What is a true Georgetown experience without “meeting for coffee sometime,” grabbing a shot of espresso before that class, or staying up until absurd hours in the morning with a dim caffeine buzz running through your veins? While Georgetown students frequent the standard sources of coffee on campus like MUG, Starbucks, and Saxby’s, there are several establishments that, unbeknownst to most, serve coffee as well. Below, you’ll find a comprehensive guide to all sources of caffeinated beverages outside of the best-known locations. A quick disclaimer: none of the coffee reviewed was especially stellar. But desperate times call for desperate measures, and especially in the midst of midterms, it is worth investing in the lesser of all the evils.
Leo’s
Leo’s hides their coffee in the back corner behind the omelette stand.
Leo’s coffee is great for one reason and one reason only: unlimited refills. However, it is only half as effective as a normal cup of coffee since generous amounts of cream and sugar are needed to mask its bitterness (hours later, I could still taste the residual coffee bean and creamer flavor-combo). If you’re willing to make that sacrifice, by all means, load up. And unlike most of the food/liquid/plates/utensils at Leo’s, the coffee urn stays full all day. Yum.
Price: One meal swipe or the door price of Leo’s
Rating: 6/10
Wisey’s
Despite this Instagram-worthy aesthetic, Wisey’s coffee is not that good.
Though I have never purchased a coffee from Wisey’s, my friend was kind enough to lend me his opinion on the subject. He described Wisey’s Hazelnut brew as “drinkable,” though it tasted just like coffee anyone could make at home. The location is pretty much all this coffee has going for it, and thus should only be considered in dire circumstances. For a taste that is “solidly middle of the road,” Wisey’s does the trick. Do not bother going out of your way to sample this one for pleasure.
Price: Small – $1.95; Large – $2.15
Rating: 5/10
Sellinger/Lau 2/MSB Graduate Commons at Uncomfortable Hour of Morning
If coffee were to ever appear on Lau 2, it would be on these tables here outside of Midnight.
If you find yourself awake at unpredictable hours and you generally have low expectations, waiting for free coffee to appear at these locations is the way to go. Sellinger Lounge will sometimes have coffee on the tables outside of UG, Lau 2 outside of Midnight MUG, and the MSB Graduate Commons along the shelf on the left wall. It is usually hours old and sometimes cold, but it’s free! And especially during finals, coming across these leftovers can feel like Christmas come early. However, in my years at Georgetown, I have only experienced this treat once at each of these locations, so I do not recommend relying on these sources.
Price: Sanity
Rating: 3.5/10
The Hilltoss
Heads-up: The Hilltoss sometimes has cream, but most of the time it does not.
Yes, the Hilltoss sells coffee! They offer only standard hot or iced, but this exciting development has been a game-changer for studying in the HFSC. You can now get regular Corp coffee (which, granted the change last year to Compass Coffee, is now much better) at a much closer proximity to your coveted HFSC booth. Of the aforementioned coffee options, this one takes the cake: not because it is amazing, but because it is less bad.
Price: Small – $1.85; Medium – $2.00; Large – $2.15
Rating: 7.5/10
Epi
Epi’s coffee urns live next to the cashiers.
Epi brews Illy coffee, which is actually a pretty high-quality brand from Italy. I was shocked by the quality of my purchase: it was fresh, rich, and sweet. Epi can be a trek from more popular study spots, but the taste (great), the price (this was the least expensive of all the coffee reviewed), and the convenience (as we are all well-aware, Epi is open 24/7) makes this coffee a solid go-to option.
Price: Small – $1.71
Rating: 9/10
This exploration into the world of lesser-known coffees did not yield as many positive results as I was hoping for, especially as someone who drinks it not only for the caffeine, but also for the taste and flavor. For now, I will keep purchasing my coffee from the more popular establishments on campus, but will continue to hold out hope that one day, a great cup of coffee will be commonplace, rather than a rarity amidst a sea of Corp, Leo’s, and Wisey’s brews.
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All Photos by Katie LaScaleia, The Georgetown Voice
You forgot Einstein’s! I’m not a coffee expert but their vanilla hazelnut is solid
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