Study Spot: Caribou Coffee

As the midterm season dawns upon us, we college students fight to find a desk at the library, or a quiet place in the student center to cram as much information into our overstuffed brains as possible. Although fighting to the death over a chair in the library can be fun, I've found it much easier (and a lot less stressful) to study at a small coffee shop, local or a franchise.

My all time favorite coffee house to study at has been Caribou Coffee. Its quiet atmosphere and delicious food and beverages makes it the ideal place to cram for an exam, or just kick back and relax.

Photo by: Maryem Abdulla

Typically, my brain food involves a lot of carbs, calories, and fat. Something about heavy food keeps me going while I have to read a book and a half or write a seven page paper. However, Caribou Coffee's menu has great health conscious options. Whenever I study in the morning, I almost always get a Egg White and Turkey Bacon Daybreaker, which is both tasty and healthier than most breakfast sandwiches. With the whole wheat brioche roll, turkey bacon, egg whites, swiss cheese, and spinach florentine spread, it's the perfect way to start any study session.

Even though my usual order of the Mint Condition Mocha (with milk chocolate and 2% milk) isn't the healthiest option, considering it's a whopping 580 calories, the two shots of espresso prepares me for hours of studying dense material.

As a semi healthy establishment, Caribou Coffee has a whole list of "lighten up" options which are low in calories and fat, so it's the best of both worlds. The nutrition value of all their drinks and food are listed on their website, which makes it easy to decide what to order.

Photo by: Maryem Abdulla

Whether you are a carefree foodie like me, or a strict health buff, Caribou Coffee has fantastic options for everyone. So if you decide to indulge in a super chocolatey drink, or stick to lighter option, have fun, eat up, and enjoy!