Battle of the Coffee

During the school days I always start my morning off with a big cup of coffee. Since I make a horrible, vomit inducing pot at home, I always wait until I'm on campus to enjoy a hot (or cold) cup of caffeine. Since there are about a billion different coffee shops and kiosks around campus, I've tried dozens of different brews of coffee. While most cups of coffee I've tried tastes like water with a coffee bean dipped in it, Dunkin Donuts and the RP Cafe has the best tasting coffee I've had on campus thus far. Both have their perks and downfalls, however, if you're in dire need of a pick-me-up, both are great options.

Photo by: Maryem Abdulla

The main reason why I go to Dunkin Donuts is because it's familiar. I have known and loved the franchise for years, and even when they fail me, I always seem to come back for more. Although I like their coffee and delicious donuts, muffins, and sandwiches, it's not my absolute favorite. While I love their brew of coffee, they always seem to load it up with a ridiculous amount of sugar that will most likely stick me into a diabetic coma. Although this might not seem like a big deal, it becomes very annoying after a while, which is how I discovered RP Cafe.

Photo by: Maryem Abdulla

As I was walking to class one day, I was complaining in my head about my over-sugared coffee. After walking for what seemed like forever, I decided to take a shortcut through the "north star" of campus. As I was about to leave the building, I noticed a little cafe in the corner of the building. Needless to say, I was so excited that I bought a cup of coffee even though I already had a coffee in hand. Their coffee tastes almost exactly like the brew Dunkin Donuts has, except has a self serve sugar station so it's never too sugary. Even though the prices are almost identical, I enjoy the Cafe more than the franchise because of the friendly workers. I have yet to be served by anyone other than a super happy hipster, which always puts me into a great mood.

The one thing I love most about RP Cafe is that they offer punch cards. After finding this out, I immediately decided that this trumped all the good things about Dunkin Donuts. I mean, who doesn't love free coffee after buying nine?

Whether you decide to grab your coffee at the oh-so-famous Dunkin Donuts, or you decide to get a caffeine fix at a smaller business, like RP Cafe, have fun, drink up, and enjoy!

Battle of the Froyo

College students are known to be three things: tired, broke, and froyo obsessed. Nobody likes the first two, but the latter offers something none other can- the comfort of guilt free ice cream when things get stressful, rough, and out of hand. Since frozen yogurt has become a new trend, it is often difficult to find the perfect vender to buy the delicious treat from. The two most popular franchises I have seen in Chicago are Pinkberry and Red Mango, both fantastically yummy.
Photo by: Maryem Abdulla
Although popular in California and New York, Pinkberry is a fairly new concept here in the Midwest, and it took the city by storm. At only $2.50 ($3.95 with toppings) it's a great way to satisfy a sweet tooth. Although the texture of the frozen yogurt can be a little runny after a while, the pleasant and serene atmosphere makes its few flaws hard to notice.
Photo by: Maryem Abdulla
By contrast, Red Mango has been around the Chicagoland area since 2008 and quickly became popular. Like Pinkberry, a small cup of froyo is only $2.50 (with extra charges for toppings) and with the huge variety of dry and fruit toppings, you can't go wrong with it. The laid back feel to the store is always inviting and it somehow always makes me want to come back for more.
Although both are delicious and fairly cheap, my top choice for a frozen treat would definitely be Red Mango. Its rich flavor, yummy toppings, and the truly frozen-till-you-eat-it texture makes me happy to be alive. Whatever your preference may be, have fun, eat up, and enjoy!