Hot steam rises off your coffee,
or any of the other coffee-esque
drinks that fulfill a caffeine craving.
Books opened and highlighted
for that late-night cram session, or
just getting together to waste time
between class, coffee is a staple.
There is a tradition to stake out a
claim in your local coffee shop and
that has made places like Starbucks
the prime hangout spot
among college students.
But what is the lure all about?
“One raspberry mocha frappuccino
blended coffee,” one earlymorning
customer ordered, the
first in a line of a half- dozen that
have all piled into the local Newtown
Starbucks on State Street.
“Oh, and can I make that a grande
size,” he added.
From Caribou to Cosi and the
ever infamous superpower of the
coffee shops, Starbucks, college
students clamor to find the new
place beyond the library to study
with culture and atmosphere to
stimulate them.
In their mission statement, Starbucks
wrote, “[We have] long
been dedicated to creating a
unique third place between home
and work. a way to promote
open, respectful conversation
among a wide variety of individuals.”
And considering there are 53
Starbucks within a 30-mile radius
of Bucks, there are more than
enough locations to study, sip on
your coffee-based drink and have
that open, respectful conversation.
“Studying requires lots of caffeine
plus a cool place to relax with
friends,” giggled Amber Gallen, a
psychology major from northeast
Philadelphia.
Starbucks employee Matt
Zaccagni said, “Barista’s for the
most part are extremely friendly
and Starbucks creates a unique
environment where you can get
great food and drinks while still
getting work done.”
But, can students have that same
cultured atmosphere without the
smell of fresh brewed coffee in the
air? Or, should we?
“I enjoy the quiet of the library,
not the rudeness of other people,”
said Katja Wahrhaftig, from Warrington.
Maybe the bookish nature of the
Bucks library is best kept separate
from the coffee shop scene.
The fireside lounge is an acceptable
hangout. The cafeteria is right
around the corner, the library
down the hall, and couches to
spend an afternoon studying on.
But the everyday Bucks student
still frequents the local coffee
shops, primarily Starbucks, and
maybe it’s not just the caffeine that
makes these shops so popular, but
the comfortable study spot it can
be.