A college student’s best friend is coffee. After all, coffee is the driving force in the college world. Students are infamous for their reliance on caffeine. It enables us to continue through those long nights, and pushes us to finish papers and projects alike. This is truer than ever, now that finals week has descended upon the CSU student population.

Luckily, Fort Collins is home to countless coffee shops. These establishments not only provide a sense of community, but they are excellent places for studying. They are a “home away from home” for many coffee-lovers. These four coffeehouses are locally owned, and are places to visit in anticipation of the upcoming finals:

1. Starry Night Espresso Cafe

Starry Night is at the heart of Old Town. It is modern and comfortable, and not to mention, clean. The environment is tastefully decorated with its assorted lighting fixtures and colorful displays. It has a warm ambiance, and is a welcome place for students. The cafe is perhaps best known for its wide array of desserts. If you’re in the mood for chocolate cake with coffee icing, or cranberry orange scones, then this is your place.

The Starry Night Espresso Cafe may be small, but it’s certainly cozy. The classy coffeehouse also offers self service coffee and several food options. It can be found at 112 S College Ave. The spot is open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Fridays, 7:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturdays, and  8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sundays.

Check out Thursday nights for a study break, as the cafe will occasionally host Coffee and Craft Nights.

2. The Wild Boar Cafe

The Wild Boar is a memorable experience. The building is the definition of homey, as the business is converted from an old house. Privacy is easy to find with its various room options, and large tables allow for large study groups. The Wild Boar even has a basement and patio that allows for extra space.

The service is often friendly and helpful and it has a mostly quiet atmosphere, although parking can be tricky to navigate. This is a coffeeshop that is certainly unique in its own right. Its breakfast menu is extensive, and food options will satisfy both the meat lovers and the vegetarians. The Wild Boar is worth the visit, and is found at 1510 S. College Ave. Hours are 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

3. Mugs

Mugs practically hugs the edge of campus, making it ideal for those living on campus. In fact, one shop is located right across from the Oval at 306 W. Laurel St., with the other at 261 S. College Ave. Mugs supports local artists, and often displays art work from students.

Smoothie lovers will be glad to discover this particular coffeehouse. There is the Mango Tango and the Blue Hawaiian, or you can build your own. Mugs has several gluten-free and vegan options as well. For those needing the sunlight, there is outside seating. Or if you prefer to study in the oval, Mugs makes it easy to grab a quick drink or bite to eat. The College Avenue coffee shop is open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. The cafe off the Oval is open from 6 a.m. to midnight Monday through Thursday, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday and 7 a.m. to midnight on Sunday.

4. Alley Cat

Need a late coffee fix? The Alley Cat is open 24 hours. This place is perhaps one of the most frequented places, and is known as a student hot spot. It is both charming and quirky, and it is a perfect hangout. It has board and card games to play with, and various seating options. Booths and classic coffee tables make it a good place to camp out with your laptop, and there are many nooks and crannies for sleep-deprived students.

The Alley Cat is often described as having a hippy and chill vibe, with ceiling artwork and live plants. It also hosts poetry readings and open mic nights. If you’re wondering if the Alley Cat is located in an alley, then you would be correct. Its specific location is 120 W. Laurel St. Its chai lattes come highly recommended.

Coffee shops are interesting and fun to check out. The days are starting to run together, but that doesn’t mean you have to stick to your same routine. Whether you’re meeting with a study group or working solo, a coffee shop might be a welcome change of scenery in the light of finals.

Collegian Entertainment Reporter Anna Groeling can be reached at entertainment@collegian.com.