Coffee in Connecticut: The best places to go

Carly Mac Manus, Beat Reporter
January 28, 2021

Being back in school means being back on that caffeine addiction. If you function off of coffee like I do, this article is for you! My roommates and I were bored and had nothing to do, so here we are leaning towards what we know best — coffee. 

Here we have a self-guided coffee tour, and whether it’s a weekend activity or a self-care day, I think this is definitely worth your time.

Cheshire Coffee located at 210 Old Towne Road in Cheshire, CT. (Courtesy of Yelp)

Our first stop is Cheshire Coffee, just a few minutes from campus and worth the price. My favorite pick this month is their French Toast Latte. It’s probably way more calories than a cup of coffee should have, but let me tell you it was worth it!

Our next stop is Common Grounds right on Dixwell Avenue.

Common Grounds located at 2460 Dixwell Avenue in Hamden, CT. (Courtesy of Facebook)

This was where I got my classic Caramel Iced Coffee, and it was divine. Solid and reliable, I would 10/10 go to Common Grounds again. They also have a wide variety of teas, coffees and sweets which looked too good to eat. 

Back in Cheshire, we then went to The Bean Coffee Roasters. An Iced Cafe Mocha was my coffee of choice and this was a classic, basic and good way to go. It was a little far for something I enjoy at Au Bon Pain on campus, but supporting small businesses is always the move!

The Bean Coffee Roasters located at 118 South Main Street in Cheshire, CT. (Courtesy of The Bean Coffee Roasters)

I had to stop at Dunkin on the way to my next spot and get my favorite, a Caramel Iced Coffee with oat milk. With several locations around Hamden and Cheshire, it’s always a classic in my book!

Lastly, we went to New Haven for Blue State Coffee.

Blue State Coffee located in several places in New Haven, CT. (Courtesy of Zomato)

They have several locations and a wide variety of options on the menu. But, after a day of coffee, I couldn’t stuff myself with a heavy latte. So I stuck to a black iced coffee, and let me tell you it was worth it. I usually don’t drink much black coffee, but this was refreshing.

Five cups of coffee and no sleep before the first day of classes may have not been the best idea, but I definitely don’t regret it. Next time you’re bored on a weekend, hop in the car with your friends, go for a drive, get some fresh air, grab some coffee (or tea if that’s what you like) because they’re sure there are plenty of options in the area!

Enjoy and have a great semester Bobcats!