Another Day, Another Coffee

Since I am about to move away from Baton Rouge, I wanted to write a blog post about my favorite local coffee shops. Coffee shops are so fun to go to, whether you're working, studying, or meeting up with some friends. Plus, who doesn't love to support local businesses? Not to mention, some of them have the best snacks!

My love for coffee shops really started in my later college/post-college years. I used to not like to study at coffee shops because I would get distracted too easily, but the noise cancellation mode on the AirPod pros was a game changer for me. In the past year, I would study at coffee shops about once a week. I felt more productive there as opposed to studying at home (where I just wanted to lay down and chill in the afternoon), plus every now and then you need to treat yourself, right?

The first coffee shop I want to talk about is Magpie Cafe. This is probably my go-to, but recently so. I went to Magpie for the first time spring 2021 and instantly liked it! It's in an old house on Perkins (pretty close to Trader Joe's). They have a little outside area that is so cute and perfect for when it's not too hot or cold outside. Their coffee is great. My go-to drink is the Roosevelt with almond milk, but let me tell you, this should fill your need for caffeine. It's very strong and makes me jittery sometimes (especially if I haven't had much to eat), but it tastes so good. I like to switch the agave out with one of their house-made syrups, specifically the seasonal ones. Their cold brew and shakerato are good too. Not to mention their snacks are amazing. This is probably my favorite part about Magpie. They always have vegan and paleo snacks, so if you're on a diet, they might have something for you! I don't eat on a restricted diet (at least right now), but I feel healthier when I eat something that is vegan or paleo. I know that doesn't necessarily mean it's healthy, but I feel like it is so 🤷🏼‍♀️ My favorite treat is the vegan or paleo cookie. They almost always have these, so I just go back-and-forth, unless there is something else that peaks my interest. Both are delicious, and their other food items are great too. Magpie is close to campus for all my LSU students, so it's an easy spot to get to if you live on or around campus and don't want to go far. But heads up, it closes at 3:30.

Located in the Electric Depot, this next coffee shop is in such a cool area and definitely has a good vibe. City Roots has such good coffee, and they are constantly coming up with new creations for us to drink. This past October, every Friday, they released a Halloween inspired drink. I think they are known for their Espresso Cielo drink, but I haven't had it yet. I feel like it may be too sweet for me, but I want to try it at some point (maybe half sweetened). Personally, I would recommend their cold brew de crema. They also have a draft vanilla latte, which I think is so cool. They have treats and other food items like flatbreads (which is really nice if you are there for a long period of time). Oh, and if you want somewhere to go after work, stop by to get an alcoholic drink. I mentioned that it's in the Electric Depot, but if you don't know where that is...it's on Government, closer to Downtown. It isn't too far from campus, but definitely not as close as Magpie. Side note: the Electric Depot is so fun and definitely worth a trip for all their events, even if you aren't in the mood for coffee.

Next up is Rêve, which started out in Lafayette. Being near Perkins Rowe, I will say that this one is somewhat far from campus. That being said, I still would go a good bit because it's worth it. They always have really fun and unique seasonal drinks. Their cold brew/iced coffee drinks are the best (in my opinion, but iced coffee is my go-to over hot coffee). I love to get the NOLA iced coffee. One of the main reasons I go to Revé is because of their treats they always have. They have vegan snacks and regular ones, but they are all delicious. I usually go for the vegan chocolate chip cookie or the vegan brownie (my recent fav). I will say that you can somewhat tell that they are vegan, but they taste great. Just like they have seasonal drinks, they have seasonal treats too. Not to mention, they have gelato. One night, after dinner at Pizza Byronz, Austin and I got an affogato with their vanilla gelato...such a great dessert! Oh, and they also have alcohol for some post-work drinks. I haven't gotten any alcoholic drinks yet, but their espresso martini looks like one of the best! Overall, I think Revé is a little cheaper than some other coffee shops for what you get, which is another reason to make the drive from campus.

Finally, we have another one pretty close to campus...Lighthouse Coffee. Right on Lee, Lighthouse has a very bright vibe. My favorite drink to get at Lighthouse is a cappuccino. I'm not sure why, but I just really enjoy theirs. They have food, pastries, and plenty of good coffee. Their avocado toast always looks good, but I usually don't order a lot of food when I'm studying. Like many of the other places I've mentioned, they have some specialty drinks that sound amazing, including a cereal latte (Austin's favorite). Lighthouse also has a cute little area with items to purchase from local people. I love that they support other local businesses in Baton Rouge.

So, what are you waiting for? Go get some coffee! You deserve it! And check out one of these local coffee shops while you're at it :) I promise you won't regret it!

~Cheers ☕️~