Craving Coffee?
Find out where to get the best caffeine boost in town
By Laura Becker, contributing writer
Posted on October 2, 2006

Coffee shops are the core of a student’s existence. At a coffee shop, a person can exhale. There are no rules in a coffee shop. Patrons don’t have to even like coffee, let alone know the difference between an espresso and a latte to enjoy the relaxing atmosphere. In truth, the best coffee shops exist solely to be havens, a place to get away from the banalities of one’s schedule.

Java City, located in Taylor Down Under, The Festival Center and Memorial Hall, is undoubtedly a popular spot for on-campus residents, yet it isn’t always easy to get work done or focus on conversation when other friends are constantly passing by. While Java City is a fantastic on-campus location, other Harrisonburg coffee shops shouldn’t be ignored.

The most well-known coffee shop in Harrisonburg is The Daily Grind, located downtown and in the Valley Mall.  The Daily Grind is the studious person’s dream. The background music is low, and free wireless Internet allows students to do research or check up on Blackboard while enjoying a more relaxed environment than the library.

The low-key atmosphere is also perfect for catching up with friends, which can be difficult to do in noisy environments. The downtown location, though mostly consisting of a variety of tables and chairs, also provides three comfy armchairs that bring back memories of drinking hot chocolate at home.

The Daily Grind offers more than just coffee: baked goods, breakfast sandwiches, soups, salads, sandwiches and wraps, paninis, smoothies and gelato also add to the coffee house and café’s appeal. Candy lovers will melt over the Grind’s hot specialty espresso drinks, some of which are named after candy bars. The Snickers espresso, a mix of chocolate, caramel and hazelnut, is guaranteed to satisfy a sweet tooth. 

Gelato is also a favorite at The Daily Grind.  The spiced hazelnut fig gelato tastes like the month of October, with a tone of pumpkin that would be nicely accompanied with a chai tea. The Daily Grind’s gelato is cool and refreshing and has a much more unique texture than ordinary ice cream.

The range of customers at the Daily Grind goes to show that the shop has had quite an effect on the community. College students often frequent the Valley Mall location, while the downtown location often caters to local businesspeople and young families during lunch hours and students in the afternoons and evenings.

Students who prefer a funky and eclectic hangout will feel at home in the Artful Dodger on Court Square in downtown Harrisonburg. The murals painted on the exterior of the Artful Dodger provide insight into the creative coffee and cocktail lounge that provides more than just eye appeal. Star-shaped bronze clocks line the top of the walls, and combined with dim lighting, the lounge gives off a celestial appeal. Black-and-white tiles cover a section of the floor, a slight reminder of the quintessential ‘50s diner. Yet the Artful Dodger is anything but archetypal — proven by a wide assortment of unique artwork and thrift-shop treasures and mix-and-matched armchairs and sofas.

Coffee shop by day and bar by night, the Artful Dodger is hard to dislike. On Mondays and Thursdays, patrons can enjoy live jazz starting at 9 p.m. Similar to The Daily Grind, the Artful Dodger serves a wide variety of tasty meals, from flatbreads to quesadillas and is available to cater.

A wireless Internet connection, an intimate “book nook” and a large seating area also makes the Artful Dodger a popular place for studying. The best time to study is in the afternoon, before the loud music and crowds. Try the apple cider for a comforting flavor of autumn, or the chilled “grasshopper” drink which tastes like mint chocolate chip ice cream.

The best place to take female relatives or to have some girls’ time in the ‘Burg is Mrs. Hardesty’s Tea Room. Located at 212 S. Main St., the Tea Room is a bright and friendly environment perfect for a light breakfast or afternoon tea.

However, the Tea Room does not serve coffee — the owners call themselves “purists.” Hot chocolate is also available for non-tea drinkers. Scones and sandwiches are offered separate or together on a plate. The sun-filled tearoom decorated with painted ivy leaves provides perfect garden-party appeal.

Shank’s Bakery is becoming more and more popular among the university crowd. While the baked goods and drinks are delicious, the best thing about Shank’s is the prices. The latte, a customer favorite, runs cheap at $2 for a 12-ounce cup. Add some syrup (try the hazelnut) for 50 cents extra and enjoy the newest addition to the bakery, bran muffins dotted with golden raisins. The muffins are 75 cents each, only slightly more costly than the 50-cent cookies. A fiber-filled nutritious snack has never been this delicious.

Shank’s fresh baked breads are made on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, and are usually sold out by the end of the day. The open counters allow customers to watch kitchen activity and interact with the friendly employees. The soft music playing overhead and ample table room also makes Shank’s a candidate for a great study location. The best place to  do work in the bakery is in the back corner, where a large four-person table is out of view from other patrons.

Students may find themselves settling into the routine of studying at the library and meeting friends at TDU, but the gentle welcoming whispers of cappuccinos and wireless Internet coming from campus borders should not be ignored.