Which Saratoga Springs coffee shop are you?
When we’re not on campus, many of us Skidmore students head downtown to one of the many cafes in vibrant Saratoga Springs. But what does your favorite coffee spot say about you? Who might you find at each place? Or, if you’re looking for a new spot in town, which cafe should you try based on your personality, coffee preferences, and the atmosphere you're looking for? Read on to read my thoughts about Saratoga's coffee scene.
Uncommon Grounds
"The Focused One"
Uncommon Grounds is the Skidmore student’s unofficial “home away from home” (of course, our first home is Skidmore 🙂). Busy students, entrepreneurs, and anyone looking to relax with a simple yet high-quality cup of coffee or latte can be seen at Uncommon. After grabbing coffee here, I like to go to Northshire Bookstore to browse all the new books.
Saratoga Coffee Traders
"The Coffee Fanatic"
Saratoga Coffee Traders is known as the rival to Uncommon Grounds for Skid Kids. If you’re a Coffee Traders fan, you love to know where each type of coffee comes from and how it’s roasted. The Coffee Traders menu includes many specialty lattes, especially during the holiday season! They also have a latte flight, allowing customers to try four different lattes at once. There is also a vintage candy store in the back!
Overall, the word on the street is that if you need a jolt of energy and some high-quality caffeine, Coffee Traders is your place.
Spot Coffee
"The One Who is Always in a Meeting"
If you enjoy group meetings and dancing in the rain, Spot Coffee is the place for you. Here, you can find great food and coffee drinks to make a long day of meetings fun. The menu includes options like grilled paninis, personal pizzas, omelets, and more. Personally, I enjoy Spot’s specialty lattes, like the Cherry Mocha. The best part about the seating at Spot is the wall of windows that lets the sun in all day long.
Walt Café
"The Trendy One"
Walt Cafe is the coffee shop to end all coffee shops. Customers are greeted by its warm lighting, cozy couches and seating areas, and plenty of breakfast food, coffee, and desserts to choose from. Walt Cafe is perfect for a day of studying while watching the snow come down outside and cozying up with your favorite latte. Fun fact: They feature new specialty lattes every month!
Saratoga tea & honey
"The Laid-back Student"
There are few stores as beautiful as Saratoga Tea & Honey. If you need to feel “zen” after a long few weeks of midterms or projects, and coffee isn’t your thing, this is your place.
Upon walking in, customers are greeted with an entire wall of tea and a separate room for honey in the back. You can even sample the different kinds of honey! I’ve had the chocolate honey and the wildflower honey. My favorite drink to get here is a London fog latte with the Spa City Earl Gray tea.
Whether you want to warm up with a tea latte in the winter or cool down with a homemade iced matcha latte in the spring, Saratoga Tea & Honey is always a wonderful place to stop in for some peace and quiet.
darling doughnuts
"The Procrastinator"
Coffee and doughnuts: What a classic combination. Nothing beats delaying homework on a Sunday than a quick trip into town to Darling Doughnuts. I love to order an iced mocha with my doughnut and take a walk down Broadway afterward.
I’m starting to wonder if the people who work at Darling Doughnuts recognize me by how many times I come in while school is in session. Nothing makes a good (or bad) day better than one of their doughnuts. My personal favorite flavors are Salted Caramel, Galaxy Glazed, and Churro.
Darling Doughnuts also has great merchandise. I’m a big fan of the knit winter hat and the mini doughnut keychains. (My car keys at home are currently decorated with a Churro doughnut keychain.)
So, which Saratoga coffee shop are you?
For me, I’d have to say Uncommon Grounds. Though I love a good cozy coffee shop like Walt Cafe, if I am ever gone for an extended period of time, my roommates know that Uncommon Grounds (like with many Skidmore students) is where to find me!
Sarah Libov '24, who is from New Jersey, is studying management and business and music at Skidmore College.