Today my Starbucks journey took me on a stroll through Columbia University and to the Starbucks on 114th and Broadway that serves its student population.
After I decided to move to New York, there were three universities that I considered applying to for grad school: Pace, NYU, and Columbia. Although NYU won out, I was highly intrigued by Columbia. After all, it is an Ivy League and one of the oldest universities in the country.
Columbia is located in the small Upper Manhattan neighborhood of Morningside Heights — which is characteristically an Upper West Side/Harlem hybrid. Although I’ve been to Morningside Heights before, today was the first day I stepped foot on Columbia’s campus. Whereas Washington Square Park functions as the commons area for NYU, Columbia has its very own partially secluded common area between Broadway and Amsterdam. It’s well maintained, beautifully decorated and grand as I would expect an Ivy League’s campus to be. Pictured above is the main library and a statue that sits on the staircase leading up to it.
After taking in the campus environment, I exited on Broadway and crossed the street to the Starbucks on the north side of 114th. Once inside, two things were very obvious: Columbia students thrive on Starbucks, and there’s simply not enough space to contain them all. When I was a student at Florida State University, I used to wait in a line 20-30 students long at the Starbucks in the center of campus. The only difference between that Starbucks and this one is that this Starbucks does not have the space to hold all the students/residents that want their coffee fix. Not everyone is looking to stay and have a seat — in fact, most do get their coffee to leave — but the seats this Starbucks does offer are mostly full.
Luckily, I came at the right moment and was able to get my own table on the cushioned sofa in the back. Once I sat down I could feel the impression of all those Columbia students that have sat here for countless hours before me. And it was this thought that inspired me to knock out a term paper that I’ve been putting off for half a semester. What better Starbucks to write it in?
So, even though the seated crowd is pretty fluid and the restroom line is not too bad, that barista bar line has not let up since I arrived 3 hours ago. Maybe Columbia should look into putting another Starbucks somewhere on campus? It certainly worked well for FSU.
The Good:
The Hours…According to the Starbucks App it’s open until 2am every night but Thursdays. Not sure why Thursdays is significant, but those are certainly some gracious hours.
The Location… Just outside of the walls of Columbia University and two blocks south of the 1-train.
The Seating… Although the Starbucks is not that big, the seating was clearly designed for college students. There is an L-shaped bench in the front, some window seating, and a long comfy sofa with attached tables-for-two in the back. Also, multiple outlets are available from everywhere you sit.
The Bad:
The Line… Long and consistent. These Columbia students clearly love their Starbucks.
The Size… Again I find myself being disappointed at the meager size of these Upper Manhattan Starbucks.
The Restroom… Just the one.
Barista Friendliness:
Drink of Choice:
Grande Iced Coffee.
Overall Starbucks Rating:
A busy Starbucks right outside of Columbia University in Morningside Heights.
Starbucks and the City 
Starbucks opening all the way uptown in Inwood at the corner of Broadway and Dyckman!
I heard! It’s going to be the most northern Starbucks in Manhattan. Thanks for keeping an eye out, and let me know if you know when it opens. I think it’ll be next year though…