Welcome back to AMP’s food review! This month, we took a look at local indie coffee shops in the hopes of finding your new favorite study spot.

The Spin

The Spin Coffee and Vinyl is the kind of coffee shop designed for its regulars. There’s a cramped bulletin board, covered in flyers for local bands, support groups, and silent book clubs. Half of the shop is separated into a miniature record store, separated haphazardly alphabetically and by genre. There’s a cereal bar in the corner ($4), and cup ramen varieties stacked next to it. 

I ordered my usual, a lavender latte ($5) and something extra, a pumpkin snickerdoodle ($3.50). My best friend ordered an iced sugar-free caramel latte($5) and a homemade guava poptart ($4). While waiting for our food, we browsed the record section, which was, to no surprise, about 80% produced before the new millennium. 

When our food arrived, both of us were impressed. Both lattes were incredibly foamy, cutting the bitterness of the coffee. My lavender latte was, as usual, subtle but excellent. The sugar-free caramel got a tentative thumbs up. (“It doesn’t taste like sadness, but doesn’t taste much like caramel either.”) The pastries, however, were another story. My pumpkin snickerdoodle was one of the best cookies I have ever had. Perfectly seasoned, chewy, and so, so dense. If you also want to experience this specific heaven, act fast – the cookies are seasonal and locally sourced, so this beaut of a baked good won’t be available past October.

 We chatted with the manager while eating– a man named Chris, who, noticing us taking pictures, offered to make us a drink I had asked about prior on the house, a John Wayne ($4): an extremely photogenic drink made of a layer of sweetener, a layer of espresso, and a layer of milk, meant to be taken straight down the hatchet like a shot. I have never in my life had a drink that was more exactly the sum of its parts.

I cannot recommend The Spin enough. While the ambiance may be the initial draw, the food and drink more than earns it its place as my go-to off campus study spot.

Food: 8/10 Price: 8/10 Vibes: 10/10

Peace Middle East Cafe

Five minutes from campus, Peace Middle East Cafe is a Palestinian-owned cafe with the fanciest cafe food you’ve ever seen. Walking in, the intricate gold and black decor makes the place seem older, like it opened 20 years ago instead of 3. It was empty when I arrived, at a respectable 11:30 AM, save for the woman running the cafe, who showed me how to use the conspicuous, shockingly white electronic kiosk to order, which blended into its surroundings about as well as a Mormon at a pride parade. 

Their menu was as extensive as it was appetizing, with sections listed for fancy toasts, crepes, and every sort of carbohydrate imaginable. Including, to my surprise, an extensive alcohol list. Tragically, they were out of most of their fall pastries, which I suppose is what I get for rising with the noonday sun. Instead, I ordered a pistachio croissant ($5.50) and the Yalla Habibi Iced, an iced latte with white chocolate and raspberry ($7).

My food was ready 10-15 minutes later, during which time I used their free Wi-Fi to get work done, as well as taking in the cafe, which seemed to be partially set up for a birthday party. “Hello Friends!” read the birthday sign. “This is [redacted]! I am turning 9 years old today and I would like to thank you all for being part of my special day. My wish this year is for Palestine to be free, and for all the kids around the world to be happy and safe with their parents in their homes, not tents.” 

When my food arrived, my immediate thought was that I wasn’t in a high enough tax bracket to eat it. My latte was flecked with rose petals, and my croissant was enormous and served covered in pistachio drizzle. It was, in a word, Instagrammable. My croissant was exactly as good as it looked. The warm drizzle accented the incredibly flaky texture of the pastry, as well as its nutty filling. I will think about it minimum once a week for the rest of my life. My latte was similarly excellent, balancing rich, thick white chocolate syrup with the deep bitterness of the roast itself. It was, however, closer to a rose latte than a raspberry, which I have no complaints about, but would have been nice to know. 

Overall, Peace Middle East Cafe was initially a bit overwhelming with its sterile ordering system and biblically sized menu, but more than proved itself with its wonderful fare.

Food: 10/10 Price: 6/10 Vibes: 7/10