One of the best campus coffee shops I know is on the UCSD campus where I had the great fortune to spend a month this summer (much more on that coming soon.) The place is called Perks. Its not the coolest place to hang out. It shares space with the campus bookstore, the lighting is industrial, and the furniture is not conducive to lingering. But I don’t know of any other campus cafe so focused on the quality of the coffee.
The assistant manager’s name is Jason and he is a serious barista. It is apparent that he has also trained most of the regular staff. Their espresso roast is on the light side, a departure from the tendency toward over-roasting from Starbuck’s and Peets. They make drinks one at a time: the baristas are not multi-taskers. Listen to the sound as they steam milk. You don’t hear the usual bubbles-through-a-straw sound that must untrained baristas learn as the quick and easy way to make glue foam. And you see and taste the results.
Cheap Talk 
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October 30, 2009 at 8:03 pm
personal coffee maker
That looks like a beautiful cup of bean juice…artistic. Seriously, its attention to detail that makes a good one.
January 21, 2013 at 2:18 pm
Muthu
coffee beans that are ground start going stale ietldiammey. It literally takes only 15 minutes for coffee beans to lose a large part of their taste after they’ve been ground. When you buy instant or preground coffee, you are getting a product that has already been ground for months, and will taste extremely stale and gross. People who buy things like foldgers or starbucks via only do so because they haven’t yet tasted good fresh coffee beans.
November 6, 2009 at 4:41 pm
Phil Coffee
When I was in San Deigo last summer, I had to visit the campus and I had the pleasure of stopping by this cafe. Jeff is right, if this place could franchise, I would be a regular.
December 20, 2009 at 1:01 am
Braun Coffee Maker
It looks amazing this coffee shop, Is really worth a visit.
January 28, 2010 at 5:48 am
Coffee Lover
That sounds like a great place to put a coffee joint! I didn’t have a coffee place at my college…only a lone machine that “makes” coffee for you…least there was something tho!
-Jessika
March 4, 2010 at 8:31 am
Arthur Cundy
That cup of coffee is a masterpiece!
June 15, 2010 at 4:24 pm
Jason Gurney
I am truly honored by the observation! A lot of hard work goes into each cup and the cafe as a whole. It’s really humbling to know that people are starting to notice and appreciate quality…no matter where said quality happens to be. Much love!
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