Whether they are heading to a dreaded 8 a.m. class or preparing for an all-nighter in the library, many college students rely on caffeine to keep their cranial juices flowing throughout the day and night. The smorgasbord of one-of-a-kind coffees stretching across Ohio University’s campus ensures they are never at a loss.
A handful of nationally-known coffee brands can be found in OU’s refectories alone. Each of the four dining halls provides unlimited Seven Hills Coffee. Baker University Center brews Starbucks coffee in The Front Room and brought Dunkin’ Donuts coffee to the West 82 food court just last year. In Alden Library’s Café BiblioTech — perhaps where coffee is needed most — a freshly-brewed cup of Seattle’s Best is always in reach.
But Athens’s coffee collection extends far beyond the brands that Bobcat Cash can buy. Uptown coffeehouses have provided a plethora of fair-trade java to support local roasts and satisfy students’ perpetual caffeine cravings.
COURT STREET COFFEE
($1.85-$2.50)
67 S. Court St.
740-594-6777
Known for its weekly specials like the Frosted Pumpkin Latte and Mayan Mocha, Court Street Coffee is first in the coffee vendor lineup.
Debby Fulks-Larimer was a full-time dental hygienist until a sip of Crimson Cup coffee changed her plan. She turned a nook at the bottom of Court Street into an upscale coffee shack perfect for professor rendezvous and afternoon pick-me-ups.
“I wanted it to have a different atmosphere,” Fulks-Larimer said. “We each have our own niche (in Athens), and that variety keeps us going.”
PERK’S COFFEE HOUSE
($1-$1.80)
49 S. Court St.
740-594-7375
At the intersection of Court and Union streets, Perk’s Coffee House and Roastery is perfect for sipping on a $1 highlander grogg and gawking at passersby through its panoramic windows.
With its wrap-around bar and outdoor tables providing a clear view of College Green, this corner coffee shop is the place for people-watchers.
Perk’s is the oldest coffeehouse in town and offers quality joe at the lowest price, a plus for penny-pinching students.
BRENEN’S COFFEE CAFÉ
($1.75-$2.25)
38 S. Court St.
740-594-4475
Midway down Court Street, Brenen’s Coffee Café welcomes each morning with an open door and the soft sounds of Jack Johnson or the Beatles.
The coffee shop doubles as a deli during the day, where students often stop for sandwiches and smoothie-style chillers. The biscottis, scones and granola that garnish the countertop are made from scratch by owners and OU alumni, Josh and Jessica Thomas.
Brenen’s is the ideal stop for an early-morning caffeine fix or an afternoon lunch break. The café-deli adds a European-esque flavor to the Athens’s Uptown coffee scene.
DONKEY COFFEE AND ESPRESSO
($1.85-$2.50)
17 1/2 W. Washington St.
740-594-7353
Recently named “best coffeehouse in Ohio” by Ohio Magazine, Donkey Coffee and Espresso has a fan base bigger than the more-than-4,000-square-foot lounging space it boasts. The quirky coffee shop sits on Washington Street, but that doesn’t deter its loyal customers.
“One thing that drives people to walk the extra block is our warm and inviting atmosphere,” said Angie Pyle, owner of Donkey Coffee and Espresso. “It says, ‘Come in and stay,’ rather than, ‘Get your coffee and go.’”
Despite its fancy café au laits and lattes, Donkey Coffee’s Fair Trade dark roast never falls from the top of the popularity list, Pyle said.
Known for its support of local arts, music and entertainment, Donkey Coffee is likely to draw students to a poetry reading or acoustic show on any given night.
FLUFF BAKERY AND CATERING
($1.75-$2.00)
8 N. Court St.
740-249-4286
Newest to the Athens coffeehouse scene, Fluff Bakery and Catering has won the hearts of many coffee drinkers with its “Jamaican Me Crazy” blend. Every day, Fluff offers different flavored brews from the Gallipolis-based Silver Bridge Coffee Company.
Five percent of sales from its organic coffees are donated to local women’s shelters.
“It’s important to support your neighbor,” said Jessica Kopelwitz, who owns Fluff Bakery with her husband, Jason.
The two OU graduates opened the bakery last September. A homemade cookie sandwich and a glass of Fluff’s mocha milk was all it took for Athenians to fall in love
oy311909@ohiou.edu
@ThePostCulture
