With October upon us, students may have noticed that the leaves have begun to fall, temperatures are finally dropping and midterms are looming, with all of these signs pointing to the fall season officially being upon us. Coffee is the seasonable prescription for sweater weather and all-nighters. While Port City Java is close to every NC State student’s heart, Hillsborough Street boasts plenty of coffee shops of its own within walking distance of campus. Here are some popular spots to check out next time you need a reason to take a break and get off campus.
Global Village Organic Coffee
With a sign hanging behind the counter that reads, “Welcome Home NC State,” Global Village has welcomed NC State students into their warm, global-inspired space to cram before midterms and happily supplied the fuel necessary to power them through since 2000. Serving a selection of organic coffee, teas, pastries and paninis at its location across from Patterson Hall, this spot is popular among NC State students and faculty alike.
Price range: $
Location: 2428 Hillsborough Street
Hours: 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday; closed on Sunday.
Closest Wolfline Stop: Founders Dr. at Lampe Dr. (Patterson Building)
Cup A Joe
Cup A Joe has been a go-to spot for a morning cup of joe before 8:30 a.m. classes since 1991.
Dave Sullivan, the owner of Cup A Joe, spoke about some of the patrons of the restaurant.
“We have one particular group of retired and active NCSU faculty that occupies the front table every morning. And they have been since 1992,” Sullivan said. “Many grads from the past 30 years know they can stop in and see past teachers and friends any morning at Cup A Joe. Pretty cool vibe.”
Coffee is roasted daily at both their locations. Their Hillsborough Street location is just across the street from main campus and their Mission Valley location is a short walk away from both main campus and Centennial Campus. This spot embodies the archetypical college-town coffee shop with a classic vibe that can be hard to find in a booming metropolis like Raleigh. With a drink menu ranging from regular drip coffee to bubble tea and a selection of food to pair with it, Cup A Joe is worth a stop before class and after. And no one could blame you for planning your study schedule around their daily specials.
Price range: $
Location: Two locations: One at 3100 Hillsborough Street, and the other in Mission Valley at 2109-142 Avent Ferry Road.
Hours: The Hillsborough Street location is open from 6 a.m.-9 p.m. every day, while their Mission Valley location is open from 6 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 7 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday.
Closest Wolfline Stop: Hillsborough St. at Friendly Dr.
Jubala Coffee
Looking out onto the Belltower, Jubala Coffee is a trendy spot to grab a coffee and a bite to eat between classes. With a cool, modern aesthetic, this spot serves coffee that should keep the most serious of coffee connoisseurs coming back, and food offerings that will make it a favorite among those who have more of a taste for hot chocolate. Beans are sourced directly from farmers around the world and their coffee is roasted by Durham-based Counter Culture Coffee. The venue also sells biscuits and Liege waffles to go with your drink of choice. Additionally, their sandwiches (served from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.) are also an incentive to sneak off campus for lunch. Whether you’re craving caffeine for strictly utilitarian purposes or looking for a truly quality cup fit for an Instagram picture, Jubala Coffee has you covered.
Price range: $$
Location: Across from the Belltower at 2100 Hillsborough Street.
Hours: 7 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Closest Wolfline Stop: Hillsborough St at NCSU Belltower.
Liquid State
With a wine and beer menu in addition to traditional coffee shop fare, Liquid State is equipped with the necessary fuel to keep you ambulatory after pulling an all-nighter, as well offerings to help you either celebrate or come to terms with the outcome of that decision. Located on Hillsborough Street, across from the Gregg Museum of Art and Design, this full-service coffee bar is a cozy spot to hunker down with your notes for a few hours or get together with a friend or two. Along with their spectrum of drink offerings, they also have an outstanding selection of pastries and light bites, which include vegan and gluten-free options and few local goodies. Sy Sourisak, the owner of Liquid State and an NC State alum, spoke about the venue.
“The NC State community is smart and experimental and many seek community and respite from the daily demands of academia,” Sourisak said. “We provide such a place with simply prepared craft drinks and light bites. For the adventurous we offer drinks like matcha and kava. And for those wanting to further their liquid studies, we also have 22 teas, 25 wines, and 30+ beers.”
The venue also has a PrintWithMe print station available for patrons to use.
Price range: $$
Location: 1908 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh.
Hours: 7 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday.
Closest Wolfline Stop: Hillsborough St at NCSU Belltower.
