As students make their way back on campus, they finally start to feel Syracuse's most distinguishing mark: its winter. It’s cold. There are 20 mile-an-hour winds whipping you in the face and your $800 Canada Goose can’t even keep you warm. You struggle through the snow, running on approximately four hours of sleep, trying to remember what you learned this semester in History in order to pass this upcoming test. What do you need the second you get back on campus? Coffee. ASAP.

There are tons of places to get coffee here at Syracuse, scattered across the University’s large campus. Not all coffee is created equal, however. Thus, I give you the 2016 guide for getting coffee at Syracuse, from the bold to the sweet to the downright awful. Let’s get started.

People’s Place

• Pros: This is literally one of the hidden gems of Syracuse. Located under Hendrick’s Chapel, People’s Place is perfect for a quick cup on the go. They serve different flavored coffee drinks, pastries, and other cold drinks. Their drinks are also ridiculously cheap—1.50 for a large cup of coffee, as opposed to close to $3 for Starbucks.
• Cons: They have a huge variety of different coffee flavors and drinks, but they are no Starbucks. If you are looking to get a Frappuccino, better luck somewhere else. Secondly, People’s Place only takes cash, which is a huge drawback for those who are used to paying with their ID or phone.
• Tips: Not a huge coffee fan? Try the Austin Powers: it's coffee and hot chocolate combined.

The Starbucks at West Campus

• Pros: It’s a Starbucks, so they more or less serve all of Starbucks’ extensive menu. Because its location is only convenient for students living by the Dome, this Starbucks is much less crowded than the one on Marshall Street, aka there is never a line. For those who understand the frustration of waiting in a 30 minute line for your skim latte, this could be your new coffee spot.
• Cons: It’s in the opposite direction of everything, even if you live in Sadler or BBB. Also, because it is the less popular Starbucks location, it frequently doesn’t serve or stock up enough of certain ingredients. For example, last fall there was a shortage of pumpkin spice for pumpkin spice lattes (the sound of white girls’ screams heard everywhere).

The Starbucks on Marshall

• Pros: Has literally everything any coffee (or non-coffee) lover will want: a full Starbucks’ menu, food, and it takes the Starbucks app. For the coffee lover, this is one of the only places coffee actually tastes like coffee—not artificially sweetened or watered down.
• Cons: Because this is one of the more popular locations, drinks can be sloppily made or not measured out correctly. Therefore, don’t expect your triple shot macchiato with two pumps of caramel to be exactly how you want it. Also, it’s Starbucks, meaning it’s ridiculously over priced. It may or may not be worth it to show off the label as you walk around.

Café Kubal

• Pros: Located right next to the Marshall Street Starbucks, Café Kubal is relatively under appreciated. Arguably better than both Starbucks and People’s Place, café Kubal is the perfect destination for the lover of strong coffee drinks. The cappuccinos are instagram-worthy.
• Cons: It is around the same price as Starbucks, so you aren’t saving any money. If anything you are saving time in avoiding the 30-minute Starbucks line that’s quickly growing out the door.

Dunkin Donuts

• Pros: Great iced coffee. Cheaper than Starbucks, and carries spin-offs of many of the same drinks. Drinks also can come in humongous cups that you would see a truck driver filling up at a gas station with soda. In smaller sizes, however, Dunkin drinks are the same amount of calories as Starbucks, so don’t worry about being health-conscious. It is also located on campus, in Shine, which is a huge plus for people running late to class. For many in from the Northeast, this is your crack.
• Cons: For many, Dunkin’s coffee taste artificially sweet, and not strong enough for the regular drinker. In general, it is Starbucks’ ugly cousin.
• Try the caramel flavoring in the drinks. It’s actually pretty good.

All Other Campus Coffee (Pages, Eggers Café, Food.com, Icafe, Junction Café, Life Sciences Café)

• Grouping these all together is a little unfair because some cafes carry more options than others and offer different deals. Nonetheless, the quality of the drinks is more or less all the same. Though they are conveniently located across campus, and take your student ID, these places should really be a last resort if you are looking for something drinkable. For the most part, the coffee is watered down and bland.

In the end, there is a never-ending amount of coffee on Syracuse’s campus, available at all hours of the day. No matter the weather, a good cup of coffee is sure to take the edge off.