Coffee is crucial to most college students’ lives, myself included. I’ve found pulling all-nighters to study for exams, staying awake during early morning classes and making it through a long shift at work all are difficult — if not nearly impossible — to do without the help of a delicious caffeinated beverage.
But coffee can be expensive. With the plethora of coffee shops on campus and in East Lansing, there are plenty of options, but searching for the best deals is overwhelming.
In case you are new to campus, or too overwhelmed with choices to find a good deal, I visited several of the area’s coffee shops to help you decide which ones are worth a visit.
If you live on campus and have a meal plan, Sparty’s is the place to go.
On campus, there are about 20 Sparty’s locations, and you can use your Combo-X-Change to get a whole meal — including a coffee beverage — for free at the time of your visit.
If you’re looking for something to keep you awake while studying, try a Mocha Jolt, my go-to drink when I’m low on energy. It’s just like a regular mocha — perfect for chocolate lovers like myself — but with an espresso shot and also is reasonably priced for those without a meal plan — $3.29 for a small.
If you visit Sparty’s often enough, consider getting a Sparty’s Rewards Card. With this card, after you purchase seven made-to-order drinks, you get the eighth one for free. Also be sure to follow Sparty’s on Twitter because every day it tweets special offers and discounts for its followers to utilize.
Another great place for students to get their caffeine fix is at Biggby Coffee, One Union Square, in the Union.
Two of the most caffeinated beverages at Biggby Coffee, a Red Eye, which is espresso and coffee, and an Americano, both are reasonably priced — only $2.19 for a small.
At Biggby Coffee, if you’re a Student Alumni Foundation member, you can receive $1 off each grande or super-sized drink you purchase.
If caffeine content is not your biggest concern, try one of Biggby’s seasonal drinks, such as the Caramel Cider or the Pumpkin Spice Latte, which both cost $3.75 for a small.
Although Starbucks, 401 E. Grand River Ave., might not have the cheapest prices up front, it does offer several good deals for customers who visit frequently.
If you bring in your own coffee mug to Starbucks, you can receive 10 cents off your total, which can add up to major savings if you go there often enough.
Starbucks customers also can get a Starbucks Card, which is similar to a punch card. After several purchases, you start to earn rewards, such as free shots of flavored syrups to add to your drinks.
If you use the card often, you can work your way up to a Gold Card, which after so many purchases will earn you a free drink that you can personalize any way you want.
The Red Cedar Cafe, 1331 E. Grand River Ave., a new independent and locally owned business, also offers some great deals on coffee.
My favorite part about the café is that it not only has frequent buyer punch cards, but it also will keep your card on file in the store for you so you don’t have to worry about losing it. If you are anything like me and have more punch cards than you can count, this might be something to consider using.
Those who are true caffeine addicts will take comfort in knowing Red Cedar Cafe offers straight shots of espresso that won’t break the bank. You can get a 1-ounce shot for $1.65, two shots for $2.19 or three shots for $2.79.
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