It is no shock that college students love their coffee. Whether they are enjoying their morning cup or getting a midday pick me up in between classes, college students and coffee lovers will always find a way to get that extra sip of caffeine to keep them going. In addition to this, coffee shops make for a great study environment for anyone who wants to get out of the typical academic study spaces on campus. But what if you do not like coffee?
The concept of a college student who does not like coffee but loves to study in coffee shops may seem profound. However, I personally love the environment of a coffee shop as they are usually cozy, warmly lit, and full of inviting people, but I cannot stand the taste of coffee no matter how often I try it. If you are like me and have a strong distaste for coffee, but still want to spend time in coffee shops, I am here to tell you that it is possible.
It can be difficult to go to a new coffee shop especially as a non-coffee drinker. Most people who go to coffee shops know exactly what they want to order even if they have never been to that coffee shop before because that is just how coffee culture works. But for non-coffee drinkers, they usually have to peruse the menu to first find out if they have drinks that are not coffee and once they find those, the options are usually quite limited. There is the usual option between some sort of green or fruit smoothie, lemonade, tea, or hot chocolate. Grand Forks is unique in that they have quite a few coffee shops that have an extensive non-coffee beverage menu.
One such coffee shop is Urban Stampede located in the heart of downtown. They have their “Sans-Coffee” section on their main menu that offers classic drinks such as matcha, chai, and various teas. Perhaps some of their more popular non-coffee drinks are their Italian sodas, mechanical bulls made from Red Bull, and lotus refreshers made from lotus tea. Each one of these drinks can be made with a variety of different flavors to make your order unique to you.
A new addition to campus is The Board Room Coffeehouse located right across the street from the Chester Fritz Library. I have had the pleasure of stopping in there a few times now in hopes of finding the perfect new non-coffee drink. I was so happy to learn that their non-coffee beverage menu was large enough for me to have plenty of options. They have various green, black, and herbal teas. Along with this they have various flavors of lemonades. My favorite drink so far has been the Butterfly Lemonade, which is made with regular lemonade and their unique Butterfly Tea. The tea has a sort of indescribable taste, but could most closely be described as floral, which complements the lemonade wonderfully.
As a person who dislikes coffee, sometimes just the smell of it can be off putting. If this is the case, there are a few other options for places to go if you are looking for a coffee shop-like environment, but without the overwhelming smell of coffee. One of these places is Tea and Crepe located downtown. They have seemingly endless options of non-coffee beverages ranging from various unique boba teas, smoothies, and lemonades to name a few. They recently moved to a space that has a larger seating area, which makes it a wonderful place to study or meet up with friends. Their new space has the same feeling as that of a typical coffee shop.
Whether you are a coffee lover or not, it can be exciting to step off campus and try out a new, fun drink. These are just a few places and drinks that this coffee disliker has been able to find, but I am sure there are so many other great options out there. Sometimes it can be exciting to go on a hunt for a new favorite drink, and it can feel incredibly rewarding especially when you do not like coffee.
Nora Lee is a Dakota Student General Reporter. She can be reached at [email protected].
