Whether it’s to kickstart a morning or re-energize for class, coffee is essential to every high school student. While Starbucks is quick and convenient, it’s always exciting to explore local coffee shops in your area. Indie-style shops not only offer a variety of flavors, but they can also set the tone with a certain aesthetic. As a coffee fanatic, I set out to find the best places to grab a drink in the locale. To finalize my judgements, I created a rating system based on four components: uniqueness, taste, worth, and atmosphere. Uniqueness asks the question, “How standard/different are the choices? Are there any unique coffee creations?” Taste is weighed on a personal preference of flavor, sweetness, and etc. Worth judges the cost of the coffee based on its uniqueness and taste. Atmosphere explores the environment of the coffee shop; will students enjoy completing school work at this location? Each coffee shop will be rated out of 5 coffee beans. Here are my top three favorites in the Peninsula!

Never Too Latte

San Bruno

Uniqueness: Never Too Latte deviated from a traditional coffee menu, incorporating “hip trends” such as Horchata Mocha and Hazelnut Latte.

Taste: I ordered a lavender latte, which hit spot on with the flowery notes. Although it was a tiny bit too sweet for me, the smooth and creamy aftertaste was addictive.

Worth: Although the medium coffee was slightly larger than a Starbucks Grande, I personally would refer a cheaper alternative to $5.15 for a drink.

Atmosphere: The space provided was warm and welcoming; the booths were filled with cushions for comfortable seating. I was charmed by the rustic setting and felt at ease while working to coffeehouse music.

Rating: ⅗ coffee beans

Philz Coffee

Burlingame

Uniqueness: Unlike any coffee shop I’ve visited, Philz Coffee aims to achieve a more personalized experience for its customers. You order by visiting a barista at the counter who will adjust factors such as cream and sweetness. Don’t expect the menu to be filled with artificial syrups either! The menu is interesting, because it provides specially curated blends to achieve different flavors. “New Manhattan” tastes like floral cherry, while “Tesora” tastes like a mix of caramel, nuts, and butter.

Taste: I ordered the “Philtered Soul” which was a blend of hazelnut and chocolate. Think of a cross between a mocha and Ferrero Rocher with hints of tartness. The bitterness was just right, and the aftertaste was amazing.

Worth: $3.67 for a size-comparable to that of a Starbucks Grande-is not a bad price at all!

Atmosphere: The mood of the shop was lively and exciting; the fragrant aroma of coffee was pleasant as well. While the inside area was nice, I preferred to work outside, where the chattering acted as background noise.

Rating: ⅘ coffee beans

Baron Barista

Palo Alto

Uniqueness: The menu offered less than 15 options, all of which consisted of classics. The only exceptions were the Lavender Latte and Matcha Latte.

Taste: The Lavender Latte tasted exactly like the flower! Perfectly sweet with bitter undertones, the coffee was creamy, yet not overwhelmingly rich.

Worth: $5 for a smaller than average medium-sized coffee is on the pricey side, but the flavor has me sold. Take my money.

Atmosphere: Bright and spacious, Baron’s Barista was the perfect place to do my schoolwork at. The aesthetics included: hanging succulents, white marble, and minimalistic lighting. The rumble of the coffee machines and the soft background musics was a personal favorite of mine. I was also motivated to complete my work, as Stanford students from Palo Alto surrounded me.

Rating: ⅘ coffee beans

Final Verdict: Taking in uniqueness, taste, worth, and atmosphere into consideration, my winner would be Philz Coffee. The ordering process was truly a fun experience for me, and I appreciated the concept of non-artificial blends. For the given volume and quality, I’d say the price-when compared to Starbucks-is worth my money. I would definitely recommend the Philtered Soul, and I enjoyed sipping on one as I worked on my college applications in the quaint, outdoors space. Happy coffee searching!