This week, Stefan Bordeianu, Pavle Djokic, and Josie Wadlow checked out three different coffee shops and determined which cup was a buy and which a bye. Because we actually bought these cups of coffee, we had to cap the price of each cup at $5.

Convive Coffee

Josie: Convive Coffee provides a friendly environment and appears to be the perfect place to get work done. The shop is on the smaller side but has enough tables inside for people to sit down and relax. I went the seasonal route and chose a hot pumpkin spice latte. The brewed in-house coffee made for a refreshing, strong taste, but the pumpkin seasoning could barely be tasted. For the quantity of coffee given to me, the $4.25 price was fair, but the quality was disappointing at that price. When I order a pumpkin flavored coffee, I expect to taste pumpkin. Convive’s atmosphere is nice, but the coffee is average. I would give this coffee shop a bye rating.

Pavle: Looking to get coffee while waiting for a movie or need somewhere to do some homework in a quiet place? Convive might be for you if you live near McCandless Crossing. I got a simple vanilla iced coffee that held its own, but for $5 it was a little steep. I would say that Convive is a situational coffee shop, but if you have to drive more than 10 minutes to get there it’s definitely not worth it, and I would personally give it a bye rating.

Stefan: Location is key! Convive Coffee is conveniently placed in McCandless Crossing, so it’s a great place to drop by before a movie or dinner. The coffee is also brewed in-house and is always poured fresh. I had the Nitro-coffee, which is coffee stored around an encasement of liquid nitrogen and served on tap. The liquid nitrogen gives the coffee an extremely smooth taste. However, I thought the coffee was too bitter, and it tasted really strong. The vibe at Convive is great, but the coffee is nothing special, so I would give it a bye rating.

Coffee Buddha

Josie: Hands down, Coffee Buddha is the place to be. It is particularly far from my house, but if I lived closer I would spend every day there. The vibe the shop gives off is like no other. Everything inside is so random, but so purposeful. The shop creates a mellow atmosphere and the workers there are friendly and easy to get along with. I was unsure what to choose, but the employee surprised me with one of her favorites (and now mine), the Cortado. Made up of foamed milk and espresso, it hit the spot. The Cortado proved to be the perfect, warm blend with just the right amount of caffeine. For anyone looking for a cup of coffee, Coffee Buddha is the place to go. I would give this shop a buy rating without hesitation.

Pavle: Prior to this review I had never been to Coffee Buddha so my only knowledge of the establishment was through word of mouth.  I had only heard excellent opinions about the Perrysville coffee shop. Upon entering I was greeted by an enthusiastic barista and an interesting interior. Some of the coffee names and types were quite exotic, so I took my time asking questions until I finally decided to choose a V60 Pourover, a type of single origin black coffee. Even more impressive was the price at around $3.60. I would definitely give Coffee Buddha a buy rating for anyone who wants to drink delicious coffee in a terrific environment.

Stefan: The coffee was amazing, and the ambiance of the coffee shop was even better! I had the “Good Morning Vietnam” coffee, which comprises coffee, milk, and Vietnamese spices. The aroma was delightful and warm, the coffee was hot, and it had a very smooth feel. However, the best part about Coffee Buddha is the atmosphere. The place has personality. Every time I go to Coffee Buddha, I find a new small detail that makes the place unique. I simply love the coffee shop and the coffee that complements it. I give it a strong buy rating.

Sheetz

Josie: Sheetz coffee is exactly what you would expect it to be. I ordered a small frozen caramel vanilla mocha, and it was subpar. I expected nothing more and nothing less from this gas station coffee. Of course, I would never choose this as my “go to” coffee, but if I needed a quick pick me up and was in a rush, I would not hesitate to stop at Sheetz. Although it is not my first choice, I would give my $3.20 cup of Sheetz coffee a buy rating.

Pavle: If you are expecting high quality coffee or atmosphere, do not go to Sheetz. If you are looking for cheap, reliable morning coffee, however, Sheetz can be perfect. I got a double espresso for about $2.30, and it was exactly what I was expecting: harsh, bland coffee that sure as heck gave me a jolt of energy. If Sheetz is on the way to work or school and you have trouble waking up in the morning, I would give them a buy rating as a solid alternative to cafeteria coffee.

Stefan: Sheetz was okay. A definite plus is that an iced latte is only $3.20. However, the coffee did not taste good, and you can get a much better ‘cup of joe’ for only fifty cents more at Coffee Buddha. Sheetz is a great gas station, but I would definitely not endorse traveling to a Sheetz just to buy coffee. I would give the coffee a bye rating.