It’s 7:30 am and your alarm goes off.
Bleary-eyed, you drag yourself out of bed and try to shake off the grogginess of a night of studying. You glance at the clock and realize you only have 15 minutes to get dressed, pack your bag, and make it to class on time. There’s no time to make coffee at home, so you’ll have to grab a cup on campus. But where do you go to get the best coffee to fuel your day?
With so many options available, it can be overwhelming to decide where to get your caffeine fix. However, with a little bit of research and exploration, you can find the best coffee on campus to suit your taste and preferences. Whether you’re looking for a cheap cup or something more specialty, there are a few key tips and tricks that can help you find your ideal cup of joe.
When it comes to being a student, your time is valuable—this is something to keep in mind when looking for coffee. Anmol Xavior, is a first-year student, in the Industrial Design program at Humber College. Xavior says he usually gets his coffee at the Tim Hortons on campus.
“On campus, I prefer to go to Tim’s, but if the line is really long I go to the Street Cafe.”
If you can make it through the line, Tim Hortons is a great option if you are on a budget. For a medium cup of coffee, it’s going to cost you $1.83 plus tax. Unfortunately, time is also money. If you don’t have the time to wait in the long Tim Hortons line head over to the Street Cafe located in the H wing in the Humber building. Not only are the lines shorter, but they also sell fair-trade indigenous blends.
“Last year, we were delighted to introduce a new fair trade coffee to campus and catering. It’s called Birch Bark, it is not only fair trade but also Indigenous-owned. Part of the profits of the coffee sale go towards purchasing water purification units for Indigenous households in Canada,” said Gabby Penske communications & engagement coordinator for the Office of Sustainability at Humber.
The Street Cafe serves four different blends of Birch Bark Coffee, which is organic fair trade coffee that is grown and produced by farmers that are of indigenous descent. For a medium coffee, it’s going to cost a bit more than Tim Hortons with a medium cup costing $2.10. With that being said, you should take into consideration supporting a local coffee organization—sometimes the positive benefits can outway the cost.
Xavior says that he only goes to Starbucks to reward himself due to the high prices.
“Very rarely do I ever go to Starbucks because it’s way too expensive. When I do go, I get it as a treat to reward myself for doing lots of work,” said Xavior.
If you’re looking to treat yourself, Starbucks has specialty drinks but not for a pretty penny. A regular “grande” or medium coffee will cost you $2.65 but if you’re looking for something fancier don’t be surprised when your bill is over $5.
Luckily, there’s one on campus option that may fulfil the list of a short line, a cheap budget, a sustainable option and a specialty selection. Pawan Sidhu is a second year student in Culinary Management at Humber, he says Gourmet Express has the best coffee. “I always get my coffee at Gourmet Express, the coffee is good and I don’t have to wait in line at Tims or Starbucks it’s way too long,” said Sidhu.
Humber’s Gourmet Express is a small shop that sells food created by Humber culinary students. They also sell multiple blends of coffee from Mountain View Coffee, a coffee company located down the street on Martin Grove in Etobicoke. Choose from flavours like “butter pecan,” “caramel biscotti” or “urban experience.” A medium cup of Gourmet Express coffee will cost you $2.15, but you can trade out your paper cup for a cheaper and more sustainable price. If you bring your own cup/mug it is only going to cost $1.60 for any size.
Overall, discovering the ideal cup of coffee on campus can be overwhelming, but Humber College provides several alternatives that suit varying preferences and budgets. Students can opt for familiar coffee brands like Tim Hortons and Starbucks or explore local coffee shops like Gourmet Express. For those interested in supporting sustainable and fair-trade practices, the Street Cafe offers indigenous blends that are worth trying. Ultimately, the best coffee on campus should meet your caffeine needs, align with your values, and satisfy your taste buds.
Make your own coffee using a french press
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