When you need a pick-me-up, there’s nothing better than coffee and a treat from a comfy coffee shop. My goal is to find the best coffee shop near Algonquin. In this blog, I will be exploring all the different coffee shops located in or around Northborough and Southborough. I want to find a spot that has delicious coffee and food that students can go to for studying or simply to hang out with friends. I’m excited to visit different coffee shops and try them, hopefully finding the perfect one!

My first stop is nestled in the heart of Northborough. Lalajava Coffeehouse has been a community gathering spot since the 2000s. It is an estimated nine minute drive from Algonquin, located at 290 W. Main Street. This vibrant shop offers customers delicious beverages, food and an inviting atmosphere. 

When I stepped into Lalajava, the decor reflected Californian, tropical elements like palm trees and surfboards. The walls were also lined with the shop’s own t-shirts, apparel, cookbooks and coffee roasts. Tropical music was also playing in the background. I was transported to another place far from snowy Northborough, but I felt a little overwhelmed by the multiple decorations and the loud music playing. However, the store was thoughtfully decorated in a way that reflects the owners’ Californian roots.

There were many different options to choose from for the beverage menu. They have several different coffee types such as lattes, mochas, tea lattes, cocoa, cereal frappes, and Javachinos, which is chilled milk, flavoring, and espresso all blended together. They also have different fruit drinks such as Tropical Tiki Tea, fruit smoothies and Quenchers. All drinks come in two sizes: 16 oz and 20 oz. It was hard to choose what I wanted with the multiple different drinks and flavors, but I ultimately decided to try the coconut mocha Javachino. My mom was with me and she tried the chocolate mint Javachino; we both got 16 oz. The drinks took about 10 minutes to make due to the large crowd. However, when I took my first sip I was blown away by how delicious the coffee was; it had the perfect mix of coconut and mocha. However, with the chocolate mint Javachino, you could barely taste the mint and it mainly just had a chocolate flavor.  

Along with the drinks, they had multiple different bakery items such as muffins and breads. They also had sweets such as candies and fudge. I decided to pick up the banana chocolate chip muffin. The muffin overall was delicious. It was moist on the inside and the crumble on the top was perfect. My only critique would be the chocolate chips were only at the top of the muffin. 

The coconut mocha Javachino and mint chocolate Javachino were each $4.50 and the banana chocolate chip muffin was $5.00. This came to a total of $16.59 with tax. I think this is a decent price for the two drinks; however, if you are price conscious, the food here may not be the best option. I think this is a great place to hang out with friends and family, but it isn’t as well-suited for studying. However, when it becomes warmer outside, they have outdoor seating for those who want a quieter environment. Overall, I think this coffee shop has great qualities to it, but also has a couple of flaws- in general it’s a good spot to get a bite to eat or pick up a drink. Next stop, I’m planning to go to Coffee & π.