As I’m sure most of you know, coffee and college students go hand and hand. While I always have a soft spot for my usual order at Dunkin’, I have found some new favorites here in Winston-Salem. My friends and I have made it a goal to try every coffee in the area, so here are our picks so far this year.
- Clutch Coffee
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Clutch Coffee has so much more than coffee. From funky latte flavors to smoothies to juices, the menu covered many different bases. I tried the Avalanche latte which had a white chocolate and vanilla flavor which was pretty good. It was not too overpowering and not too strong. However, my friends who tried the juices and smoothies were not the biggest fans, agreeing that Village Juice was better. If you want to make the 15-minute drive off campus to try for yourself, go for it!
- Camino Bakery
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While Camino has one of my favorite pastries ever, the Everything Swiss Croissant, the coffee doesn’t always live up to my hopes. It is super strong, which is definitely a plus, however, I am not a huge fan of the black coffee from here. However, I have friends who say the opposite and think it is one of the best they’ve ever had. Maybe I need to start exploring their menu a little more. But, try the Everything Swiss Croissant, you will not regret it.
- Dough Joe’s
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Dough Joe’s is just a quick and scenic walk from campus, making it a Wake Forest favorite. They have super yummy seasonal coffee flavors as well as the classics. I recently tried their French Toast latte which was super delicious. However, the thing to get at Dough Joe’s is the donuts. All made fresh and in-house, you can mix and match any glaze and topping you want. My personal favorite is the Earl Grey glaze with fruity pebbles. Super good!
- Bobby Boy Bakeshop
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Located a little past Reynolda Village, Bobby Boy Bakeshop was something super new to me and my friends. The coffee is super strong and has really good flavor mix-ins. They also do funky sodas as well. But, the bakery portion of Bobby Boy Bakeshop makes this place a must-visit. They have everything from the prosciutto and gruyere cheese sandwich, to freshly baked bread, to fancy desserts, and the bakery classics. My favorite thing is the twice-baked almond croissant!
- Chad’s Chai
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Chad’s Chai is one of the stands at the Winston-Salem Farmers Market I went to a couple of weeks ago. While it wasn’t their full menu, the drinks that they had at the market were really good. I ended up trying their lavender matcha latte which was amazing. I usually don’t get matcha, however, this was a nice change of pace. Of course, this wasn’t really “coffee”, but I will be adding Chad’s Chai to my list of places to visit.
- Krankies
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Krankies has been one of my favorite places to visit since freshman year. Their coffee is always stellar and the people there are always fun to talk to. However, Krankies has more than just its location downtown. They have an airstream that was converted into a small coffee shop. It is located right next to Bobby Boy Bakeshop and definitely a place to check out. It is covered in a ton of stickers and has a nice vibe.
- Known Coffee
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Known coffee is for sure my top choice. It is located at Campus Gas, a five-minute walk down Polo Road. Campus Gas is usually known for their Sunday Brunch and good food, however, the coffee is a definite must. It is strong, but not overpowering and is great to sip on. They also have outdoor seating and wifi if you are looking for a new study spot and an escape from campus!