May the Best Coffee Shop Win

Throughout my years at SAGU, I have loved to explore Waxahachie. Now I am faced with a difficult question: which coffee shop is the best in town? There are three beloved coffee shops that SAGU students love, but unfortunately, White Rhino has been closed for a while, so I wasn’t able to give a proper review of it. The two coffee shops that I will discuss are Vita Coffee House and Fresh Market Coffee. Both of these are located in historic downtown Waxahachie. Recently, our editorial team made a trip to both shops, and we wanted to report our findings.

We went on a little field trip to Vita, which is closer to campus than Fresh is, just by a minute or two. The moment we stepped inside, we were greeted by the comforting smell of coffee and Valentine’s decorations because we went in February. The room was small but cozy, with plants hanging and displayed everywhere on the walls. It is a great place for work and conversation. They host events sometimes, too! 

I tried a rose latte. I’d never had rose in coffee before, but it wasn’t fantastic. But that one is one of their house favorites, so I think it was worth a try! 

There is a boutique in the back you can peek in and see, which I think is super cool. It’s called Cb & Co. Boutique, and there is an entrance through the coffee shop outside on the left. When we went back outside, we noticed the parking lot was tiny, and it was hard to back out of. 

Everyone loved the environment and the coziness, and Charis LOVED the plants. I did, too! The coffee didn’t taste all that great from what we chose, and the portions we got compared to the price were not really worth it. But we had a lot of fun there and saw some other SAGU friends there.

 

Fresh is right by the railroad tracks, and outside, there is an old red train car on display. (I took a few pictures there with a friend during my first semester.) Inside there is a lot of seating, such as long tables, short tables, and comfy couches. There is a fireplace, but I don’t think they ever light it. Above the fireplace is a funny sign that reads, “Coffee yes, you maybe.”

We absolutely love the baristas that work there. They have a lot of options for you to choose from. There are loose-leaf teas, lemonades, Italian soda with different flavor options to choose from (I like lavender in mine), and coffee nearly every way you could want it. They have a chalkboard with the baristas’ own creations or favorites. On the right wall above the teas is another chalkboard with a guide to help you choose and customize your drink. Oh, and they have a kitchen to make sandwiches, but I always go in the evenings when it’s closed.

Rakel likes the seasonal drinks they have. They have new stuff for every season including spring and summer options! Camron likes the train outside and that the inside is bigger, so you have more space for homework and room in case it gets crowded. Madi said, “I love the atmosphere, the workers are very nice, and the pricing is 10/10!” There is much more parking space which Jeweliet was grateful for, since she was the one who drove us to Vita.

And finally…the results! The atmosphere of both shops was excellent in their own ways: Vita being small and homey, and Fresh being comfy and inviting. Fresh was cheaper with decent portions, while Vita was more expensive. Fresh tastes better by group consensus. And lastly, the parking lot is much better at Fresh. I think Fresh won this one. We enjoyed going to both places and having conversations and coffee. 

One thing that we all agree with is that, if you haven’t already, go try both places! You will always find a lovely atmosphere and friendly faces.