With the long winters that accompany being a Penn State student, no one can deny the warm comfort of a coffee shop. Whether you’re craving a latte or a quiet place to study, it’s in your best interest to know these local places. Who doesn't love finding a comfortable spot, blocking out the distractions, and getting some work done?
1. Saint's Cafe
Saint's Cafe is without a doubt my favorite place in State College. Whether you’ve been here or not, the cafe's warm and inviting atmosphere is hard to miss when passing by. The coffee is great, and they have an amazing iced chai and matcha. There isn't a huge food selection, but Saint's does serve fantastic muffins, cakes, and quiche. The seating is limited and sometimes requires hanging around for a bit before you can grab a good spot. Nevertheless, this is one of my favorite spots because of the comfortable vibe and friendly employees. Plus, they’re always playing good music.
2. Webster's Cafe
Webster’s is another great option located on East Beaver, next to Rita’s. Webster's can go unnoticed if you’re not looking for it, since it's actually located downstairs in the basement. The coffeehouse is inside of a large used bookstore, is full of espresso drinks, and has a menu packed with vegetarian options. My favorites include the Smoky Walnut Pate Wrap or the Hummus Bagel Sandwich. Webster's Cafe is a quiet and removed place to study and hangout if you’re looking to hide out for awhile.
3. The Cheese Shoppe
The Cheese Shoppe’s coffee was suggested to me by a few different friends before I finally stopped by for a cup myself. I wasn't disappointed at all, because my friends were right about the coffee being amazing. If you’re like me, you might not have known this place even existed. The Cheese Shoppe is conveniently close to campus, tucked away on East Calder right next to Rotelli’s. The coffee is brewed fresh daily, and there’s even a flavor of the day.
4. Café Lemont
This cafe is a little harder to reach if you don’t have a car on campus. For those who do, I highly suggest making the trip over to Café Lemont. It takes about five minutes to get there if you take PA-26 North out of State College and turn right onto Elmwood. This cafe is located in a beautiful old house called The Lemont House, with parking in the back as a bonus. I highly suggest the Hot Chicken Pesto Melt. They have a pretty vast menu with tons of mouthwatering options including toasted sourdough with pesto and cheese, a smoked salmon BLT, and many others.
