Blue Line
The great thing about Blue Line is it’s so close to campus. It’s located at 14th and Cuming, next to Urban Outfitters and American Apparel. As for the hot chocolate, it was alright – a bit watery and not quite enough of the chocolate flavor. It’s a small coffee shop, but can still be a nice place to study. Also, parking is always available, which is a nice plus. Baristas are……interesting. Sometimes they seem as though they are in their own little world, but they are nice enough.
3 stars
Caffeine Dreams
Caffeine Dreams is my favorite atmosphere of all the coffee shops. It has a variety of places to sit including couches, high tables, low tables, small tables and large tables. Local art lines the walls. There is free Wi-Fi, a great blend of music (usually the barista’s ipod, I believe) and very interesting customers. Also, it is open late, until 11 or 12 depending on the night. It tends to get busier as the evening goes on, but is usually quite empty in the afternoon. The fruit tart is absolutely delicious, although I would not recommend the Napoleon – the frosting on the top is a bit hard and unappetizing. The hot chocolate was delicious. I only wish there had been a bit more whipped cream.
4 stars
Crane Coffee
Crane Coffee gets my award for the best hot chocolate. The whipped cream was abundant, and my cup was full of chocolatey goodness. It was hot, rich, and smooth, all the elements of a top notch hot chocolate. Along with the hot chocolate, I enjoyed a delicious strawberry and cream cheese croissant. I was impressed to say the least. The strawberry filling tasted like real strawberries, not like the fake jelly used to fill many pastries. All bakery items are baked fresh daily. Also, Crane Coffee has a wide assortment of mugs, which would make an adorable Christmas present for the coffee lover in your life. On top of it all, the baristas were extremely friendly. There’s a new Crane Coffee opening downtown soon, and I just can’t wait!
5 stars
Starbucks
Starbucks is Starbucks. The atmosphere is busy and loud; the music selection could use some help; there is no free Wi-Fi, and there aren’t a lot of nice tables to study at. However, the hot chocolate is delicious. Their self proclaimed “divine mix of four distinctive, ethically sourced chocolates” actually lives up to all the hype. So, if you’re just looking for a good cup of hot chocolate to take on the go, Starbucks is a good option. Also, if you’re looking for a new treat, the zebra hot chocolate is very tasty, but it’s not on the menu. So you’ll have to ask for it! It’s a tasty blend of milk chocolate and white chocolate.
4 stars
13th St. Coffee
The 13th St. Coffee hot chocolate was tasty enough. They use Hershey’s hot chocolate to make it. It’s not memorable one way or the other. The baristas are never too talkative, but they aren’t rude either. The atmosphere is eclectic. Local art hangs on the walls. There’s a loft area with chairs, tables, and couches that look as though they have been around for 100 years, and if you’re tall, you will have to duck to make it up there because of the low, slanting ceiling. If you go in the day, you will have to pay a meter to park. It gets my award for the most unique coffee shop, and it can work well as a study spot if you like a creative atmosphere.
4 stars
Related Links:
Keywords: coffee, Blue Line, Caffeine Dreams, Starbucks, Crane Coffee, 13th St. Coffee, hot chocolate