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!