Cafe Offers Food for Thought During Midterm Crunch

Pressure seems to be the prevailing mood on Columbia’s campus on a weekday morning or afternoon. But there are plenty of places to relax that are removed from—yet still in proximity to—the sickeningly ambitious atmosphere of the Columbia campus. Students should check out Aroma Espresso Bar’s new Upper West Side location.

True to its name, Aroma offers a pleasant atmosphere for a weekday study escape or tea with a friend, giving students a convenient SoHo vibe just steps from the 1 line at 72nd St.

While this is only Aroma’s second location in New York, it is the largest and most popular coffee chain in Israel.

The two-tiered café offers plenty of study space—the upper-level boasts lounge areas perfect for chit-chatting with friends or group get-togethers for projects, and a deck is a promising alcove for sun-basking and reading during spring.

While the space is great, the décor leaves something to be desired. The jarringly white walls are interrupted by large blocks of bright red furniture. For students working on mind-numbing problem sets, the open and bright space may help battle sleepiness during a long work session, but it’s not exactly calming. Plus, the cafe tends to be crowded, especially on the weekends.

As an espresso bar, coffee is what Aroma does best. It is one of the rare places in the city to get a genuine Turkish coffee. The drip coffee is rich, and their cappuccinos and lattes are probably the best items on the menu—served in a cute mug or to-go cup, and always complete with a signature square of chocolate. The café also maintains an inclusive selection of teas for the coffee-averse.

Pastries include standard cafe-fare like croissants, eclectic ethnic desserts like Burkea and cheese strudel, and vegan cupcakes made by a local bakery. There is also a full cafe menu with a selection of made-to-order soups, salads, and sandwiches.

While there is plenty of variety, the food quality is not quite up to par. Aroma offers plenty of options, but only the prices seem to stand out. Still, the espresso bar is sure to satisfy a plethora of cravings. One could easily spend an entire day at Aroma, grazing on their abundance of small items or simply drinking cup after cup of drip coffee.

If anything, the best reason to go to Aroma is not for the remarkably cheery staff—cheeriness seems to be a prerequisite for a job—but for the free, all-you-can-eat Wi-Fi!

Aroma Café is located at 161 W. 72nd St. (between Columbus Avenue and Amsterdam Avenue).