Is it reasonable to cart off a credit card or meal plan or even a car from a student? The reply can be, “Why not!” But, is it acceptable to deny a student access to caffeine? The answer is an obvious NO, if involved in studying. In the middle of a long night, amidst thick text books or volumes of research papers, it is only a cup of tea or coffee in their drink holder which keeps a student wakeful and up regardless of the color or flavor of the beverage. This dependency of mine, took me off on a food and beverage hunt to discover San Diego’s finest coffee joints.
Well you might ask, why can’t you brew your own cup instead of going to coffee shop? Primarily in these shops there is no distraction from buddies, TV and countless other interruptions that avert your concentration. Also, coffee shops offer a broad choice to relish your favorite beverages from a cup holder.
Most of the USD students stay off-campus near the Pacific beach. Hence, I thought it is better to explore the beach and Mission area for the coffee spots. It was here that I located the “Javanican Coffee House”, a small purple shack commonly called Purple Café.
This coffee house is situated at a location perfect for all coffee lovers especially USD students to be exact at the intersection of Cass St, Pacific Beach and Grand Ave. The aroma of freshly ground coffee and the lavender interiors and peripherals create a welcoming and cordial atmosphere. The comfy couches and the jazz images dangled on the walls render a great setting to study for few additional hours sipping a Yerba Maté or their popular blended iced coffee drinks (like frappuccinos, but much better). On the whole, the furnishings and the assorted art works made me feel just at home. What’s more, this place also offers a wide choice of nutritious breakfast and lunch menu items. Well well well…..take my words; the Purple Cafe is the ultimate place to write a research paper or catch up with buddies or even compose your vista article!
Living in such a scenic place in close vicinity of the beach, most USD students including me spend their weekends on the beaches particularly on the vast clean beaches of La Jolla. While at the fantastic restaurants or engaging with the sand and water at the shoreline, you suddenly recall about the 100 page document which you need to refer for the class on Monday. Gosh, what to do and where to go? Living Room café at Prospect Street is a good choice. This café built underground is turned into a Hookah bar towards the evenings. The décor of Living Room consists of ornamental couches, attractive tables and an assortment of Middle Eastern and Oriental art adorning the walls. They are known for their tasty blended coffee, wide-ranging menu, gracious staff and polite service even when providing certain wheelchair accessories. The tunes from the bands like John Butler Trio and Thievery Corporation seem to harmonize the whole atmosphere. No wonder, their loyal fans keep coming week after week.
For students who stay on campus, the best choice is Aromas located at the side of Maher Hall. The warm painted walls are decked up with Paul Klee’s art and the graceful music upholds the enriching mood. The tunes played here switch from John Mayer or Jack Johnson at the start of the day to Prince and Bob Marley through the active afternoons. One benefit of this cozy hangout place is that Ryan Brothers Coffee, native alumni- owned corporation produces all of the coffee prepared at Aromas. The specialties of flavors range from strong mochas to an array of refreshing tea and tea lattes. The most popular of these beverages are the Red Rooster Vanilla, Green Envy and their classic Chai Tea Latté. Here snacks are available right from morning 7am to closing time. In snacks too, they have a lots to offer including fruits, pastries, muffins, sushis and so on. The Aromas serve as an ideal study corner for USD students but the only drawback is that it becomes a bit too congested especially during midterms and finals week. Other choices for students in the region of the USD are Café Mono (3833 Mission Blvd.); Café Bassam, a European-type coffee house in downtown (3088 5th Ave.); Lestat’s Coffee House, which is open 24-hours a day with live music each night (3343 Adams Ave.); Cream Coffee, located in University Heights (4496 Park Blvd.); or Café 976, a more quiet coffee shop made into a garden-like set in Pacific Beach (976 Felspar St.).
