When you need a pick-me-up, but also are have a refined and dainty palate, Bwog’s got you covered. Here’s my ranking of the drip coffees at coffee shops on campus.

Disclaimer: Apologies up front for my very pretentious coffee descriptions–I got really into it.

Left to Right: Blue Java, UP, Joe’s

1st place: UP Coffee

Major notes: Sweet smell/pepper/cinnamon/astringent, but pleasant. How coffee should make you feel.

All in all, a very nice coffee experience. It’s served piping hot, and is the heartiest cup of coffee. It’s the only coffee that would be completely fine to drink black. I’m a fan.

The price: $2.72 with tax for 12 ounces, or about $0.23 an ounce. Not the cheapest, but it was the most Worth It for its price. 4/5

2nd place: Joe’s

Major notes: Smells great (best aromas by far, just go around sniffing this one and trying to absorb the caffeine through the air)/chocolate/strong aftertaste

This Joe’s was kind of a let down. Both their Dodge and NoCo cafes boast really lovely locations, but the coffee itself did not live up to the setting. It wasn’t a super strong coffee flavor, and was a little watery and thin. It did, however, have a nice progression, from initial taste to aftertaste, and wasn’t as jarring as some of the other cups (*cough Blue Java cough*).

The price: $2.18 with tax for 8 ounces, or about $0.27 per ounce. The most expensive of the coffees I tried.

Of note: If you go to Joe’s, I would skip the drip coffee entirely, and instead opt for their espresso drinks. They are almost twice as expensive, but if you’re making the trek out to NoCo for the view, I’d invest in a good cup of coffee. I can attest that the latte is fantastic. 2.5/5

3rd place: Blue Java

Major notes: Smoky/woodsy/bitter/burnt

I was not a fan of this cup of coffee. It somehow managed to be both watery and very bitter, two tasting notes that should cancel each other out but don’t. The location can’t be beat though, in terms of convenience. If you’re up late studying in Butler, leaving the library to get a cup of coffee just might not be possible. It does inject the maximum caffeine to the brain possible, but a drip from Java’s is a bumpy ride.

Price: $1.96 with tax for 10 ounces, or $0.19 per ounce. The cheapest of all the coffees. 1/5

Honorary mention: Dining Hall Coffee

If you’re really not feeling dropping any amount of cash on a cup of coffee, use one of your precious swipes to get into a dining hall and enjoy unlimited amount of very mediocre coffee. Ferris coffee was by far the blandest of the coffees I tried, but if you can get someone with a hefty meal plan to smuggle you out a thermos full of liquid energy, go for it.