Coffee is an essential for most in the mornings, and most people have their go-to places for a cup (Mr. Litecky and Caribou for example), but not enough people are aware of the amazing coffee shops around us that offer coffee for less than your whole paycheck, and that serve more than calories in a cup. Coffee shops are a nice place to socialize or do homework, and they are a nice opportunity to explore more of your city and the cities around you.

The Bru House is a small coffee shop in New Brighton off of Silver Lake Road, and just minutes away from TG. It is a convenient place to stop in the mornings when you do not have much time, and the line at caribou is a mile long. The small shop is very inviting with a warm and cozy feel. The space is small but not crowded. The workers are very friendly and professional. They are always smiling even at the crack of dawn. Their menu is not extravagant, but has the essential drinks that are nothing but delicious. They almost always have a feature drink that corresponds to the season. Along with their drink menu, they have fresh baked muffins and breakfast sandwiches to pair with your drink. Along the walls of where the tables are placed, there are local paintings hanging up and for sale. The paintings are a fun and unique idea that is not often seen in other coffee shops.

The Coffee Shop Northeast is located in Minneapolis off of Johnson Street. This coffee shop is located in a strip mall, so it is hard to find a parking spot, but is worth the trip. The shop is filled with bulletin boards full of fun events and information, such as open mic nights or art shows. The events and information are unique to the shop because they host many entertaining occasions that other shops do not. Along with their social calendar, they serve a great variety of drinks that range from your coffee essentials to warm cider to smoothies. Their menu also includes an array of foods including salads and sandwiches. Their menu has many options to pick from that are all worth trying. The shop is big but can get crowded near the doorway due to lines and tables.

The Spyhouse coffee shop has four locations in Minneapolis. The location on Broadway St. is located right by a Corepower yoga. That Spyhouse location is inviting from the inside out due to its hipster look. Inside though, it is hard to find a spot with an outlet. There are more places to sit with no outlet then with one, which is hard when you go to the shop to work on homework or use a computer. The drinks are delicious, but the menu is hard to see and understand because it is not hung up like it often is in other shops. When you see the offered drinks, the menu is very small and limited. Even though the menu is not very impressive, the Spyhouse is a great place to work on homework if you snag an outlet spot. The atmosphere is quiet and calm, although it is very dim inside, it is a common space for college kids to study at. The space is large and does not get crowded.

The Caffetto Coffee House is located in Minneapolis off of 22nd street. The shop does not offer convenient parking but it is worth the walk. The outside looks very vintage and inviting. Inside, the shop is spacious, offering plenty of places to sit. The area is dark, but it is quiet for those that want to catch up on school work. They have some plug ins near seats, but it is a search to find them due to the structure of the tables and chairs. The menu is not very large but the drinks are delicious and the prices are reasonable. The shop offers a couple of food items on their menu as well, including a mouth-watering chocolate cake slice. Although the place is a coffee shop, it has a basement that looks like a ‘hang-out’ spot with arcade games and a pool table. The basement feature is unique to Caffetto as it is not seen with other shops.

Although places like Caribou and Starbucks have tasty drinks and more locations, there are many coffee shops that offer more than a plain cup of coffee. These shops are worth a visit to try their menu or their unique features.