It's no secret that college kids love their coffee. From that 8am jolt of espresso to the iced cold brew giving us the will to stay awake through 3 hour night classes, coffee is a daily staple in the lives of most Boston University students. But have you ever wondered which spot truly offers the best cup of Joe? As a senior and extreme Lorelai Gilmore level caffeine addict, I feel that I'm qualified to give the low down on where to get the best brew BU has to offer.
So if you've ever wondered what the difference was between the 100000 Starbucks spots on campus or gotten into a heated Blue State vs Pavement battle, here's the official order of BU coffeeshops ranked from worst to best.
P.S. It wasn't until I sat down to compile this list that I realized the truly insane amount of different places to buy coffee across the BU Campus. But hey, I mean something's gotta keep as awake to study long enough to beat that grade deflation.
(Dis) Honorable Mention: Dining Hall Coffee
Nobody expects dining halls to serve up the highest quality roasts. However, BU Dining's coffee is best avoided even with the enticing offer of unlimited free refills. Also, I'm pretty sure I've been tricked more than once by a mislabeled Decaf/Regular dispenser. Unforgivable.
12.) CityCo Self-Serve Dunkin' Donuts
The idea of a customizable self-serve coffee bar sounds amazing in theory. But far too many syrup flavor pumps fail to prove that no one person should have this much power.
11.) Warren Starbucks
Sadly the bottom of BU's ridiculous number of Starbucks stores since its central location and lack of space often mean the line stretches out the door practically to Basho.
10.) GSU Starbucks
Similarly packed during prime hours, so not the best choice for a quick pick-me-up if you're late to class. However, if you've got some time to kill the attached lounge area can be a great place to catch up on homework and enjoy a sweet mocha.
9.) West Campus Dunkin' Donuts
While Bostonians have a definite loyalty to the Dunks, I've found the service of the West Dunkin Donut's pretty subpar and they lose points for the absence of ambiance/music provided by "hip breweries". While their breakfast bagels are admittedly delicious, they lack the self-serve milk and sugar options available at practically every other place on this list.
8.) Questrom Starbucks
Pros: Tons of seating space, multiple condiment bars, and generally quick service.
Cons: If you're not in Questrom you will feel a bit judged having to wade through crowds of scowling corporate people in suits just to pick up your Caramel Macchiato.
7.) Buick St. Market Dunkin' Donuts
One of the many perks of living in Stuvi is close access to the convenient food and drink options at Buick St. Market. Other than an entire grocery store of snacks and a fresh salad bar, Buick St. also has its own fully staffed Dunkin Donuts complete with tons of handy outlets and counter space.
6.) Einstein Bagels in CAS
While they're best known for their delicious bagel/cream cheese combinations, Einstein's in the basement of CAS also brews a tasty cup of coffee to pair with your sandwich and shmear.
In addition to being cheaper than the beverages at either Starbucks or Pavement, Einstein also earns points for its delicious and creative seasonal coffee blends. My personal favorite is the buttery vanilla hazelnut blend offered September-December.
5.) West Campus Starbucks
Easily the top of the BU Starbucks chain for its spacious seating and quality playlists. If you can't pass up your daily Pumpkin Spice fix, this is definitely the place to grab it.
4.) Blue State Coffee
One of the unique local spots among West's many food and drink offerings, Blue State Coffee is great for anyone looking to escape the library for a few hours and catch up on reading in a more chill, indie atmosphere. (And as a bonus they stay open 'til 10pm on weekdays which is definitely later than the majority of BU businesses)
3.) Cafè Nero
The newest of the Boston University coffee spots, Caffè Nero, one of Europe's top café chains, only opened its Allston location this past August. However, its cozy, lounge-style atmosphere and outdoor patio seating quickly set this place apart from the crowd.
2.) Tatte (South Campus)
Arguably the fanciest place on the list, Tattè offers an incredible menu of breakfast sandwiches, gourmet salads and of course, delicious lattès. Its more upscale vibe and less visible location along St. Mary's St also generally means you have a better chance of avoiding the undergrad crowd and actually securing a seat.
1.) Pavement Coffeehouse
The obvious pick. Pavement Coffeehouses are one of the best Boston-only gems. Not only does Pavement on Commonwealth Ave regularly serves delicious iced-coffee, gorgeously decorated latès and mouthwatering egg-sandwiches in addition to hosting exciting campus events like live music and comedy nights. Unfortunately Pavement's impressive options and old-school decor make it consistently one of the most crowded places on campus. But if you manage to wade through the crowds and score a table, the Pavement coffee experience is totally worth it!
