Spring semester is arguably the hardest semester of the school year. Senioritis begins kicking in for every grade, schoolwork starts to feel endless, and the sun remains hidden behind the thick cluster of clouds, making for blue and groggy days. Struggling through this spring semester can be both mentally and physically draining for students frequently leaving their mental cups in need of a refill, and Starbucks is the perfect place for that refill. Starbucks is one of Moraga’s most popular places for students to grab a fun drink and delicious snack throughout their day. Students constantly crowd the cafe, year round, from early mornings before school to the late evenings after practice.

Starbucks offers a diverse selection of drinks and food for everyone’s unique cravings. Some students prefer a sweeter drink while others prefer a refreshingly tart one. Freshman Gabby Jaramillo enjoys, “an iced chai with vanilla cold foam.” Jaramillo’s drink has a nice balance of sweet from the vanilla cold foam and spice from the chai seasoning. The cinnamon-like flavor from the chai is calmly neutralized by the aftertaste from the sweet vanilla foam – it’s sweet but not overwhelming. The spicy chai and sugary vanilla cold foam in Jaramillo’s drink makes for a perfect chilly morning at the start of the fall season.

From sweet drinks with spices to energizing drinks with berries, freshman Megan Polk loves going to get her Starbucks order after school with her friends. One of her favorites is “a pink drink with peace juice and no dried strawberries.” Polk’s drink has an almost candy-like taste with a calm, refreshing aftertaste. It has a similar taste to an appetizing grape-flavored medicine which comes from the coconut milk and fruity accents. The peach juice adds a nice hint of tang to balance the sweetness which prevents the drink from becoming overwhelmingly sweet. The pink drink is the best addition to a cool morning or warm afternoon walk as the season of spring begins.

Starbucks is superior when it comes to making interesting drinks that catch your eye, and they are also able to maintain a harmonious balance of unique flavors. Junior Katherine Cowen’s favorite drink has a similar balance to Polk’s drink. Cowen orders “a venti strawberry açaí lemonade refresher, with no strawberries.” A Strawberry Açaí Refresher with Lemonade is one of Starbucks’ well-known and most requested orders on the menu – and for a good reason. Cowen’s drink tastes similar to a strawberry lemonade, only more tart – making it the perfect drink for a beautifully sunny day in the middle of summer. The lemonade from the initial sip is nicely overrun by the quiet sweetness of the strawberry açaí flavoring. The battle of sweet and sour in Cowen’s drink leaves you craving more after each sip quickly making it irresistibly addicting.

So, why do students love going to Starbucks so much? Well, it is the best place to appease hunger cravings, socialize with friends and classmates, cram for an upcoming test, or do all three! Starbucks’ addictive atmosphere and fun, special drinks is what sustains its popularity and love among students across the district. The satisfying feeling of grabbing a freshly made drink off the Starbucks’ counter and walking out the door while taking that first sip is unmatched because, as they say, “no feeling can compare to that first sip feeling.”