The Crimson White Local Edition, Aug. 18, 2022

2B
Caffeinate your college experience
ELLE STANDISH
CONTRIBUTING COLUMNIST
With over 38,000 students
enrolled at The
University of Alabama, there
is a clear demand for coffee
shops around the city. Whether
providing a quiet place to study
or supplying the caffeine to
finish a paper, Tuscaloosa offers
a variety of coffee shops that
cater to each student.
Coffee is such a hot commodity
that its demand has created a
number of excellent locations.
Locally owned coffee shops stack
the deck of Tuscaloosa’s top five
coffee shops:
1. Monarch
Espresso Bar
Monarch Espresso
Bar is by far the
best place to go
for specialty craft
coffee. They are a
locally owned coffee
shop that has hosted
events with University
of Alabama faculty. Playing off
$$
their phrase “where fast lives
slow down,” Monarch has ample
room for a lively community
space, perfect for catching up
with friends or studying for
an exam.
Their baked goods are made
from scratch daily and their
avocado toast is a hit with
regulars. Monarch does not take
Dining Dollars, but you might
luck out and get a free latte on
a catering day. They frequently
do fundraisers for University
organizations, as they a r e
conveniently only a
couple miles away from
campus, and they host
catering events
across campus,
which makes
buying a
good latte a
$$
little bit more
guilt-free.
2. Turbo Coffee
If you want a place
to charge up, Turbo is
the place to go. Unlike
Monarch’s mantra, Turbo is
based on the idea of “making
Heritage House Coffe, Tea, & Cafe is located in downtown Tuscaloosa.
CW / David Gray
people faster.” They have great
coffee and tea, but also
offer smoothies and açaí
bowls. Turbo also has a
rewards program where
you can earn stars from
your purchases for
free drinks. They
are locally owned
and frequently
showcase local $
artwork for sale.
This is my top pick
to go study when I need a quiet
space a couple miles away from
campus, but they do not have
ample seating, making their
busiest hours difficult to find
a spot. Turbo is adjacent to
Greasy Hands Barber Shop
and if you walk through the
door to Greasy Hands, you
will likely find sweet Molly,
the shop dog. Overall,
between getting to
pet a dog and drink
good coffee, I love
this place.
3. FIVE Java
$$
FIVE Java is
connected to FIVE
Tuscaloosa, which
is known for its limited
five dinner, cocktail and wine
options on the menu. It is one
of four locations, the others
being in Mobile, Birmingham
and Athens, Georgia. The design
is eclectic and artsy, with a
simple yet rich menu and a lively
environment to compliment it.
If you enjoy studying in a
busy environment, FIVE Java
is the place to be. It is situated
downtown two miles from
campus, and brunch goers
provide ample white noise. People
who need quieter environments
for work or relaxation may want
to avoid FIVE Java at peak hours,
but the unique design and drinks
add to the allure.
4. Heritage House
Coffee and
Tea
Heritage
H o u s e ’ s
menu has a
larger variety
of food
for a coffee
shop than just
about anywhere in
town. They have a
very diverse coffee
selection that favors
people with a sweet
tooth. The Sugar Daddy
espresso drink is a local
favorite and sure to sweeten up
your day. Along with a diverse
selection of coffee options,
Heritage House has a large
tea selection.
Their atmosphere is warm
and welcoming, fostering a sense
of community that allows
groups to gather there.
And with three locations,
Heritage House allows
patrons to choose their
favorite space.
Heritage house offers a
multitude of catering and event
options, making it likely to see
their products around campus.
One of my favorite things
about this establishment is how
kind and respectful the managers
are to their workers. Heritage
House values community
engagement and offers jobs
to people with disabilities by
working with United Cerebral
Palsy of West Alabama. The store
can get crowded with long wait
times but luckily, there are other
locations near the University.
At the end of each day, they
sell old pastries and muffins for
cheaper prices.
Graphics CW / Autumn Williams
5. UPerk
UPerk is a
nonprofit
coffee shop
owned by
the ministry
of First
$
Presbyterian
Church of
Tuscaloosa. They
are tucked under apartments
off of University Boulevard,
providing a comfortable place
to study about two miles away
from campus. Live music as well
as public and nonprofit events
provide excellent opportunities
to stop by for coffee.
Open seven days a week, they
offer a range of coffee drinks to
give anyone any option at any
time. My go to drink is the Spice
of Life, a cortado with a pinch of
cinnamon and nutmeg, drizzled
with honey. UPerk accepts
Dining Dollars and Bama Cash,
which makes the purchase feel a
little less impactful to your bank
account. They offer a large space
equipped with board games to
play with your friends.
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