Coffee corner: Options for students

By Brooke Brinker, Contributing writer 

Every college student loves coffee! Here are some unique coffee places to try out, five to twenty minutes away from Saint Leo University.

The Treehouse Mercantile is in Dade City. On the outside, it is an elegant green color, with a table and chairs outside. Inside, there are brown rustic chairs, a beautiful bright blue and yellow print on the wall, and even a shop!

They have mugs, candles, home décor, flowers, and a snack section. It’s the perfect place to do homework while sipping a delicious vanilla latte. 

They even have high-top chairs where you can sit and look out the window and get a great view of the town. 

The service is incredible as well. They don’t have many employees, but they get the drinks and food out to their customers extremely fast. 

The coffee or tea comes in a pottery-type cup, and their coffee is creamy, silky, and fills you up! 

The bakery items are placed in the front where you order, and the bagel is as flavorful, tasty, and incredibly filling as the coffee. They give you the perfect portion of food for such an affordable price. 

A unique aspect of the store is its pottery classes! You can register for them online if that is something you are interested in. 

Overall, The Tree House Mercantile is a fantastic coffee shop only 10 minutes away from Saint Leo. Grab your friends and go check it out!

Another great coffee shop to head to is A Cup of Organic. It is a small yellow coffee shop on the side of the road in San Antonio, only a couple minutes from Saint Leo! You can get a quick bite and a smoothie, tea, or coffee before class.

It is adorable, healthy, and cheap. There are many options to pick from and even a drive-thru. This place is different, fun, and worth the walk or drive.

Their quote on the outside says, “The coffee that gives back.”

On their menu, they have hot and cold coffee options, fresh mango, and wild berry smoothies, and all of it is organic! They do have nonorganic possibilities as well, such as muffins, cookies, French toast, and different types of cream cheeses with bagels, such as garden veggies, honey cinnamon, and plain. 

The iced coffee is delicious and worth a try! You can get so much for less than 10 dollars. Their prices range from 2 to 4 dollars per item. 

It is the perfect place to grab a snack before a test and a great place if you like healthier options! 

The last coffee shop is a popular choice, Provisions Coffee and Kitchen. It is located in KRATE at the Grove in Wesley Chapel. 

It is a 20-minute drive to get there from the Saint Leo campus. They opened in 2016 and have drinks like the s’mores latte, a fan favorite. 

They also have seasonal coffee and food such as bagel bites, muffins, cinnamon rolls, and more. Additionally, they offer bigger portions such as acai bowls and avocado toast, which has everything bagel seasoning, olive oil, and a lemon to top it off. 

Provisions have a look-out window with high-top seats, similar to The Treehouse Mercantile. They have a merchandise table with shirts, hats, and bags for customers to purchase. 

This place is perfect for pictures as it is decorated with pink walls and a fancy couch.

“Our coffee shop is unique for two reasons. We make all our baked goods and breakfast in house, and our car related events,” said the owner of Provisions Coffee and Kitchen, Dana Morris.

Come on down to Provisions! Grab a fall drink, sit down and eat your bagel bites, take pictures, and walk around the Grove while you’re at it. 

These coffee shops are local and perfect for Saint Leo students. Come and try them out!