The best coffee spots around UMD
By Harper Lawson
November 27, 2023
Image Credit: Photo by Harper Lawson
Staying energized through a busy schedule of class, work, social activities and more can be a true struggle for college students. Luckily, many can find a way around this with a particularly helpful chemical compound: caffeine.
If you are looking for a mild boost in the form of a tasty beverage, there are a variety of spots where you can obtain quality coffee in and around UMD. Here are some recommendations:
Vigilante Coffee
This quaint and trendy coffee shop, located in front of the University View at 8200 Baltimore Ave., is a fan favorite. It has a unique menu and pleasant atmosphere. Its menu features exciting, seasonal drinks, such as the fall selection’s maple spiced latte.
Not only does the drink menu include more than enough coffee staples like cold brew, drip coffee, macchiatos, cortados, cappuccinos and lattes, but a variety of flavorful and interesting teas are offered as well. Vigilante serves many tea flavors including cinnamon hibiscus, honey lemon mint, white peach, and more. The menu also includes caffeine-free classics like apple cider and hot chocolate.
Some food options at Vigilante are acai bowls, a wide selection of appetizing bagels and pastries, and oatmeal cream pies.
You will often find people relaxing or doing work inside – the environment of the shop is the perfect place for this with available seating and an abundance of plants and decorations.
“Despite being small, [it] packs a great vibe inside – great place to hang out or be productive while enjoying good food and drinks,” said junior marketing major Jack Ripken.
The Board and Brew
The most interesting aspect of this spot is that it features shelves and shelves of board games that can be purchased to play during your visit, hence the name. Don’t pass on their food and cocktail menus either.
“[It] is the perfect mix of good food and a fun atmosphere. I love the wide selection of games and how they choose them for you based on what you’re looking for,” said junior journalism major Jenna Bloom.
The restaurant, located up the road from Vigilante at 8150 Baltimore Ave., also has a coffee and tea menu that is definitely worth trying. It features intriguing drinks like an Oreo latte and the Davy Jones’ Locker, a creative espresso drink blended with berry and chocolate flavors.
Food for Thought Cafe
This cafe, located in the Edward St. John Learning and Teaching Center, is the perfect place to grab a bite or drink in between classes. It offers the majority of Starbucks coffee drinks and an assortment of food options such as sandwiches, salads, pastries, sushi and packaged snacks.
Food for Thought is sophomore intended accounting major Keira McColigan’s favorite on-campus cafe.
“They make my order the best compared to other places on campus and it’s always fast.”
Starbucks
Back to the basics, the closest Starbucks location to campus is at 7336 Baltimore Ave. Any student looking for festive holiday drinks should stop by this massively popular chain coffee shop.
The holiday menu just dropped, featuring various types of coffees with flavors like gingerbread, sugar cookie, chestnut praline, caramel brulée, peppermint, and more.
Dunkin’ Donuts
Back to the basics, part two. Another major chain coffee spot with a smaller location in Landmark at 4500 College Ave. and a larger location at 4211 Knox Rd., Dunkin’ is also worth noting due to its points system and current seasonal drink options.
Junior English major Alexa Lesniak is a fan of Dunkin’s tech-savvy elements, saying, “The app is easy to use and you get rewards, plus you don't have to interact with anyone.”
On Dunkin’s holiday coffee menu are flavors that differ from Starbucks like cookie butter, toasted white chocolate and spiced cookie. The holiday doughnuts are also on their way, as well as new food items such as the loaded hash browns, consisting of the traditional hashbrowns coated in queso sauce and bacon pieces.
Honorable mention: Bagels ‘n Grinds
While this bagel shop’s coffee menu is not particularly extensive, the few options they offer are very tasty and the perfect addition to your bagel. If you’re not a stickler for creative or seasonal flavoring, give Bagels ‘n Grinds coffee a try.
These spots not only offer tasty beverages that can pick you up from your midday slump, but the food menus, atmospheres and convenience are worth the visit as well. Make sure to hit one of these locations during your next coffee craving.
If you are looking for a mild boost in the form of a tasty beverage, there are a variety of spots where you can obtain quality coffee in and around UMD. Here are some recommendations:
Vigilante Coffee
This quaint and trendy coffee shop, located in front of the University View at 8200 Baltimore Ave., is a fan favorite. It has a unique menu and pleasant atmosphere. Its menu features exciting, seasonal drinks, such as the fall selection’s maple spiced latte.
Not only does the drink menu include more than enough coffee staples like cold brew, drip coffee, macchiatos, cortados, cappuccinos and lattes, but a variety of flavorful and interesting teas are offered as well. Vigilante serves many tea flavors including cinnamon hibiscus, honey lemon mint, white peach, and more. The menu also includes caffeine-free classics like apple cider and hot chocolate.
Some food options at Vigilante are acai bowls, a wide selection of appetizing bagels and pastries, and oatmeal cream pies.
You will often find people relaxing or doing work inside – the environment of the shop is the perfect place for this with available seating and an abundance of plants and decorations.
“Despite being small, [it] packs a great vibe inside – great place to hang out or be productive while enjoying good food and drinks,” said junior marketing major Jack Ripken.
The Board and Brew
The most interesting aspect of this spot is that it features shelves and shelves of board games that can be purchased to play during your visit, hence the name. Don’t pass on their food and cocktail menus either.
“[It] is the perfect mix of good food and a fun atmosphere. I love the wide selection of games and how they choose them for you based on what you’re looking for,” said junior journalism major Jenna Bloom.
The restaurant, located up the road from Vigilante at 8150 Baltimore Ave., also has a coffee and tea menu that is definitely worth trying. It features intriguing drinks like an Oreo latte and the Davy Jones’ Locker, a creative espresso drink blended with berry and chocolate flavors.
Food for Thought Cafe
This cafe, located in the Edward St. John Learning and Teaching Center, is the perfect place to grab a bite or drink in between classes. It offers the majority of Starbucks coffee drinks and an assortment of food options such as sandwiches, salads, pastries, sushi and packaged snacks.
Food for Thought is sophomore intended accounting major Keira McColigan’s favorite on-campus cafe.
“They make my order the best compared to other places on campus and it’s always fast.”
Starbucks
Back to the basics, the closest Starbucks location to campus is at 7336 Baltimore Ave. Any student looking for festive holiday drinks should stop by this massively popular chain coffee shop.
The holiday menu just dropped, featuring various types of coffees with flavors like gingerbread, sugar cookie, chestnut praline, caramel brulée, peppermint, and more.
Dunkin’ Donuts
Back to the basics, part two. Another major chain coffee spot with a smaller location in Landmark at 4500 College Ave. and a larger location at 4211 Knox Rd., Dunkin’ is also worth noting due to its points system and current seasonal drink options.
Junior English major Alexa Lesniak is a fan of Dunkin’s tech-savvy elements, saying, “The app is easy to use and you get rewards, plus you don't have to interact with anyone.”
On Dunkin’s holiday coffee menu are flavors that differ from Starbucks like cookie butter, toasted white chocolate and spiced cookie. The holiday doughnuts are also on their way, as well as new food items such as the loaded hash browns, consisting of the traditional hashbrowns coated in queso sauce and bacon pieces.
Honorable mention: Bagels ‘n Grinds
While this bagel shop’s coffee menu is not particularly extensive, the few options they offer are very tasty and the perfect addition to your bagel. If you’re not a stickler for creative or seasonal flavoring, give Bagels ‘n Grinds coffee a try.
These spots not only offer tasty beverages that can pick you up from your midday slump, but the food menus, atmospheres and convenience are worth the visit as well. Make sure to hit one of these locations during your next coffee craving.