Cup of java jolts synapses
by Lindsey Armstrong, reporter

    With the end of the semester and finals approaching, more students are finding time to study at local coffee shops rather than at home or at school.

   Most students find the atmosphere to be calming and even tranquil with the soft lighting and gentle music playing in the background. Knowing that a large cup of caffeine is right across the room can sometimes be the most comforting thought to a student in the dire hours preceding a large exam.

   “I always found Starbucks to be a relaxing place to get away from the chaos my home has to offer, and libraries are too uptight for my tastes,” Chip Matthias, a NE Campus student, said.

   Not only is the atmosphere relaxing but so is the furniture. Retail stores offer a few big, comfy chairs for customers to sit and drink their beverages. These chairs are usually conveniently located near a window to give extra comfort value.

   Beverage choices range from hot to cold, coffee to soda and pure caffeine to decaf blends. Stores also carry a variety of cookies, cakes, biscotti, muffins and other pastries to satisfy any hungry scholar. Some stores offer a deli with made-to-order sandwiches and ice cream.

   Stores open as early as 5 a.m. and stay open until 11 p.m. or midnight. Coffee shops are located on almost any street or in most shopping centers; some are located in bookstores, grocery stories and department stores for convenience.

   “I like Starbucks because the hours are later than the library, and I can have my coffee while I study,” TCC student Amber Tolan said.

   A coffee shop is a classic alternative to the home for study groups. There is always plenty of room for large groups; the refreshments come out of everyone’s pocket instead of the host’s, and cleanup is a snap.

   “I used to have a study group that met once a week. We chose to meet at Starbucks rather than at anybody’s house because it was quieter and nobody’s parent or roommate was being put out,” former student Matt Hill said.

   Management at coffee establishments love the business of students and do not seem to mind their sitting for a while.

   “Students comprise a good 50 percent of our business at the least. As long as they’re buying, I have no problem with anybody sitting in my dining area for any length of time,” Lorrie Rupert, a Starbucks manager, said.

   Some students stop in for coffee before classes even if they do not hit the books.

   “I come in every morning for a double-tall latte before my English class to keep me going,” Jacy Bellew, TCC student, said.

   Retail stores usually carry the local newspaper plus the New York Times for customer convenience. Checkerboards and checkers and the game Starbucks made popular, Cranium, are also available for entertainment or for those students who do not feel like cracking a book.

   Coffee shops have become the soda fountain of this generation. They provide a refuge for students to study and socialize.