We all have a place in our hearts for many things at Penn State, and coffee is sure at the top of the pyramid. This past week, VALLEY was able to explore coffee shops around downtown State College—some well-known and others more underground. In this article, we are going to explore some of these coffee shops along with cool features on their menus.
Elixir Café
This coffee place is located at 123 W. Beaver Ave. with a warm and cozy look. It was founded in 2010 and focuses on lighter roasted coffees. Not only is it a delicious coffee spot, but it is also a great study space for students. It offers a variety of pastries, ranging from breakfast foods such as bagels to pastries like muffins. VALLEY’s favorite drink is their unique strawberry oat milk matcha or the strawberry oat milk latte.
Dear Joe
Located at the Nittany Lion Inn, Dear Joe opened last year when the inn reopened after renovations. This café’s space design follows the hotel theme, featuring a welcoming navy blue and white color scheme with elegant touches. The menu has a variety of beverages, breakfast foods and pastries. It offers a selection of expertly crafted lattes and even customized foam designs for coffee.
Webster’s Bookstore Café
Webster’s focuses on an all-organic, fully vegan menu with European-style coffee. Located at 133 E. Beaver Ave., Webster’s doesn’t just have a comfortable bookstore setting but also a thrift store and hosts many events, such as unique small bands (most of them Penn State students) coming in to play music.
W.C. Clarke’s The Cheese Shoppe
The remarkable experience of this coffee shop is that the welcoming baristas roast their beans in-house in front of you, offering a unique customer experience. The variety of beans comes from all over the world, including Costa Rica, Italy, France, Colombia and more. On another note, they also offer artisanal cheese. The atmosphere is very rustic and is a nice place to chat with the locals of State College.
Besides these exceptional coffee options, there are many others loved by VALLEY around State College that you should also check out. Some examples include Vibe Coffee located at 401 W. Beaver Ave., Irving’s located at 110 E. College Ave., Saxbys located in the Business Building and Chew Chew Bun located at 115 E. Beaver Ave.
Overall, these hidden, or not-so-hidden, gems are a must if you are a coffee lover and want to find cozy places for studying and hanging out in State College.
Let us know what your go-to drink from your favorite coffee place around State College on X @VALLEYmag!
