"I'll have a grande, non-fat, tea misto with extra foam," the phrase has started many of my mornings, as I struggle to keep my eyelids open, shuffling like a zombie to an 8 a.m. lecture, desperately seeking anything that might grant me the energy to recover from another all-nighter.

Like many college students, caffeine has become a necessity in my life. Although I have never enjoyed the taste of coffee, my reliance on tea remains unsurpassed. Whether it's green tea, Earl Grey or Chai, I find myself sipping tea, almost constantly, going through as many as three cups on a normal day. I quickly ascended through Starbucks' rewards program, obtaining a coveted gold card during my freshman year of college.

Yet, as time progressed, I found myself less and less entranced by the Seattle-based chain, instead opting for locally owned cafes. Now that the coffee conglomerate has elected to transform their long-standing customer loyalty program, My Starbucks Rewards, distributing two stars for every dollar spent, while requiring customers to obtain 125 stars to earn one free beverage, there is more reason than ever to turn away from the green mermaid.

1. It's predictable.

There's a reason Starbucks is so commonly associated with the stereotypical white girl. It's safe. Customers around the world know exactly what to expect on the menu. They know exactly how it will taste. Since there's no risk, there isn't much room for reward. Will you remember this particular Starbucks Run after 10+ years? Although you may not remember the local coffee shop, you're more likely to remember a place that's off your beaten path.

2. It's expensive.

One of the universally agreed upon truths about Starbucks’ menu is that it can be costly. The Seattle chain redefined the modern comprehension of coffee shop, allowing businesses to charge high prices for their beverages. While the prices at local coffee shops often reflect this shift, the prices usually veer on the cheaper side when compared to Starbucks.

3. It's unhealthy.

Under their pristine white cups, many Starbucks beverages conceal a dirty little secret. Much of the iconic chain's offerings are absolutely loaded with sugar. A grande chai latte from Starbucks contains 42 grams of sugar, meaning Americans are consuming as much as half of their daily recommended sugar intake in that chai. Frappucchinos are even worse. Fortunately, this trend predominantly centers around Starbucks, while smaller coffee vendors are more likely to offer healthy options.

4. You can call beverages by their true size at local coffee shops.

Choosing between a small, medium and large is far easier and, debatably, more rewarding than choosing between three cup sizes each meaning big in three different languages.

5. Buying your coffee from local vendors supports local businesses.

Entrepreneurs tend to risk everything to open small businesses. By shopping local you're allowing them to realize their dreams, while supporting the economy.

6. Locally owned coffee shops can give you a glimpse at the regional culture.

Guess where this photo was taken. Any ideas? Even though it looks like every other Starbucks in the world, this was actually taken in Guangzhou, China.

Unlike Starbucks, which is the same anywhere you may go, coffee shops tend to vary a lot from pale to place. My favorite thing to do when visiting a new city is to visit the top rated cole shop on Yelp. These establishments can provide insight into an area's overall culture.

7. You can build relationships more easily in small businesses.

With a smaller coffee shop, there tends to be a smaller customer base, additionally, employees and the owners tend to have far greater emotional investment in their customers. Getting to know the owners and employees is a lot easier when they recognize you each time you come in. Plus it’s kind of cool to be able to say “I know the owner," and there's a lot more likely they'll get your name right on your drink if they know you.

8. You're more likely to get latte art from artisan baristas.

What is it about latte art that makes it so appealing? Latte art is the barista’s version of Buddhist monk’s mandalas. There’s an innate draw to a beverage the barista spent time and energy turning into an aesthetic masterpiece with the understanding that it will be rapidly devoured. Starbucks baristas rarely have the time or training to offer foam art renderings, however, smaller coffee shops tend to encourage barista creativity.

9. You get more choices in customizing your order when ordering from a small business.

Since the menu at local coffee shops is more prone to changes, employees are more enthusiastic about deviating from the menu. Want an extra pump of vanilla with some honey? No problem.They can even offer guidance on your drink.

10. You're likely to learn more about different drinks from a specialized coffee shop.

Small businesses tend to have more room for specialization than big chains. Their menus can change more easily for customer demands, if there is only one location. At the same time, they are not as focused on appealing to the overall majority. You may find a delicious highly specialized espresso bar with a wide assortment of options while shopping locally.

11. Their loyalty programs are actually worth the effort.

Many coffee shops offer punch cards, where customers can collect and keep track of their purchases. After the customer reaches a reestablished number of drinks, they earn a free beverage. Unlike Starbucks rewards, these offers don’t expire, even if the customer forgets that they earned the reward.