Comedian Lewis Black once said, “I like coffee because it gives me the illusion that I might be awake.” At Connecticut College, this statement certainly rings true. With four plus courses, athletics, student government, a cappella and a whole host of other clubs and activities to contend with during the week, our student body often seems likes a bunch of zombies only appearing to function because of coffee. With the semester fully underway—and as we officially come to terms with our absentee library—it’s important to take advantage of the diverse coffee options Conn has to offer. So, here is The College Voice’s run-down on each of the four on-campus coffee shops.
Coffee Grounds: Often described as the “Central Perk” of Connecticut College, Coffee Grounds is one of two completely student-run businesses on campus. Located in Katherine Blunt House (KB), Coffee Grounds has a truly eclectic feel and is a favorite for both students and faculty alike. Its creative menu offers a wide variety of options, from regular coffee to espresso to lattes and non-caffeinated drinks, too. The hot coffee is always warm and richly flavored, and there are always multiple choices for milk: whole, skim, or two percent. Sometimes, the iced coffee even comes with coffee ice cubes, which is always a plus. But, if you’re jonesing for the last-minute coffee before class, you may need to wait for more than a minute, as the baristas make each drink separately.
As a study space, Coffee Grounds is always great during the day when it’s a little quieter. At night, the café usually has a more social atmosphere, but it still maintains a calm and invigorating feeling, enhanced by the decorative lights and student art hanging on the walls and by the windows. The Open Mic Nights allow Conn’s musicians to showcase their talents, and the bands hosted by MOBROC always provide a great counter to the typical Friday or Saturday night experience. Here are some of the best highlights:
Chai Latte: “I like the chai at Coffee Grounds the best because they have the most options,” said Mo Smolskis ’15. These include, dirty chai, vanilla chai, and even apple chai. Chai lovers, rejoice.
Fall Drinks: Since fall means the start of everything pumpkin spice, the pumpkin spice at Coffee Grounds is a no-brainer. But if pumpkin spice isn’t your thing, don’t freak out. Coffee Grounds also has killer apple cider that can be served hot or cold, so take your pick.
Blue Camel Cafe: Perhaps the most centrally located coffee shop on campus, the Blue Camel also offers one of the best study spaces. Now located in the Faculty Lounge in Blaustein, Blue Camel is the only on-campus coffee shop that has computers and is within 5 feet of printers—a huge plus, considering the state of the library this year. The round tables are great for small group meetings and projects, and the double screens on every computer are also a benefit—who says you can’t watch Netflix and study at the same time? The Writing Center and IT Services even hold appointments there, too.
Since it’s no longer in the actual library, Blue Camel is smaller this year, which means that space can sometimes be limited. However, the quality of coffee can balance out any negative. Deliciously satisfying, Blue Camel’s coffee, hot or iced, only uses locally-grown coffee from Ashlawn Farm Coffee in East Lyme and also offers chai, albeit less creatively than Coffee Grounds. One of the best aspects of Blue Camel is the food: Greek yogurt, chocolate croissants, artisan soups, and asiago cheese bagels. If you have to study and can’t make it to Harris, the Blue Camel Cafe provides. Recommendations:
Café Latte: If you need a solid late night boost and want something more than just coffee, the café latte is always a solid choice. Because who doesn’t love the delicious swirls of espresso and steamed milk?
Hibiscus Tea: If school has really got you stressed and your coffee intake has reached its limit, tea is a great alternative. While it may not have caffeine, the warmth of hibiscus tea can help calm you down enough to actually get work done and its antioxidants can help you reboot your immune system to prep for the next round of late night studying.
The Coffee Closet: The other entirely student-run coffee shop, The Coffee Closet, is the perfect location for students who frequent Cummings or live in South, but may be out of the way for some, especially those living in North. It is completely worth the trek to indulge in their beautiful baked goods and drinks.
The smallest of all the coffee shops, it makes up for lack of seating with a delicious and creative menu. With a few small tables at the entrance to Cummings, this is a great study location for anyone who doesn’t mind a fair amount of traffic as well as sounds of various instruments while studying. If the tables have filled up inside, the seating outdoors overlooking the soccer fields is peaceful as well.
Their menu includes a list of “special” drinks, all of which are wonderfully creative in their names and flavors. For example, Glen Cocoa (peppermint and chocolate), Horchata Mama (cinnamon and vanilla) and The Bee’s Knees (honey and cinnamon) are all hits. Be sure to hit up the Coffee Closet for these great drinks:
Cold Options: Deliciously caffeinated, their iced coffee with shots of espresso provides tons of energy to make it through your next class or reading. For those avoiding the caffeine, the extension offering of Harney & Sons tea tastes just as good as their tins look.
Fall Harvest: A special seasonal cinnamon and pumpkin latte, this drink has perfectly blended spices. It’s like a chai latte, but somehow even better.
Jazzman’s Cafe at Ruane’s Den: Located in Harkness, Jazzman’s Cafe is probably the most convenient location for South residents to grab a coffee on the way to classes. There is abundant seating with a usually quiet atmosphere. It is a great study space for those who thrive with a little bit of background noise. The large tables are great meeting spaces for groups, and the comfy couches and chairs are perfect for solo work.
They have a standard offering of hot and cold coffee options, as well as tea, smoothies and hot chocolate for those trying to avoid caffeine (kudos to you). They also have a large assortment of packaged snacks to eat on location or to bring back to your room for later. Recommendations:
Pumpkin Caramel Latte: For anyone trying to get into the fall season, the pumpkin caramel latte is a great substitute for the classic chai.
Hot Chocolate: Perfect for late night study sessions when you’d like to start winding down and don’t want to keep pumping your body with caffeine. •
