Olivia Van Zelst, Purdue University Student, shares this blog.
Coffee is a liquid hug to the brain when studying.
I have tried every study tactic out there. I have jumped from studying in my room, going to libraries, going to different buildings, and many more. I finally found something that works for me: heading out to one of the unique coffee shops in the area.
Here I will provide a few of my favorite coffee shops in town where I am able to focus on my school work, while having a delicious treat. Whether you are looking for a study or work spot or just need a break, these are a few of my favorites.
First up was Java Roaster. This secret shop is located in downtown Lafayette on 3rd Street. The vibe this place gave was dark, yet calming. When I walked in, there were only two other people there, so it is a hidden gem to say the least.
The menu consisted of multiple coffee options, bagels, salads, toasts, and sandwiches. They also had daily and monthly specials that match the season, like pumpkin breads, which I thought was super cute.
After ordering a cappuccino, I decided to take my homework upstairs, where there were an abundance of seating options. There were cute sayings all over the walls, cool lights, and it was so quiet, which is what I need for a good study session.
I would for sure attend this coffee shop for another work day. It is open until 7 p.m. on the weekdays and only 3 p.m. on the weekends, so keep this in mind before attending.
The next place I chose to go to was Greyhouse. This location is a classic coffeehouse that gives off a homey and old fashion vibe with its dark wood and comfortable seating, as well as a menu that includes an abundance of coffee options, baked goods, crepes, gelato and smoothies.
This is located very close to campus on Northwestern Avenue. The good thing about this place is that is open until 10:30 p.m., so you can stay a while. I prefer doing my homework at night, so this is perfect.
Since it is so close to campus, it can be difficult to find a seat. I usually wait around five minutes and someone will end up leaving.
I decided to order a vanilla bean doughnut and a sweet matcha latte. The doughnut was so soft and the vanilla flavor was definitely present. They are hand crafted and made daily in the shop, so they are very fresh. It may have been one of my favorite donuts.
They also have old fashioned cake, vanilla glazed, espresso crunch, and a strawberry filled donut.
I really like matcha and this one was different because it was made with steamed milk and not hot water. It was smooth and tasted more like a sweet latte rather than the healthy green drink that it looks like. I would totally recommend trying this if you like this kind of drink.
They also have a wide variety of cool drinks like this matcha, a London fog, teas, and specialty lattes that I want to try in the future.
Lastly, they have a new feature in the shop, gelato. It is Italian inspired and made in Michigan at a famous store called Palazollo’s. When I was in here, so many people were ordering it, so it definitely is a popular place to go for a treat.
I really like this atmosphere. There were a lot of students studying, eating snacks, and having a coffee. This place can be anything from a cozy homework spot, a late night snack to solve that sweet tooth, to even a business lunch meeting.
I will definitely be coming back here to try some crepes and gelato next.
Lastly, I decided to try Star City, which is also located in downtown Lafayette on Main Street. I had been here before, but I never had the time to sit down and appreciate how perfect this place is for a break or studying off campus.
If you are interested in trying coffee from around the country, come here. Star City offers direct trade coffee from specialty roasters across the United States.
Their menu consisted of more interesting drinks that I never would have tried if it wasn’t for this place. I chose to order the lavender latte, which was so unique and tasty. The lavender was a strong, so if you do not like that taste, I would recommend trying something else.
I took my coffee and found a spot. It was not too busy, so this was easy. One of my favorite features was there were charging outlets available all over and on the tables, so you do not have to worry about your computer dying in the middle of that essay.
I would definitely come back here to get more work done. Overall, this place has really yummy food and really cool atmosphere. It was almost a rustic kind of feeling, which made me feel very cozy while studying.
I would also keep in mind, this does close at 4 p.m. Therefore, if you are going for a late night pick me up, this will be closed.
I would recommend all of these shops if you are looking for a new place to get stuff done or even a new place to try some food and coffee. A full list of all the coffee shops in Lafayette-West Lafayette can be found here: HomeOfPurdue.com.
