. Finally, I was able to take a journey and visit it myself.

The first point I will make about Elixr is that the coffee more than exceeded my expectations. It was the most delicious and smooth coffee that was definitely blended with magic, much as the name of the shop entails. Drinking their coffee felt like floating on cloud 9, and not just because it was early in the morning and I was exhausted. Not only is the coffee the best I have had so far, but it does not fall too high on the price spectrum. For one 12 oz house blend coffee, the price was $2.50, which is not much more expensive than other shops I have critiqued, and is definitely far more worth the price.

As for their drink menu, Elixr is full of a wide variety of coffee and espresso-based drinks, but also provides options for plentiful milk lattes or teas. This shop perfectly captures the idea of the classic cute college coffee shop, as they do little designs on their lattes and have a warm, quiet, and inviting atmosphere. The ambience is unmatched and is perfect for students who are searching for the most picturesque coffee shop they could find. With warm yellow lighting, wooden tables, white walls, and pastel details, the environment is extremely wholesome and homey.

The shop is also fairly small, which has both pros and cons with it. Firstly, it is a relatively quiet café and is not packed full of students such as other coffee shops around campus are. This makes it a great study spot to write an essay or prepare for exams. However, as it is known as one of the best coffee places around, I imagine it can get fairly busy at certain times of the day and a large line can form, making it less quick and simple as would be preferred.

As for location and convenience, It is located pretty far from campus and deep into downtown, but not to the point of it being a long or extensive trek. It is actually located close to Webster’s Bookstore Café, one of my personal favorites. While this makes it less than ideal for a quick stop-by and pick-me-up, Elixr is not really the place one would go to for that anyway. If one is choosing to drink Elixr coffee, they might as well sit-in and soak up the atmosphere while they’re at it.

On a final note, another advantage of this dreamy shop is that one can order online and pick up in-store, just in case they don’t feel like waiting in suspense for that first sip of the amazing coffee. In comparison to my previously examined coffee shops, this one definitely lands in the top two, but I am not sure I can call it 100% my favorite yet. Nevertheless, I urge you to try Elixr at least once this semester. But, be warned, once you try a taste of their delicious concoctions, you’ll be placed under a spell and have no choice but to continue going back!

 

To conclude my recent trend in critiquing the classic coffee chain restaurants on campus, I venture to the most basic shop: Starbucks. This is the main coffee source on campus, as dining halls and EDGE carry Starbucks branded coffee, specifically their Pike Place blend and Verona blend. In general, I would argue that it is the most popular coffee shop in the country, and most everyone’s favorite. However, I disagree with this notion, especially in regards to coffee on this campus, and would rather say that there are much better options than going to a starbucks.

There are really only a handful of true Starbucks shops near campus. There are two located downtown and one located in the Hub, the building with the most student foot traffic on campus. With multiple locations and the relative distance between all of them, going to Starbucks is always convenient, yet rarely quick due to the massive lines at any location. Therefore, I really wouldn’t recommend it as the best place to get a grab-and-go drink every day, as there are other places such as Edge and Dunkin with shorter lines and quicker service.

The aesthetic of Starbucks is a world of its own. There’s nothing to truly compare it to because the chain has such a unique and easily recogized design and atmosphere. In some of the bigger, further away Starbucks’, the environment is excellent for college students to sit down and study in. There are generally very comfortable couches and plenty of table space with outlets and free wifi. However, in a Starbucks placed somewhere such as the Hub, the environment is not ideal for schooling whatsoever. There are rarely available seats, and even if there are, it is also extremely crowded and very noisy. Nevertheless, the decor of any Starbucks is inviting and warm for students due to the dark, calming colors and lighting.

Now, onto the coffee. Obviously, Starbucks coffee is renownedly good and is a staple in many households and dining areas here. Their main blend, Pike Place, is very rich and bitter, which is excellent for true coffee lovers. In addition, they have a myriad of add-in options that are arguably the best around. Any milk you could think of, cold foam, a wall of flavored syrups, flavored drizzle, etc. Something that also places Starbucks toward the top of the list is the refresher options. If you’re not a coffee person, nor a tea person, have no fear! There are plenty of rotating caffeinated refreshers that will provide the perfect wake-up, such as the Strawberry Acai or Mango Dragonfruit refreshers.

The pricing for starbucks can either be extremely cheap, or extremely expensive, depending on the drink of choice. One medium black coffee is $2.10, which is not a terrible price and is pretty in-between compared to other shops I have visited. However, the drinks can quickly become expensive with milk and flavoring add-ins. In addition, most people do not simply get a regular black coffee from starbucks, and are rather attracted to their lattes or frappuccinos. This makes starbucks lean more toward the higher end of the price scale of all of the coffee options so far.

In general, I would simply describe Starbucks as with the term “mid”. Contrary to popular belief, there are so many better options for a coffee stop near or on campus. Obviously, this shop will forever be a classic and will remain the favorite of the majority of people country-wide. While I will never be one to turn down Starbucks, I simply look to persuade you to try some of the other Penn State coffee shops before setting your sights on getting Starbucks every day.

 

Last week, I returned back to my roots and decided to critique Dunkin’ Donuts, a staple of the coffee community, to other local shops here. This week, I decided to continue the trend of classic chain coffee restaurants with a quick trip to a Panera located on campus. Personally, I had never tried their coffee before today, and I will admit, it took me by surprise. Not only was the coffee quite delicious and unique, but the specific location I went to has multiple large seating areas for students to relax and work on assignments in comfort and also was full of warmth, joyfulness, and the smell of bakery perfection.

The Panera I tried this week is located in the Kern Building toward the Northwest side of campus. However, there are also two different restaurant locations in downtown, as well as one located further Northeast toward the agricultural buildings. State College is seemingly drowning in Paneras, which is something I am rejoicing after having a taste of their delectable coffee. While I cannot speak for the ambiance of each of these restaurants, I can generalize and apply the atmosphere of the Kern building’s Panera to them all.

Despite the mass of students that all decided to take a trip to the building at the same time and therefore the difficulty finding seating, the actual restaurant was very inviting. The neutral colors and comfy temperature were a perfect balance for the cold weather that smacked you in the face when you walked outside. There was not only seating inside the restaurant, but also tables outside in the lobby of the building and a little circular room with couches and lounge chairs for relaxing. Not exactly the ideal small coffee shop, but very useful and realistic for college students.

Now, onto what you’re all waiting for, the coffee. There were really only two options for plain black coffee at this location, a light and dark roast, but both are blended with a delicious sweet and bold flavor balance and are extremely unique in the taste. It was also a “serve yourself” bar, which is always a personal favorite of mine because I enjoy controlling exactly how my coffee is made. There were plenty of add-in options, from oat milk to almond milk to 2%, as well as tea options, just as the rest of the other coffee shops have been so far. Obviously, another pro to this shop is the scrumptious food made right from their bakery, creating the perfect meal when combined with the coffee.

The only negative aspect of the coffee here is its price. For a medium regular roast coffee with no add-ins, the total was $3.09, which is fairly expensive when compared to other stop-and-go chain coffee shops, despite Panera coffee’s superior taste. However, Panera has created a way to seemingly combat the high prices, as coffee is free for those who are subscribers to their UnlimitedSipClub, which is $11.99 a month. Over many months, this will end up saving students mountains of money, but also restricts students to only drinking Panera’s coffee.

With its multiple locations, conveniently quick service, amazing coffee, even more amazing food, and excellent study atmosphere, this coffee shop classic is definitely high on my list. I recommend looking into the subscription if you are a true coffee connoisseur, as this coffee is, as they say, “to die for”. Panera is a perfect medium between the small mom-and-pop coffee shops on campus and the extreme chain restaurants, such as starbucks. Certainly not the top of the list compared to other shops so far, but also certainly not the last. Grab your friends and go grab some panera, you won’t regret it (but your bank account might)!

 

In any good research experiment, there is always a control to compare results to. Dunkin’ Donuts is a delicious, dominant coffee chain and is fairly familiar to the college students on campus. There is only one Dunkin’ Donuts, compared to the 5 different starbucks restaurants, on campus, but I find myself strangely compelled by the store. There’s a quietness to it, a sort of draw. And, of course, you can’t beat the tasty coffee for extremely low prices.

Over the years, Dunkin’ Donuts has grown to be a fan favorite, as they have made smart corporate decisions to keep up with their competitors, such as starbucks. They went from a donut and coffee shop to a fully fledged fast food store serving breakfast and lunch to hundreds. Anyone can vouche that Dunkin’ Donuts’ donuts are a 10 on the delicious scale, and their food, while inconsistent, is pleasurable to eat, but how does their coffee truly compare to others?

As someone who has been to Dunkin’ excessively, I have to admit, I am at least a little biased. I even use Dunkin’ coffee for my kuerig at home. But, if anything, it simply demonstrates how delicious and inviting the coffee is. The only problem that comes with Dunkin’ coffee is again the inconsistency of the drinks, especially if your order is complex with flavored cold foam, pumps of syrup, and a milk add-in. While it is definitely a pro that Dunkin’ has this wide range of options for customers to choose from, especially when it comes to vegan friendly options and teas for those who don’t choose to drink coffee, they tend to not follow exact formulas all the time and your drinks can end up tasting differently each time you go.

This general unreliability must be forgiven to an extent when taking into account the prices of the drinks. One medium coffee of their regular brew is a whoppingly small $1.89! This is the lowest price so far from the shops I have visited (besides the free coffee, of course). With the inclusion of add-in milk or flavoring, some drinks can range from 4-5 dollars, which is still minuscule compared to many other shops around. The food is similarly cheap, with breakfast items ranging between $1.39 and $5.00, making it a prime-time spot for college students.

In relation to location and ambiance of the one Dunkin’ close to campus, it is locates on W College Ave, across from the Hammond building. This makes it a little further of a walk for on-campus students, and may be out of the way for off-campus residents who reside further East, but is generally central relative to the entire community. Of course, as a chain restaurant, this Dunkin’ contains the same classic dark pink, orange, and brown color themes, yet this specific shop has spiced up the regular feel by adding lounging chairs and tables with pops of color to create a cozier environment for students to study.

Not the best, but not the worst. At the times I have visited, there are not many people and there are always seats available. Even if it is busy, there are only so many chairs so you’re guaranteed to have less quiet than some of the bigger coffee shops. It radiates warmth and is an inviting atmosphere, yet does not coincide with the idea of the perfect coffee shop for college studying.

Excellent to grab-and-go or sit-in, I definitely recommend this coffee shop to all students as a simple, cheap and yummy option. Sometimes, you just can’t beat the classics, and Dunkin’ Donuts will forever be a classic in my book. They are a master of fast-food coffee and a staple of any town, so I urge you to take a dive ito the world of Dunkin’ whenever you need a quick pick-me-up!

When people mention the Pennsylvania State University, their minds travel to a few places: Football, Old Main, The Arboretum, and The Berkey Creamery. The last of these staples of our esteemed college is known for its delectable ice cream that is home-made right next door to where it is sold. However, the Creamery offers much more than just ice cream; it offers a world of beverage options for coffee enthusiasts.

 

I’ve been to the creamery more times in my lifetime than I can count on my fingers and toes, yet never indulged in their coffee options, until today. With a myriad of options, including vanilla bean coffee, hazlenut sticky bun, blueberry scone, Mexican brew, and their house blend, the Creamery has something perfect for every tastebud. I tasted their house blend, and it was smooth, rich, and flavorful, just as black coffee should be. In addition, a small coffee was about $2.00, so very affordable for college students.

While the coffee itself is high on my list for students to try, there are multiple downsides when it comes to the location and atmosphere. As the Berkey Creamery is located near the East living district, it is out of the way for any students who do not live there. Both off-campus and other on-campus students have quite the walk to the Creamery, therefore making it a less appealing option for students if they want a quick pick-me-up on the way to class. In addition, it is not surrounded by academic buildings like some of the other on-campus coffee shops, like Panera or EDGE, and therefore is not on the class route for the majority of students, again making it the less ideal stop-and-go option.

Well, if it isn’t an excellent grab-and-go coffee shop, then it must at least have a satisfactory dining area for students to sit and study or socialize, right? Wrong. Socialize, yes, but that is about all one can get out of the Creamery’s sitting area. It is quite the busy place, no matter the time of day, and is mostly a stop for ice cream treats with family and friends, so it is not the best choice for a study session. In addition, it does not meet the idealized, aesthetic “coffee shop” appeal that many students look for when finding a cafe to study in, and therefore lacks behind some of the other places I have reviewed. One upside, however, is that there is an outdoor seating area, which is a great option as a place to do homework with a cup of coffee on sunny, warm days.

Following the disadvantages of the location and study aesthetic, there are not as many options for add-ins as some of the other shops on campus. I had only noticed a machine to add creamer to the coffee, but did not see any options for adding oatmilk or almondmilk, two very on-the-rise and highly demanded coffee add-ins. Furthermore, for the students who choose to drink tea over coffee, there are a few options, but not as many as coffee shops such as Webster’s Bookstore Cafe, which I reviewed earlier this year.

In conclusion, while the Creamery will always hold a special place in my heart and has quite the amazing ice cream and coffee, I would not finalize it as very high on my list of coffee shops in State College. I would recommend trying the coffee at least once while on an ice cream run with friends, or maybe getting it with a friend for a study break. For me, personally, the Creamery will remain a tasty ice cream shop.