Columbus is a vibrant city with an abundance of unique hole-in-the-wall places just waiting to be found. Cafes and Coffee Houses make up a large majority of these hidden treasures. Coffee runs deep within the veins of Columbus itself- so much so that there’s even an official “Columbus Coffee Trail” that if completed, gives you a free t-shirt to commemorate your achievement. The following are just a few places that you can stop by to satiate your caffeine craving.
Cup ‘O Joe is a small cafe with several locations in the Columbus area. Upon walking inside, my friend and I were blown away by the numerous little quirks incorporated into the cafe’s atmosphere. The menu was filled with drinks such as a “Toasted Marshmallow Latte” (which is delicious I might add) or the “Joe Cool Iced Latte.” While the Toasted Marshmallow Latte has more of a “cuddle up next to the fire” vibe, the Joe Cool Iced Latte is perfect for when you’re in the mood for a lighter, more refreshing drink that goes down quickly. Cup O’ Joe also has a multitude of delicious pastries and smaller fare if you need to grab and go. I tried their chocolate chip scone, which was absolutely delightful and just right for a sweeter side of breakfast. While the drinks and pastries are to die for, my favorite part was the tip jar with a hand-drawn picture of Spock with the phrase “Tip well and Prosper” added onto it. I definitely plan on returning here very soon.
The next stop on our trip was Stauf’s Coffee Roasters. Set in a charming neighborhood with small stone houses on one side and strings of little shops on the other, the surroundings could not be more picturesque. Approaching Stauf’s are clumps of little tables, mostly occupied by college students vigorously working on a paper or some other assignment. The awnings are strung with lights and bright plants in wooden baskets dot the sidewalk. Upon entering, you realize that Stauf’s is much larger than originally expected. The opening room is full of barrels of coffee beans, and gives you the impression of an aged coffee grinding house. Going past this room, you enter into the cafe area. On the right is the endless lists of drink options, and on the left is a substantial amount of food options as well. Everything in the cafe is built out of worn and aged looking wood; the entire place feels very antique. I only ordered an Iced Latte (I’ve been very partial to iced lattes lately), but was offered a glass of water while i waited. The staff were extremely friendly and seemed very eager to engage in a conversation with you. Personally, I give Stauf”s five stars, and I look forward to going there to study.
Grandview Grind was my least favorite coffee house; the setting was far from Stauf’s and it seemed rather empty to me when I visited. While it was a gorgeous day out, and quite warm, no one seemed to be lining up to sit outside and enjoy the day. There weren’t any students studying or chatting with classmates. Grandview Grind gave the impression that it was a stop and go place for many who were in a time crunch and needed a simply a cup of coffee to do the job. It was in the back corner of a parking lot with a couple little shops surrounding it. I grabbed a quick Latte, which was good, but no where near the experience I had elsewhere. While decent if you were in the area, if you’re looking for a more soothing and complete experience, I would recommend going elsewhere for your caffeine fix.
Chocolate Cafe was my absolute favorite place that I encountered. Upon parking, we could see in through the large glass windows of the cafe- and much to our delight, there was what looked to be live music! Once we entered, we found that the cafe was hosting a showing of the students of the music center across the street. The woman who welcomed us explained that everyone in the immediate area took music lessons there- the pupils included children approximately eight years and up as well as even old men well into retirement. The coffee was fantastic, and my friend and I ordered food as well. I tried a Latte consisting of a mix of hot chocolate and coffee- something I didn’t even know existed! The entire place just screamed of a comforting place to relax as well as a business centered around her community. The recital was so cute to watch and it reminded me of my younger years when I took music lessons. I one hundred percent plan on returning, and I would recommend anyone else to do the same. 
The fifth and final Coffee House I visited was Crimson Cup. It wasn’t set in a tiny neighborhood, or along a picturesque street, but the outside was very nicely composed, and upon entering you could feel the antique vibe the owners tried to convey. Like many of the cafes, aged wood was a central theme and the hanging lights gave a modern yet older feel to the place. The girl behind the counter was very nice and is in fact a student at Ohio State herself, so it was very neat to chat with her about some of her favorite coffee places, one of which was Stauf’s. The coffee was nothing unique or crazy inventive, but it was very good and I would not mind stopping back in if I was in the area.
Encountering a new city is a very overwhelming, yet exciting process. Being from Philadelphia, which is EXTREMELY different from Columbus, I know almost nothing about the city I now live in. Philadelphia, while culture in it’s own way, does not include many of the quiet, unique cafes that Columbus does. Making your way to all of these is incredibly time consuming, and would also have been very difficult is my friend did not have a car/was kind enough to venture out with me. If you do plan on exploring Columbus, I would recommend making a definite plan and knowing how to get there and back efficiently as as a college student time management is crucial to succeeding. In my (minor) exploration of Columbus, I discovered a whole new -dare I say- culture within the city. Columbus, while not without its rough spots, is an incredibly cultured city with a community that has immense pride in it. While I have only explored a fraction of Columbus, I look forward to doing much more in the next couple years that I have in this great city.