As a college student, coffee is a must have, and Starbucks is a popular option.
Here in Natchitoches, home of Northwestern State University of Louisiana, we have two Starbucks. One is off campus on Keyser Avenue, and one is on campus attached to the Eugene P. Watson Memorial Library. The Starbucks on campus is named Café Demon, but sells Starbucks products.
When working on group assignments, studying with friends or even just hanging out with friends, Starbucks is a great meeting place. But which Starbucks should students go to? In my three years of being at NSU, I’ve heard plenty of debate — which Starbucks is better?
On one hand, Café Demon accepts declining balance, a meal plan offered by NSU for students, and the Starbucks off-campus does not. For many college students, money is tight and not everybody can afford to spend $7 on coffee. Students can save money by having an option to use their meal plan on campus. When it comes to prices, especially for students with no meal plan, Café Demon is the same as Starbucks. So, if students do not have a meal plan, the price isn’t as much of a deciding factor.
The off-campus Starbucks has a wider menu selection with new drink specials and many more food and bakery options. Even though Café Demon has the same drink menu items as Starbucks, Starbucks tends to be more popular when it comes to drink quality. While the drinks might not be as good at Café Demon, the bakery items are just as delicious as Starbucks’. The blueberry muffins are absolutely to die for.
A poll posted on The Current Sauce Instagram showed that students might prefer the Starbucks off campus with 19 votes for Café Demon and 37 votes for Starbucks. Granted the poll had participants that included graduates and other people that follow our Instagram, so consider our results lightly.
Both options are perfect study spots with plenty of seating options and a peaceful environment for students. Café Demon has an option of two cushioned chairs and a bar facing the window with four seats, as well as a few two-to-four seat tables. Starbucks also has a few two-to-four seat tables, but they also have a couple larger tables for bigger groups. Both have outside seating options which is perfect for studying while enjoying cozy fall weather.
The hours for Café Demon are from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday and Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Café Demon is closed on Saturday.
Starbucks hours are from 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 6 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Sundays. Café demon is a great place to go in between class during the week to get some homework done, but Starbucks is a better option for early birds who need their coffee before 7 a.m.
While Starbucks is more popular than Café Demon, it lacks convenience for students who live on campus with no transportation. A 10-minute walk to Café Demon is much easier than a 40-minute walk to Starbucks with the danger of traffic. Café Demon is especially convenient for students who live at the University Place residence buildings, being only a 7-minute walk.
In the end, it all comes down to your personal preference and taking in the consideration of money, transportation and taste.