Coffee. a delightful beverage for some. Others may have switched to meth in college. Coffee drinkers, we all understand the impact one cup of coffee can have on our daily routines. Without it, we hardly manage to get by each day. I came to the realization that going to coffee shops encourages my body to perform even better than sipping coffee in my dorm room during my time at the University of Florida.
Beyond only providing my body with a legally addictive chemical, observing others working just as hard as you do at a coffee shop while sipping their favorite beverages and in the same frantic, chaotic environment not only inspires me in certain ways but also provides some forms of comfort. At least until I drink my cup of coffee, this positive experience washes away all of my worries and concerns.
Read on for the top 10 coffee shops around the University of Florida:
1. Opus Coffee
Due to its close proximity to school and its sustainable and fresh coffee, Opus Coffee, which opened in 2002, is popular with both students and academics. People who require coffee to operate throughout their busy, stressful, and interminable days may easily acquire it thanks to its food truck and several sites across the city. Did you know that in addition to their several coffee shops, their handmade coffee is also available online and in other restaurants across Gainesville?
Along with offering a wide variety of excellent coffee selections, Opus Coffee also takes pride in creating a welcoming atmosphere where their talented baristas treat each customer like a king or queen. Opus is dedicated to serving the Gainesville community above and beyond serving the greatest coffee. They coordinate yearly catering events, take part in hospital fundraisers, give to Shands Cancer Center, and more.
2. Concord Coffee
Concord Coffee is the epitome of what the term “concord” itself means: “together in harmony and serenity.” This coffee shop is a perfect, delightful, and soothing spot to sip your favorite cup of coffee due to its aesthetics and accessibility from Library West across the street. You may even place an order for their coffee to be delivered to your door (although honestly, going to the coffee shop makes the whole experience a remarkable one).
University of Florida alumna Shani McCarley remarked, “During my hectic weeks at UF, its location and wonderful vibes prompted me to move to Concord.” It is highly upscale and offers a variety of excellent meals. Additionally, if you want to, you may sit outside.
McCarley, who recently graduated from UF in the spring, used to visit various coffee shops alone herself or with companions. She finds that coffee shops may brighten her Gainesville days and inspire her to do her job. She claimed that leaving her dorm and heading to Concord, Opus, or Pascal’s coffee are the things she misses the most about being a student no more.
3. Wyatt’s Coffee
Wyatt’s three objectives are to provide extraordinary experiences, serve ridiculously delicious coffee, and spread love around the neighborhood. Make a visit at Wyatt’s if you find yourself strolling around downtown Gainesville to grab a nice and fresh brew. You won’t regret it at all. You could even develop a liking for it. Do you want to know what Wyatt’s has that I really like? Every time I visit, I get the impression that I’m a tourist exploring the streets of my college town. Its extremely wonderful oat milk cappuccino, though, makes me remain for a second round despite its remote position and more than wakes me up.
A local coffee roaster, in my view, makes far better coffee than a nearby franchise. A local coffee shop gives you a glimpse into the personalities of the locals, according to Regina Benarroch, a senior at the University of Central Florida. The moment you walk into the store and find the barista behind the counter grinning at you and ready to accept your order, everything starts.
Benarroch made a brief weekend trip from Orlando to Gainesville in the spring, and Wyatt’s Coffee ended up being her go-to breakfast spot. She felt infatuated with Wyatt’s cold brew despite staying in my place on University Drive. Benarroch couldn’t say “no” to Wyatt’s Coffee since she requires a dosage (or two) of caffeine to keep up with her every day.
4. Café Sabroso
Café Sabroso has outstanding architecture, which prevents it from looking like a conventional coffee shop. It’s an unusual and lovely place to buy coffee because it’s in the middle of a sea of oak trees and has a really brilliant yellow hue. The ideal location for socializing or going with a large group of classmates to work there. You also feel quite at ease with the interior design, almost like you might be lying on the couch in your dorm room. Additionally, you can see how naturally Hispanic origins are displayed at Café Sabroso, where “café con leche,” “pan tostado,” and a variety of “jugos” (juices) can make you feel at home even when you’re far from home.
5. Curia on the Drag
At Curia on the Drag, premium coffee and vegan pastries are available. I’ll give you a piece of advice: try to visit Curia just before sunset. You can see how the sky begins to become pale orange and pink between the trees. Nothing makes my day better than enjoying a cup of coffee and a good book while the sun sets behind some oak trees. I don’t know about you, but I look forward to these times, especially when I’m overwhelmed with academics and need a break.
Although Curia on the Drag is quite a way from school and you might need a transport to get there, you can really spend the entire day there. You can locate a vegan food truck in the same location that, in my opinion, offers the finest yucca fries and vegan burritos. You may choose to sit indoors or outside at Curia. The restaurant has a sizable space with several tables and chairs. There is a sizable collection of books, board games, and antique furniture there. There aren’t many students around, so Curia is the ideal location if you truly need to be away from people your age and anything academic.
6. Karma Cream
Karma Cream gives you the greatest vegan coffee environment if you enjoy dining at vegan restaurants but would want to go somewhere that is pretty close to campus. Along with their great coffee, they also provide ice cream sandwiches, milkshakes, and vegan ice cream. Like their chocolate hazelnut-filled croissants and the pistachio almond croissant, which are both vegan and organic, you won’t find any amazingly excellent croissants in Gainesville. Your mood can be improved and you can feel like the most special person in the world when you have a distinctive ornamental fume on your coffee (at least for the time it takes you to finish your cup).
Regina Benarroch, a senior at the University of Central Florida, remarked, “I appreciate that each coffee shop I went to in Gainesville had their unique souvenirs you could take with you.” Since I’m from out of town, the fact that this coffee shop is quite modest made me feel really welcomed.
I found it to be occasionally quite difficult to work alone in a peaceful setting. Because of this, I frequently visit Karma Cream when this occurs. Despite the nonstop amazing music they play, the tables are close together, which makes interacting with other patrons a breeze. I get the impression that I can sit at the same table with a variety of folks. So, if you enjoy meeting new people, Karma Cream offers the ideal setting.
7. Volta Coffee, Tea & Chocolate
Volta serves excellent meals in addition to coffee. Visit us for freshly cooked empanadas, various cakes, pastry cream buns, cupcakes, macarons, and of course, your preferred cup of coffee. Since 2008, Volta has satisfied the needs of locals who visit downtown for a fairly routine yet pleasant coffee experience. Again, not many students use this area, thus it can provide you with the ideal environment to temporarily tune out the outside world for a few hours.
University of Florida junior Lori Sharabani stated, “Aside from the coffee, of course, my favorite part about coffee shops is the background music and the sound of the coffee machine. It is preferable than visiting a library.
Sharabani often tries different coffee shops around Gainesville. When she feels like going to Volta, she takes a scooter from Social 28 – her college housing – and takes some time to wonder through the streets of downtown until she knows that she can’t move on with her day without caffeine. By then, her enthusiasm and motivation to sit at a coffee shop practically overflows her body. So, if you look for a suitable, comfortable, and a well-known coffee shop in downtown Gainesville, Volta Coffee, Tea & Chocolate might fulfill your expectations.
8. Pascal’s Coffeehouse
I don’t know why, but I’ve always found Pascal’s coffeehouse’s location to be incredibly amusing. I walked by this location a great deal before I realized it was a coffee shop. But as soon as I learned about it, I got fixated on it. Pascal’s Coffeehouse is surrounded by a lot of residences, and even if they don’t all seem the same, you could question whether you’ve already passed by that tree or quiet street. However, as soon as you open the doors of the coffee shop and place your order for your delectable cup of coffee, its location gives you the most relaxing atmosphere that continues to nourish your body.
Lori Sharabani, a junior at the University of Florida, stated, “I need to go to a coffee shop more than I want to. “It’s a change of environment, and I’m motivated to work hard when I see other people doing so. I procrastinate when I’m at home, and I’ll probably procrastinate there too, but at least I’m getting my caffeine fix.
Pascal’s cafe doesn’t have the appearance of a regular coffee shop. You may select between indoor, outdoor, or—even better—heading upstairs for a setting more akin to a library when you order your cup of coffee. You could mistake the location for Library West due to its green carpet floor, shelves filled with a wide selection of books, and the calm that permeates the space. Pascal’s won’t let you down if you need a peaceful location to work and want to increase your productivity.
8. Bay Island Coffee
This coffee shop’s name perfectly captures its location: an island in the heart of Butler Shopping Plaza. You may purchase your preferred cup of coffee to-go at Trader Joe’s after a long and exhausting day of shopping through the drive-through. Additionally, they provide a variety of frozen beverages, including milkshakes and smoothies. Even better, if you don’t have time for breakfast one morning, just make a quick trip and purchase an egg and American cheese breakfast sandwich with your preferred protein.
10. Maude’s Classic Café
Nearest to Gainesville’s most coveted sushi restaurant is Maude’s Classic Café. As soon as you enter, it appears like a whole new, distinct planet. They provide a variety of foods, including sandwiches, quesadillas, salads, and delectable desserts. They also serve excellent coffee, which you may sip while sitting outside in a charming and cozy area. In addition to the great coffee, the variety of individuals you may discover there is my favorite aspect of this restaurant. They greet you with wide arms regardless of where you are from or how you appear. As soon as the calm and amiable baristas notice that you are content and satisfied with your order, they won’t stop grinning at you.