I’ll admit it – I love Starbucks. Many an afternoon, you’ll find me studying at a roundtable, vanilla latte in hand. But sometimes a girl needs a change.
While franchises are great, it feels even better to buy local! Supporting local businesses is much more than a trend. It’s a perfect way to help out the people in your community – just think of it as coffee with a conscience.
Next time you need a java fix, try going downtown instead of heading uptown. Fredericton has an easy to navigate downtown district with a great selection of cafés! These places get my seal of approval – they’re independent, student friendly, and delicious.
Sweet Belgian Desire Café – 732 Charlotte St.
When you walk in, the sweet smell of Belgian waffles is the first thing to hit you. And it gets even better! Sweet Belgian Desire is so much more than a café. Besides providing delicious lattes and macchiatos, SBD is the ideal place for a morning after brunch.
With portions big enough to share (banana split crepe, anyone?), this place lends itself to a girl’s day out, or a sweet date night. Located in the Charlotte Street Arts Centre, it’s a short walk from the downtown center. But trust me, it’s totally worth it.
Try this: The Café Mexicano, a sweet mix of caramel, chocolate, espresso, and cinnamon. It’s music for your taste buds!
Reads Café & Newsstand – 435 King St.
Need to put the finishing touches on your term paper? There’s no better place to go than this! Comfy leather seats, big windows, and plenty of caffeine make studying here a treat.
In addition to the coffee, tea, and homemade sweets, Reads also has a huge selection of magazines and newspapers. Now you can flip through the latest issue of Glamour while you sip your espresso.
An added bonus: the baristas can sugar-free almost any drink on the menu. Health-conscious collegiettes rejoice!
Try this: The Cookie Dough Latte – frothy and sweet, and can be made sugar-free!
Cedar Tree Café – 418 Queen St.
This has an atmosphere fit for unwinding after a tiring Saturday morning browsing the farmer’s market. A chill wooden interior filled with local art, Cedar Tree Café has authentic Lebanese dishes like stuffed grape leaves and tabouleh. Even better, they use local produce!
Cedar Tree also offers a green smoothie! Made daily with fresh fruits and veggies, it’s also a perfect pick-me-up after a morning run. For those who aren’t gaga for green, fear not. There’s still a menu full of espressos and lattes to satisfy your coffee craving.
Try this: The Latte Bowl – a whopping three shots of espresso. Not for the faint of heart!
Coffee & Friends – 415 King St.
We all get hit with a cheesecake craving sooner or later. Next time you have the insatiable appetite for all things sweet, swing by this King Street café. Between the yummy flavored lattes, ice cream sundaes, and yes, even cheesecake, you’ll be hard-pressed to make up your mind.
When the weather gets warmer, step out onto the patio with an iced coffee. Or, if the mood hits you, get a big scoop of ice cream. You only live once, right?
Try this: The Chocolate Monkey, a hot chocolate with a hint of banana.