The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not reflect the views of Spoon University.
Need a café to grab great coffee, study, or just channel your inner Rory Gilmore? Autumn is the time of year where we are starting to get busy with schoolwork, so it’s crucial to have a café to get away and get a great coffee to power through the week’s assignments. We’ve officially entered Gilmore Girl Fall, so here are three local cafes in New Jersey that give the coziest vibes for your next study session or coffee date! These cafes are the closest thing to Luke’s Diner in Stars Hollow–and probably even better!
1. Cai’s – Metuchen, New Jersey
Cai’s is one of my local favorites. When you step into Cai’s, you can immediately tell that each drink is crafted with precision. Located in the small and bustling town of Metuchen (just an 8 minute train ride away from Rutgers campus), Cai’s gives you the Stars Hollow feeling of small town peace, even if you have a ton of homework to get done. Complete with comfortable couches to lounge on for a few hours and board games for a nice brain break, Cai’s is the perfect place to study! Of course, no study session is complete without coffee or some kind of drink. My drink recommendation from Cai’s would have to be their cinnamon apple cold brew. It is the perfect fall combination and nearly all of their drinks are customizable. When the leaves start to fall, make sure you head into Cai’s
2. Friends Cafe – New Brunswick, New Jersey
An on campus hotspot right here at Rutgers, Friends is the perfect café for a bite to eat, a delicious drink, and the ambience to get your work done. The name of the café tells the vibe of this place perfectly–each person that serves at Friends really makes you feel welcomed like a friend! Friends has indoor and outdoor spaces to work, talk, and enjoy their delicious food and drinks. I am not typically a huge matcha fan, but I highly recommend you try their matcha. Friends was the first place I ever tried an iced matcha, and I still think that they do it best! What is better than a place right on campus where you can study like Rory Gilmore?
3. Penstock Coffee Roasters – Highland Park, New Jersey
This coffee spot is a perfect, quiet place to grab a drink and take in autumn in New Jersey. One of their most popular drinks is their Apple Maple Latte, which sounds like the perfect bookend to a pumpkin spice latte. With plenty of seating provided and located right in Highland Park, Penstock is a great pick for a fall study session, complete with coffee of course. Another great perk is that Penstock provides student discounts, even for grad and PhD students! Needless to say, the Gilmores would definitely approve of great coffee, a great environment, and a sweet bargain.