2021 Gumbo final - Book - Page 124
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lsu coffee
I
n the past few decades, coffee has become a hit among
college students. Many students claim that they cannot
go a day without it, and on average, the average coffee
drinker consumes 3 cups of coffee a day.
There are many different coffee hot spots near LSU and on
campus for students to study at and have their daily dose of
their favorite drinks.
Some drink coffee purely for the taste of it, but some
drink it to wake them up and help them start their day. For
the extra boost, coffee drinkers will add an extra shot (or
two) of espresso into their drink. Espresso, by definition, is
a full-flavored, concentrated form of coffee that is served
in “shots”. They are made by forcing pressurized hot water
through finely ground coffee beans using an espresso
machine. Depending on the type of roast, the extra shot can
ultimately make the coffee stronger. With the many styles
and makings of coffee, several cafés serve them with their
own special twist.
Magpie Café is a popular café and espresso bar located
on Perkins Road. It has a wide selection of pastries and craft
coffee made personally for customers. Some of their pastries
include frittatas, biscuits, and stuffed brioche. They also have
a wide range of different coffee styles, including cold brew,
espresso, americano, macchiato, etc.; with the coffee range
includes a variety of flavors like vanilla, mocha, lavender,
and pumpkin spice. Trystan Tate, sophomore at LSU, said she
gets an iced latte with almond milk and two pumps of honey
and lavender syrup. Flavored drinks are very popular for
most people who don’t like the taste of black coffee.
Head barista at Magpie, Dilyn Stewart, is a senior at LSU
majoring in Psychology. She has been working there for
5 years, and says the customers are a mixture of college
students and residents of the Southdown and Gardens
District area. She said that her favorite part about working at
Magpie is the community she’s been surrounded with.
“Working in specialty coffee here has connected me with
other baristas and interesting people here in Baton Rouge,”
Stewart said. “I’ve also found a great passion here through
working and educating others about coffee.”
There are many smaller locations on campus that are
convenient for students wherever they may be. Highland
Coffee, which is located at the North Gates of LSU, is a local
shop with laid back vibes and coffee-roasted on site with a
vast variety of baked goods. It has distinctive coffees roasted
right in their shop, teas, pastries, specialty drinks, and retail
items. There is an assortment of indoor seating areas as well
as outdoor tables and chairs. They are open as late as 11pm,
so it is a hit study spot for college students.
With balancing school and other hobbies, sophomore
Abigail Sage is a barista at CC’s Coffee. She said she normally
drinks one cup of coffee when she wakes up, and two more
when she is at work.
“I feel like coffee wakes me up in the morning but when
I drink it more throughout the day it’s more for the taste.”
Sage said. “I drink coffee pretty much every day and I look
forward to it!”
Sage works at the Airline Highway CC’s in Baton Rouge,
but there is also a CC’s located inside the Student Union. CC’s
grinds and brews every hour for maximum freshness for
their coffee. CC’s established in 1995 in New Orleans and has
several locations around Baton Rouge.
Ultimately, students truly do benefit from their daily
coffee. With multiple options around LSU, it gives students
easy access to having it whenever they may want. Whether it
is the taste or simply to help them get going in the morning,
it is natural for students to want their coffee in the morning.
Do you need a boost before an 8
a.m. or need to stay up studying?
There are plenty of places to get
coffee around LSU.