Welcome back, Bison! Spring semester has officially begun. I understand that some of you might currently be wishing you could’ve just stayed home, which I definitely relate to; however, maybe the holiday season felt awfully long for some of you. Maybe you were ready to come back but are feeling overwhelmed by the workload. I also understand that. Either way, we are back. This semester might already be hectic, but we can do it! My biggest secret (which also is not a secret in the slightest) is going to coffee shops to get as much work done as possible. 

There are so many great things about doing homework at a coffee shop. 1: Coffee. You get coffee. It gives you energy, it’s delicious, what else do you need? 2: Getting away from campus. I’m not trying to say that campus isn’t lovely, but sometimes you might just need to get away to focus; I know that’s true for me. 3: Hanging out with your friends? I LOVE doing homework at coffee shops with my nearest and dearest friends. If you’re an introvert who would rather do homework by yourself, that’s also a great option! Sometimes all the company you need is your own. Now that I’ve explained the benefits of going to a coffee shop to do homework, allow me to give you a potential location: Thunder Coffee.

Thunder Coffee leaves you a couple of options regarding your homework-ing environment. By this, I mean that Thunder Coffee has two locations. There is a Thunder Coffee connected to Brewhalla in Fargo and another one located in West Fargo. Whichever you choose, you will get fantastic coffee (or tea, of course) and a smiling face to take your order.

Neither of the locations is too far away from campus. The Brewhalla location is roughly seven minutes away. Both of the locations are equipped with a drive-thru, plenty of parking, and plenty of seating. Thunder Coffee makes it incredibly convenient to stop in. Maybe too convenient. Watch out, bank account. 

The coffee choices at Thunder are mostly seasonal. They offer Drip Coffee, Cold Brew, Nitro Cold Brew, and a few different espresso drinks. Their latte flavors vary by season, but you can always count on a plain Latte, Americano, Cappuccino, or Espresso. Their food options are also pretty limited, but the Brewhalla location is obviously connected to Brewhalla. Because of this convenient location, you could probably find pretty much any food that you might have been craving with your coffee. 

While I can’t speak to the atmosphere of the West Fargo location, I can confidently say that the Brewhalla location is quite enjoyable. There isn’t any seating directly in the coffee shop, but Brewhalla is full of tables and chairs to go hide away at. The exciting atmosphere on the first floor is perfect for anyone who thrives doing homework in fast-paced environments. The second floor is better for people who prefer to work in a little bit quieter environment. The seating options are endless: countless tables, both high and low, couches, the works.

Now, let’s talk about the actual coffee. I have one word: delicious. I had the pleasure of drinking a Brown Sugar Vanilla latte. This latte truly warmed my heart. I wish I was kidding. The drink was hot, which definitely contributed to the warm feeling in my heart, but it was also one of the best lattes I’ve had in a long time. The milk was perfectly steamed. The espresso was a perfect mixture of bitter and sweet. The flavor was not overwhelmingly sweet, but definitely left my sweet tooth feeling satisfied. I thoroughly enjoyed this latte and would highly recommend it to any fellow coffee lovers.

The last thing I would like to say about Thunder Coffee is that the staff were incredibly kind. As a barista, I can admit that sometimes my customer service is lacking. If it was a little later in the day, the smile on my face may have been a little dimmed. I might not have made every customer feel like the most important person on the planet. Do not tell my boss this. However, the staff at Thunder Coffee does not have any of these issues. They were seriously some of the friendliest people I’ve ever met. If you just want to feel appreciated, go to Thunder Coffee. The staff are so kind and will even give you a special beverage to lighten your day (this part is better if you pretend that you didn’t pay for it). Overall, a joyous occasion.

In conclusion, Thunder Coffee is perfect for anyone and everyone. It’s convenient, it’s delicious, and it’s enjoyable. I would highly recommend going to Thunder Coffee anytime you need a quick pick-me-up, or just need to crack down on some homework. You will not regret going. But of course, when you do go, don’t forget to tip your barista.