The aroma of brewing coffee and the sound of glasses clattering filled the atmosphere of warm coffee shops. Coffee was a common sight in the hands of students, and the cafes provided a welcoming, positive space after stressful days. These locations became a place of community and created a sense of togetherness. 

“It [Summer Moon] is a really cozy environment to be in, and it’s always slightly busy, so there’s a nice bustle of people to be around,” Kayla Rose Alamodin (12) said. 

The warm environments of small, sit-down restaurants, like The Buzz, were part of lifetime memories and experiences for some students. 

“When I was learning how to drive, my mom would have me go downtown and we would stop to get coffee at The Buzz,” Sophia Ibarra (12) said. “It has been my favorite coffee place to stop at ever since.”

It was not just the atmosphere that kept customers coming back, but also the coffee itself. With rich flavor profiles and wide varieties of food to choose from, customers had a multitude of options.

“It’s a very relaxing place,” Brinlee Juleen (10) said. “The staff is very nice and the whole place is very nice and [I] overall love their coffee, it’s definitely my overall pick. My family loves it too, and whenever we go out we all go there to get coffee.” 

Not everyone had the time to sit down and enjoy their drinks, which led to the popularity of drive-through style venues like 7Brew and Scooters. The convenience of these locations accommodated the fast-paced lives of students. 

“The vibe is amazing [at 7Brew] and I love how people come to your car and take your order,” Ariyah Palmer (10) said.

The differences in atmosphere between the slow-paced and community-focused settings of Summer Moon and The Buzz, versus the convenience and accessibility of 7Brew and Scooters allowed for flexibility and freedom of choice. So many locations led to shared experiences and the flavors and drinks the community enjoyed most.