Many college students live and die by one of the most commonly used drug in America: caffeine.
In coffee, tea, pop, candy and now even in gum and soap, it's the most accessible stimulant available. And while available in a wide array of mediums, most people ingest caffeine through their late-night study-buddy, coffee.
At UB, the primary pipeline for coffee is the centrally located Starbucks, which started in 1971 with a single coffee shop in Seattle and now has 9,671 locations worldwide.
There is also one directly across from South Campus. They certainly know where their market is.
But is Starbucks the king here? Buffalo has a multitude of small coffee shops, including the popular SpOt Coffee, Higher Grounds and Caf?(c) Aroma, to name just a few.
On campus, their biggest competitor is Perks, in the Ellicott Complex. This year there has been a change in ownership, and Finger Lakes Coffee Roastery has taken over.
The layout of the shop is very different from Starbucks - there are large couches, a TV and tables, and it's very quiet.
"I come here once or twice a week," said Deanna Kimbel, a senior communication and geography major. "I like this better (than Starbucks) because there's more space, it's more comfortable. Starbucks is always so crowded."
Kimbel said she herself isn't a coffee drinker, preferring to stick with chai tea.
How does Finger Lakes stack up to Starbucks?
"They have different flavors like chocolate and vanilla, and it's cheaper I think," Kimbel said.
Finger Lakes coffee is in fact cheaper, with a medium regular coffee costing $1.50 compared to $1.74 at Starbucks, for their "grande." Gourmet drinks are also cheaper, with a medium caramel macchiato costing $3.25 at Finger Lakes and $3.60 at Starbucks. Students can also use both Campus Cash and Dining Dollars at Finger Lakes, while Starbucks only accepts Campus Cash as an alternative to cash or credit cards.
However, there are those UB students who are loyal to Starbucks, including Tricia Arend, a junior English and psychology major.
"I don't like Starbucks' coffee, but all their other drinks I like," she said.
Arend is practically a Starbucks expert. When asked how often she comes to Starbucks, she laughed saying, "Like, every day, sadly enough."
She said she used to go to Perks when she lived in the dorms, but the proximity of Starbucks makes it very attractive.
"It's right here, and most of my classes are in Clemens," said Arend.
"I wouldn't go that far for a cup of coffee," said her friend Stacey Meritt, a senior communication and marketing major.
Rocco Paone, a senior psychology major and Starbucks employee, said the coffee shop's central location creates the busy, upbeat atmosphere, an atmosphere in which he prefers to work.
"The atmosphere is really good. Working with the people is very beneficial, it makes me want to stay here in Buffalo," Paone said. "It's also good because it keeps you busy, you'll always have something to do."
Much like Finger Lakes, the employee benefits at Starbucks can be very nice, according to Paone.
"The benefits at Starbucks are very, very good," he said. "You get a free bag of coffee or tea each week, free drinks before, during and after your shift, and after working here for a while you get healthcare."
But there are other benefits to Finger Lakes.
"Starbucks is expensive and is usually overcrowded, but Finger Lakes usually isn't, especially in the morning," said Kerri Engle, a junior economics major. "I went there this morning because I wanted faster service. It took me ten minutes to get my cappuccino one morning at Starbucks."
Sara Paur, a senior psychology major, also said she prefers the atmosphere of the Finger Lakes shop.
"I liked it because it's quiet and comfy. It's a good place to study, whereas Starbucks is always so busy that it's hard to get anything done," Paur said. "Plus, they're incredibly expensive."
She used to frequent the shop when it was known as Perks, when she lived in Ellicott.
While many students seem to prefer the environment - as well as the cheaper prices - of the Finger Lakes Coffee Roastery, the distance keeps them away. It's too far for many students to drop in between classes, and for the students who don't live in Ellicott there is little to draw them so far from the academic spine.
"If (Finger Lakes) had a location on the Spine, I would definitely go there instead of Starbucks, even if just for the cheaper prices," said Paur.
Perhaps Finger Lakes should keep that in mind. When it comes to college students and coffee shops, if you build it, they will come.
Additional reporting by Siobhan A. Counihan
