Coffee. Some drink it for the taste, some to be chic, and many because it helps you stay awake to finish that ten page paper due the next day. Regardless of your reason, in Davis Square, there is good coffee to be consumed.
The three coffee shops in Davis - Diesel Caf?©, Someday Caf?©, and Starbucks - can all soothe that coffee craving. But depending on what else you're looking for in your coffee experience (and for many, getting coffee is an "experience" consisting of hours of conversation, dashes of intellectualism, a place to study), you should think long and hard before deciding where you'll purchase that extra tall super mocha supreme-accino with two percent milk and an extra shot of espresso.
So, where should you go? A breakdown of what each coffeehouse has to offer will help you make up your mind:
Selection
Starbucks and Someday Caf?© are both primarily coffee shops; each only offers various pastries in the way of food. Starbucks has a greater selection, but Diesel Caf?© wins over both with sandwiches, ice cream, salads, and more.However if it's coffee you're looking for, Starbucks has the most variety of beverage types, with Frappuccinos, iced beverages, and blended brews to choose from.
If you're looking for unique taste, Someday Caf?©, while sticking primarily to regular, hot coffee, has many more flavors than Starbucks or Diesel. Someday Caf?© is also the only shop which primarily serves its coffee in actual mugs, making it more desirable for in-shop coffee drinking.
Quality
Starbucks' coffee seems to be a bit richer than Someday Caf?©'s, making it difficult to finish a whole cup because it's so sweet and filling. If yummy coffee is what you want, Starbucks seems to outshine the others. Yet Diesel Caf?© wins in the food department again, because its food seems to be fresher than Starbucks', whose pastries are sometimes on the stale side.Price
The prices for a small mocha and latte were about the same at both Someday Caf?© and Starbucks ($2.50 and $2.55, respectively). The price for food at Starbucks is a bit steep, with an average of $2-3 for a pastry. Diesel Caf?©'s ice cream products are pretty steep - for example, a frappe costs around $4. While none of these places are very cheap, Someday Caf?© seems to be the most cost-friendly, especially because there are no piles of scones waiting to tempt you to pay that extra three dollars.Facilities
For many, the decisive factor in choosing a coffee destination is the atmosphere. All of the shops have their own distinctive, fun style. Starbucks has the universal Starbucks' look - large, colorful furniture with jazzy music playing softly in the background, fun for chatting with friends. However, the clutter of the excessive (yet quality) merchandise, as well as the fact that there is rarely an empty seat or table in the place, prevents Starbucks from being a true standout. Someday Caf?© has a random assortment of old and new furniture, creating an ideal coffee atmosphere for some. Loud music, from reggae to progressive rock, creates a lively atmosphere within the shop. Diesel Caf?© has uniform metal (but cushioned) chairs and standard round tables, encouraging a more "in and out" stop for customers (although it has a pool table, and like Someday Caf?©, board games available for customers to play). For the real "coffeeshop" experience, Someday Caf?© seems to edge out the competition.
Speed
All three stores are quick and efficient, as they promptly deliver your order. Starbucks has the best setup in terms of organization - with one person consistently taking your order behind a cash register - while Someday Caf?© and Diesel have a more haphazard form of service. For no-nonsense service when you're in a hurry, Starbucks is your best bet.Location
All three shops are located in Davis Square and are fairly close to the center of the area. Diesel Caf?© and Starbucks are actually right across the street from one another. If you want to get technical, Someday Caf?© is the closest of the three to Tufts, located right next to Somerville Theatre, while the other two are farther down that same street.
Hours
Starbucks: 6:30 a.m.-9 p.m., Monday through Thursday; 6:30 a.m. -10 p.m., Friday; 7 a.m.-10 p.m., Saturday; 7 a.m. - 9 p.m., SundayDiesel Caf?©: 7 a.m. - Midnight, Monday through Thursday; 7 a.m. - 1 a.m., Friday; 8 a.m. - 1 a.m., Saturday; 8 a.m. - Midnight, Sunday
Someday Caf?©: 7 a.m. - 11 p.m., Monday through Thursday; 7 a.m. - Midnight, Friday; 8 a.m. - Midnight, Saturday; 8 a.m. - 11 p.m., Sunday
Starbucks beats out the other two by 30 minutes during weekdays and an hour during weekends for opening times, but it lags behind the other two for closing hours. Since most Tufts students are prone to late nights rather than early mornings, this Starbucks advantage does not apply to them. Diesel Caf?© edges out Someday Caf?© for late night hours, making it the victor in this category.
Which, you ask, is the best? As I said, it depends on what you're looking for. Category-wise, Someday Caf?© wins, with Diesel Caf?© coming in second, and Starbucks finishing third. But there are people who each prefer a different one, so again, it's a matter of taste. Overall, Someday Caf?© is the best place to relax and enjoy someone's company over a good cup of coffee.
