Blue State Coffee: New Haven, CT

            Did the coffee taste better because it was on Yale University’s campus? Yes, yes it did and I won’t let anyone convince me otherwise. But with that being said, the coffee was well above par, as were their lattes that came holding a newly created masterpiece right there in the foam. 

            With two Blue State Coffee locations nestled on either side of the campus, Yale students have the perfect study rooms. Although it was Yale’s spring break, the café was still jam packed with local coffee addicts, granola-eating-anti-bathing ex-peace core members, and the occasional Dr-to-be, I'd-save-your-life-Sophie-but-I-know-you-don't-actually-need-CPR Yale student. My group and I slid right in with the other wallflowers perfectly. So much so that I found myself quickly morphing into the Yale student world. I began talking to my friends as if I attended the school. "Yes, well if you turn left out of here you're gonna be on Yale's campus. It's just simply beautiful and if you take a right out of here believe it or not you're gonna be right there on Yale's campus. There are buildings, and other buildings all of which are Yale. Those brick and stone things, Yale. Beautiful, I know." Adapting into unknown cultures is kind of a gift of mine. 

        With a part of their profit going to charity and their mission overall rather “green,” do you really need another reason to stop by Blue State Coffee? If so, I’d say the boy at the window is personally enough of one for me. Or possibly the twenty-one year old girl with brown curly hair sitting with a few of her friends waiting for the perfect Yale boy to come in, swoop her into his arms and carry her into the sunset whispering “I’ll pay off your college debt.” But then again, I guess I'm just a hopeless romantic.

        With locations ranging from Yale’s campus to Rhode Island to Boston, you've got to be here on the East Coast to grab a sip of this heavenly delight in one of their shops.  Luckily you can still have their coffee at home by ordering it off their website. Please note that the beautifully perfected foam masterpieces are not included with the online models. Nor are the attractive male baristas. You wouldn't want to miss out on a chance to embarrass yourself like I do everywhere I go. So why not make the trip to go to the cafe in person. Maybe I dropped most/all of the change from my change purse on to the counter  when paying. Maybe I couldn't find where the milk was for the coffee and wandered around like a lost (21 year old) child until someone else with coffee led me to the source. Maybe.

         With sandwiches, lattes, coffees, and teas, there really isn't anything else you’ll need while studying, reading, or catching up with friends. After the coffee reached all the darkest parts of my soul which is indeed hard to do, it was time to say goodbye. With most shops open around 7 am and closing around midnight, you simply have no excuse to pass by this place. With a polished look, inspirational quotes written on every large open surface and enough tables to satisfy even the most stressful of midterm seasons, it’s a great coffee rest stop.  It was a pleasure mixing into the Yale students’ world if only for an hour or two. Will I randomly be hanging out on Yale’s campus even though I don’t go there, Blue State Coffee in hand? Yes, how else does one meet their soul mate? Give to charity, help local farmers, and get energized for the day all by simply making your morning cup a Blue State one.