The top five non-Starbucks coffee shops in Bloomington

There’s nothing quite like Bloomington coffee shops. If there’s one thing a townie like me knows, it’s how important coffee is in a college town like that which surrounds IU. For those of you who are new to town or who’ve lived here and haven’t dared to venture past Starbucks, there are a number of local places that serve great coffee, perfectly capture B-Town’s vibe, and are ideal for a night of studying.

Soma Coffeehouse

Soma welcomes coffee drinkers, tea drinkers, students, and just about anyone else you can think of. I don’t know what’s cooler.

If you like an earthy atmosphere, chill vibes, and good coffee (or tea), Soma is the place for you.

The PourHouse Café

The PourHouse has a special place in Bloomington. It not only captures the city’s chill vibes and quenches the very real caffeine thirst — this non-profit shop also has live music, local art and FREE WI-FI. If the free wi-fi isn’t enough to pull you in, then the unique artwork and live music surely will.

The Runcible Spoon

While The Runcible Spoon isn’t always thought of as a café, they pride themselves on their freshly roasted coffee. Their cozy, quirky environment makes it a great place to drink tea, coffee, or hot chocolate. The whimsically decorated space offers breakfast all day and the option to enjoy your drink outside on their patio. Whether you choose to sit inside by the library or sit outside and enjoy the green scenery, you can’t go wrong with the Spoon.

Hopscotch Coffee

If you have an adventurous side to you and enjoy drinking coffee in a chill atmosphere, Hopscotch is the way to go. The shop has a cool ambience suited for both work and hanging out, and it provides customers with adventurous flavor options for those who really want to try something outside of their comfort zone.

Uel Zing Coffee Shop

If you need a little zing in your morning coffee to get you through lecture (or life), go to Uel Zing Coffee Shop. Their signature ZING blend is chocolatey, smokey, and has a little kick to it. Even if you don’t need some ZING, the fresh hot and cold brews are enough to make you want to come back to this urban coffee shop for more.

Remember kids, drink (caffeine) responsibly.