Wondering if that $40 is worth it? Look no further than this guide from a Pret-skeptic turned fan.

If you’re anything like me, you overthink absolutely everything, including whether or not to get a Pret subscription. After a semester spending an egregious amount of money on iced vanilla lattes from just about every coffee shop on the Upper West Side, I entertained the possibility of getting a subscription. But I still wasn’t convinced. I decided to wait until my friends got one, so I could test the benefits on their dime, but eventually not having one became more annoying than buying one, so I caved. And I don’t regret it at all. 

Pros

  1. Everything feels free…

… except on the first day of the month, when I get that harrowing notification that yet another $40 has been drained from my bank account. 

  1. The best study spot 

I have literally made the corner stool behind the pickup shelf my desk, and it’s become one of my favorite places to study before, between, and after my classes. 

  1. 20% of the entire menu 

This is an underrated benefit of a Pret subscription. As someone who always wants a sweet treat, but doesn’t want to pay upwards of $10 (insane) for a snack, this comes in clutch more often than I’d like to admit. 

  1. If you don’t want 5 drinks a day, you can split the subscription with friends!

I don’t do this due to my severe caffeine addiction, but if you’re more of a one-latte-a-day type of person, this may be the solution for you! Doing this would save you even more money, and you would still get all the other benefits! Be careful, though- you only get one free drink every 30 minutes. 

Cons

  1. Your order is pretty basic

If your regular order is super simple, I mean like black coffee and cream simple, I probably wouldn’t recommend the subscription. If this is more your vibe, a dining hall or Liz’s should suffice. 

  1. You aren’t addicted to caffeine

Unless you also love fun fruity drinks in addition to your daily cup of coffee, it’s honestly not worth it to only use it once a day.

  1. You don’t have time to waste waiting for your order

The beauty and the curse of Pret being so centrally located is that it’s always packed with Columbia students, making wait times ridiculously long. The pick up wait times are never accurate, and I have had many drinks stolen off the shelf, forcing me to wait for the opportunity to awkwardly ask the baristas to remake it for me. If you often find yourself pressed for time and can’t plan around this inconvenience, maybe stick with another option.

Overall, I love having a Pret subscription, and for me, all the benefits outweigh the cons. With just one month left in the semester, this is the perfect time to try it out! 

Pret via Bwog Staff