Freshman year I was all about the library. As a sophomore with a car, I can't stand libraries. I have recently realized how incredible coffee shops are. From the incredible scents to the perfect amount of noise, to the easy access to food and drinks, it is the perfect place to study or just hang out.

Here are five of the ones in Tuscaloosa that I would recommend to anyone!

1. Monarch Espresso Bar

This is the coffee shop that made me fall in love with coffee shops. It is definitely on the quieter side and is full of young professionals, but I find it very relaxing and motivating. It is beautiful with the brick walls and metal beams. Their menu is definitely on the smaller side, but they do have some food options. They are located downtown right near the courthouse and Government Plaza.

2. Heritage House Coffee and Tea

Being from Tuscaloosa, I discovered this place years ago but I didn't truly appreciate it until college. They have a menu full of traditional and unique drinks, as well as several food options. I have never gotten something from there that I didn't love. They have two different locations in Tuscaloosa - one on Towncenter Boulevard and one in Riverfront Village. A lot of people like to do bible studies there since it is a Christian coffee shop and has bible verses displayed and a prayer wall.

3. O'Henry's Coffee

This coffee shop is located at the corner of Lurleen Wallace Boulevard South and the inside is absolutely beautiful. There has been a location in Birmingham since 1993 and they decided to open a location in Tuscaloosa in 2016. They have an impressive food and drink menu.

4. UPerk

UPerk opened in August 2017 and is connected to First Presbyterian Church on 20th Avenue. They have a decently large menu, with a lot of their foods coming from local coffee shops (#2). They are a great place to go if you're looking for somewhere that doesn't look like a basic coffee shop (rustic, industrial, etc.) or want to support the church and local community. All of their profits go directly to the church or the community.

5. Nehemiah's Coffee Shop

I had actually never heard of this place until I did research for this article, but it has incredible reviews so I will definitely be trying it out soon! It is located on 18th Street and run by Forest Lake Baptist Church. It is a nonprofit, so the prices are awesome! They serve specialty drinks and have snacks available. There are board games available to guests and occasional live band performances.

These coffee shops are for everyone — not just college students! I am so glad that Tuscaloosa is slowly getting more coffee shops because the demand is definitely there and there aren't many feelings better than being productive at a coffee shop.