The best coffee to get on campus

by Aliana Potter ’24, Staff Writer

Photo courtesy of CNN.

Hamilton students reeled this past spring at the news that the beloved Café Opus would not reopen this fall. Several months later, that devastating news was followed by the much quieter departure of Euphoria, the second on-campus cafe. Now, Hamilton boasts two new on-campus cafés — The Toast and FoJo Beans — as well as coffee options in McEwen and Commons. Caffeinated beverages are a staple for almost any college student staying up to study long into the night, so the quality, availability and price of a cup of joe is of utmost importance. McEwen and Commons provide little to no competition when put up against the on-campus cafés, as all they offer is hot coffee.

McEwen Dining Hall. Photo courtesy of Hamilton College.

McEwen offers a much wider selection of flavors compared to Commons, including Irish cream, mocha java, raspberry and pumpkin spice, although their presence is unpredictable. This gives them an edge over Commons which typically only serves original blend coffee and decaf. However, both McEwen and Commons have a starting edge over the The Toast and FoJo, as their coffee is covered on Hamilton dining plans and consequently does not cost a single additional penny. (My personal favorite drink from Commons is to mix the original blend coffee with the hot chocolate for a tasty mocha).

The Toast, one of the privately-owned cafes on campus. Photo courtesy of Hamilton College.

Toast, the next step up from McEwen, serves both iced and hot coffee. They do not offer as many flavors as McEwen, but their lack of offerings in this department is more than made up for by the iced coffee they provide. Students have rumored that The Toast is bound by FoJo’s contract to not serve any form of espresso, which puts them at a disadvantage. However, what they lack in lattes and cappuccinos, they make up for in delicious pastries. My personal favorite is the chocolate croissant, but their macaroons and breakfast sandwiches have also found renown on campus. The Toast is open for brunch on the weekend, a feature much reminiscent of the old campus favorite of Opus’s Sunday brunch. In the past they have served soup, paninis and other delicious creations, all a great addition to their usual menu; this selection rotates daily, but their quality is consistent. Toast also boasts very low prices: their iced coffee is under $3, which has been a hit amongst penny-pinching college students. Toast’s one flaw is their limited coffee menu; although their hot and cold coffee are delicious, their Cazenovia location serves a much wider variety of caffeinated beverages that our campus has not had the opportunity to indulge. Hopefully, they will rotate those drinks in at some point in the coming months.

One of the two on-campus locations of FoJo Beans. Photo courtesy of Hamilton College.

Finally, the winner of best on-campus coffee is FoJo Beans. FoJo serves up a delectable menu of coffee, unique espresso drinks, tasty homemade treats, sandwiches and soup. Their classic drink is the Icy Alex, a traditional cold-brew coffee with a unique twist that keeps students coming back for more. Cold-brew, among many of FoJo’s other coffee and tea beverages, is unavailable anywhere else on campus, giving them a monopoly on many of Hamilton’s most coveted drinks. Their gourmet grilled cheeses are also a hit, especially the Pineapple Brie, another dish that echos back to the times of Opus and mango brie. While FoJo’s prices are significantly higher than other on-campus options, their food and beverages are well worth the increased cost. They also boast two locations, giving them a leg up in terms of convenience — you can grab a coffee whether you are a STEM student holed up in the Taylor Science Center (SCCT) or an Econ kid finishing up class in the Kirner-Johnson Building (KJ). FoJo South was lucky enough to maintain the comfy seating previously associated with Opus, a major plus for students. It is easy to sink into the vintage looking couches and enjoy a warm cup of FoJo hot chocolate. To any new FoJo customer looking to uncover their future go-to order, I would recommend the salted caramel iced latte. It is much richer than other lattes, but has a bittersweet tang from the caramel flavoring. Truth be told, though, you truly cannot go wrong with any of the menu items.

My one wish for the new cafés is the return of Opus’ beloved 7:00–10:00 p.m. hours, a necessity for any late-night studier!