The best places to get coffee in Blacksburg
Where to grab some caffeine on and off campus
New to Virginia Tech? Are you a coffee drinker, lover or addict? Here’s a quick guide to save you the trouble of getting a crappy cup from your Keurig or waiting in that endless Dunkin’ line at Owens.
Practically every college student drinks coffee. If you’re an incoming freshman and are thinking, “oh, I’ll never get a cup,” you’re dead wrong. Finals week will roll around and you’ll soon find yourself with a hot (or iced) one in your hand behind your laptop.
Deet’s Place
Source: VT Dining Services
Stop by Dietrick Hall for a latte and pastry. Deet’s holds a Golden Cup Certification and carries 30 varieties of tea in addition to their in-house roasted coffee. If you’re a freshman in Pritchard or West AJ, you’ll more than likely come by at 11pm for some ice cream or a cappuccino during your study break.
Dolci e Caffé
Source: VT Dining Services
A European-style café in Turner Place with gelato, self-serve coffee, a bakery and crepes. It has just one of many long lines in the dining hall, mostly because of its quality pastries and espresso drinks. In a hurry? Just head to the grab-and-go section for the best dark roast coffee on campus.
Lefty’s Main Street Grille
Lefty’s is arguably the best place in Blacksburg to get breakfast, and its coffee is a big reason why. Located near First & Main shopping center, Lefty’s offers some unique dishes that are second to none. Stop by on the weekend for a guacamole omelet and a cup of their locally roasted house blend.
Next Door Bake Shop
Located next to Wicked Taco on Turner Street, Next Door Bake Shop is a locally owned and operated coffee shop with a variety of coffees, espresso drinks, teas, cupcakes, specialty desserts and their famous paninis. Their Asian Fusion menu offers Thai inspired breakfast & lunch sandwiches if you want to try something new!
Social House
Located in the oldest home in Blacksburg, Social House is operated by the same owner of Next Door Bake Shop. Go downtown to get a cup of coffee with one of their breakfast bagels, or stop by on the weekend for their Afternoon Tea menu.
Mill Mountain Coffee & Tea
A casual coffee shop on N. Main Street with baked goods, breakfast and specialty drinks, it’s a great place to get a latte with a friend, especially when it gets cold during the winter months.
Idego Coffee
I saved the best for last. Idego doesn’t serve much besides coffee, and they honestly don’t need to. Founder Paul De Arras and his wife worked in the corporate ladder in Colorado before hitting the reset button. They spent a whole year in coffee training and tasting to prepare for the entrepreneurial move, and it sure has paid off. With great customer service, careful attention-to-detail and excellent coffee, Idego has earned the title of best coffee shop in Virginia in my opinion.
Idego’s intimate seating allows for a great study spot before or after class, and is open until 8pm every day for those late nights at Newman Library. Located next to the UPS store in downtown Blacksburg, it’s only a short walk from campus. They also give customers a card that is signed each time you place an order, with 10 signatures equaling one free cup of coffee. Whether it’s grabbing a to-go cup on the way to campus or spending a few hours on that research paper, I highly recommend this shop.