Barnes & Noble Cafe - It's not a Starbucks
No…it’s not Starbucks. Barnes and Noble (B&N) is just a vendor for Starbucks coffee. They don’t accept Starbucks gift cards but will accept some paper coupons (not all). I only know this because I’ve been working at B&N now for the last four years.
Now, lets talk coffee! B&N doesn’t serve a huge variety when it comes to their basic black coffee. They always have the House blend, which is a medium roast, but it can be quite strong for some and it has a tendency to taste like a darker roast. For those of you who like “light” roasts, I wouldn’t suggest B&N. We rarely brew a light roast, as what we can brew is very limited. B&N usually brews a dark and a medium roast every day. If you want something lighter, you can request hot water be added to your coffee!
If you’re looking to buy a pound of coffee or a coffee that you saw at Starbucks at B&N, you might not find it. The only coffee that B&N carries year-round is the House Blend, Sumatra, Espresso Roast, Verona, Decaf House, and Decaf Espresso. Right now you can find the Colombia Roast, Kenya, and Gazebo; however, they’re considered seasonal coffees and once they’re gone, we probably wont carry them 'til next year.
On to my favorites: the sugary drinks! I’m not going to lie; B&N has the best White Chocolate Mocha around! It’s a very sweet white chocolate, but man, is it good! I’ve always been a huge fan of Caribou’s drinks, but when I started working at B&N, I started to consume theirs more often, due in large part to the awesome discount I get for working there. B&N also has a large assortment of frappuccinos and other warm/cold drinks that you can get at Caribou or other coffee shops. Another good drink is a Café Mocha. I don’t like the Mochas at B&N, but many people LOVE them. The Mocha is made from a dark chocolate powder. So, for those of you who love dark chocolate, I would recommend this drink!
As for the environment at B&N, it’s not as quiet as it used to be when it was located where Caribou and Cash Wise currently are (Yes, B&N was, in fact, located in that very spot!) B&N does not offer free Wi-Fi through AT&T. It’s about $5.99 for about five hours or $3.99 for one hour (don’t quote me on this, I might be off on my estimate). Other than that, it is not a bad place to sit, read, study or just talk with a friend.
In addition to their drinks, B&N offers a wide assortment of baked goods, sandwiches, soups, pretzels, etc. If you’re a calorie or carb counter, or vegan, I wouldn’t suggest getting anything to eat at B&N; options are very limited.
So, I have to bring you back to that little point I made earlier… the B&N café is not a Starbucks.
This is one of the greatest misconceptions we get at B&N. Since I started working there, I’ve seen a HUGE number of people come through the coffee shop trying to use their Starbuck’s gift cards and then proceed to get angry with us when we can’t accept them. It’s not our fault, mind you; complain to B&N or Starbucks!
I just wanted to give you the heads up so you don’t try to use any Starbucks gift cards at B&N and are disappointed when we can’t accept them.
B&N + Starbucks= good books and great brews!
