I don't know about you, but I absolutely hated coffee until I started my first year in college. The first few weeks of school I tolerated the taste just for the caffeine, but now I have grown to love drinking coffee. I think once you taste a really good cup of coffee (aka not from the SLP), you will find that it is an essential to your college career. More than anything, a really nice coffee shop that not only has good drinks and food is a good place to escape from campus when trying to work or study. Here are a few suggestions I have all around San Diego:

1. Better Buzz Coffee.

I am sure that you have at some point seen someone on campus with these cups that say "Life's Better Buzzed." Not only are these coffees Instagram-worthy, but they taste amazing as well. My suggestion: try the Hazelnut Divinity.

2. Communal Coffee.

Raise your hand if you follow at least one other USD student who has posted a picture with this wall! Not only is this shop adorable (they sell beautiful flowers too!), but it is a great place to hang out with your friends and have a cup or too. I recommend the Iced Lavender Honey Latte.

3. Holsem Coffee.

Holsem Coffee is one of the nicest coffee shops I've ever stepped in. I first heard it from my roommate, and since then I have become a huge fan of theirs. Try the Four-Espresso Shake for those days when you really need to stay awake and study!

4. Moniker General.

This is also such a stand-out place. If you are looking for a guaranteed quite and peaceful study space, then this shop is for you. You cannot miss out on the Mocha with Housemade Ganache!

5. Lestat's Coffee House.

This is where my friend and I spent hours and hours when studying for our finals. What makes this place so great is that it is open 24 hours. So, if you are pulling an all-nighter, why not try going here? Lestat's honestly makes the best Iced Dirty Chai Latte that I have ever tasted.

6. Dark Horse Coffee Roasters.

Last, but not least, we have Dark Horse Coffee Roasters. Their coffee is so good, you can even buy their roasted coffee online. I recommend tasting their Ethiopia Roasted Coffee.

Hopefully you have found these suggestions helpful as the new semester rolls in!