I feel like every college student has to go to a coffee shop to do homework at some point in their college career. Maybe itās just a Cairn culture thing, because Iāve seen students in tons of local coffee shops grinding out homework or meeting one-on-one with a friend. And of course, Iāve spotted the more-than-friends-but-still-just-talking couples frequent coffee shops for the occasional casual date.
In any case, you get the point: Cairn students love coffee shops. But to my surprise, Iāve discovered that thereās no consensus among the student body on which one is the best in the area. Iām happy to tell you Iāve done a lot of research, made a vlog (coming soon!), and written this blog to tell you about the top five most popular local coffee shops. I dragged along a fellow Cairn student to help me discover the best coffee shop based on the criteria of drink, food, and aesthetic. The best possible overall score is a 30. I think youāll be surprised by our discoveries.Ģż
Johnson Hall (Hulmeville, PA): White Chocolate Raspberry Latte + Berries and Cream Crepe
DRINK: 7
FOOD: 8.5
AESTHETIC: 7.5
OVERALL: 22.5/30
Johnson Hall is only two miles from campus and by far one of the most frequented. We tried the white chocolate raspberry latte, a popular drink my other friends have recommended, too, and I thought it was pretty good. It tasted just like it sounds, so if youāre into white chocolate and raspberries, you wonāt be disappointed at Johnson. But the real star of the show was the berries and cream crepe. It was covered in whipped cream, strawberries, and blueberries. Iām salivating as I write this. Iāve tried other pastries and drinks from Johnson for other one-on-ones, and Iāve always loved them. My only complaint is that Johnson can get a little noisy, but thatās because thereās a lot of people who love that coffee shop. I almost always run into other Cairn students.
The Coffee Room (Newtown, PA): The Dirty Turtle + Homemade Brown Sugar Pop Tart
DRINK: 9
FOOD: 7
AESTHETIC: 8
OVERALL: 24/30
I am so obsessed with the Dirty Turtle drink at The Coffee Room that I returned within the next couple days to order another one. The Dirty Turtle is a creamy iced drink with chocolate milk, salted caramel, and espresso. I also tried a homemade brown sugar pop tart, and thought the pastry was delicious. The Coffee Room has plenty of places to sit down and work individually or with a group. Their window seats are my favorite because Newtown itself is enchanting with its book and record exchange store just down the road. I love doing homework in this coffee shop. The only downside is that their coffee is a little more expensive compared to others. But I think the Dirty Turtle is worth $7 (with a tip). For special occasions.
Langhorne Coffee House (Langhorne, PA):ĢżMonkey Blended + Timberjack SandwichĢż
DRINK: 8
FOOD: 8
AESTHETIC: 6
OVERALL: 22/30
Langhorne Coffee House was totally not what I expected. It had the vibe of a diner, with tables set up for people to eat meals rather than do homework. We tried the Monkey Blended cold brew and Timberjack sandwiches, both fan favorites. The cold brew was to die for: a sweet, thick blend of chocolate, banana, and coffee. And the Timberjack sandwich was delicious, too, a combination of Sriracha, sausage, egg, and cheese, with hints of sweet maple syrup. Iād consider coming back for a one-on-one meal, but definitely will not be returning to do homework.
Pretty Bird (Yardley, PA):ĢżLavender Latte + Blueberry Lemon Scone
DRINK: 7.5
FOOD: 7.5
AESTHETIC: 9
OVERALL: 24/30
Iām a little in love with Pretty Bird. Thereās plenty of high tops, white marble countertops, and window seats to sit and do homework. The zesty blueberry lemon scone and the hot lavender latte we ordered were mouthwatering. I felt like I was drinking an essential oil. Okay, that sounds gross, but the flavor was so strongly yet somehow so delicately lavender. I donāt know how they did it. But Iām coming back for more. Itās 100% worth the 14-minute drive. And apparently, the store transforms into a vegetarian restaurant at night, which would be a worthwhile investigation.
Calm Waters (Bristol, PA):ĢżVanilla Iced Latte + Breakfast SandwichĢż
DRINK: 6
FOOD: 4.5
AESTHETIC: 8
OVERALL: 18.5/30
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I have to admit, I was a little disappointed with our experience at Calm Waters. Itās a cute coffee shop, and has nice window seats and wooden table tops. I thought the vanilla iced latte was alright (but I was hoping for something sweeter). Unfortunately, I didn’t like the breakfast sandwich. I donāt know what sauce they slapped onto that sandwich, but it definitely didnāt complement the Canadian bacon and eggs. We took two bites before tossing it.ĢżĢż
In all fairness, I have heard praise for Calm Watersā coffee from other students. One of my friends, after hearing my experience, recommended their Ethiopian blend. I definitely will never order their breakfast sandwich again, but we thought we could see ourselves returning to do homework.
I hope this article was helpful for you. Thereās definitely a lot of nearby options to choose from to get work done. Watch the vlog we made for a full inside scoop! If youāre local to the area and have more expertise to share, feel free to write comments below. I know my experience doesnāt speak for everyone elseās.
