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.