The end of the school year is always hectic. Many students have to suffer through AP Exams, and everyone has to deal with projects, papers and exams. Plus, seniors have the added stress of finalizing prom and grad party plans as they celebrate beginning the next phases of their lives. It’s even worse for anyone who does spring sports, choir, or other activities that have culminating events. With so much going on, sleep can become an afterthought.  For a lot of students, coffee is the way to get the energy back that they need to finish everything and stay awake during those early morning classes. But what is actually the best place to fuel you through the busiest time of the year? We put four places to the test: Dunkin’, Starbucks, Two Brothers Coffee Brew and Eatery in Brighton, and Brighton Coffeehouse and Theater.

We traveled to Dunkin’ first. Annabelle consistently ordered cold brews at every establishment, and Ansley ordered iced lattes so that both types of iced drinks could be compared appropriately. At Dunkin’, the cold brew and caramel iced latte alike both had a slightly nutty flavor to them, which we didn’t really taste until we compared it to the other coffees we purchased. It was definitely the most cost-effective option on the list— it only costs fifty cents to size up the drink. It’s a tried and true classic coffee chain. If you’re looking for something that will be friendly to your wallet, this is definitely the place to go.

The next place we visited was Starbucks. One of the most expensive options on the list, Starbucks is also a very well-known chain, and there’s one on every corner. However, the cold brew was extremely disappointing. It didn’t taste as appetizing compared to the Dunkin’ cold brew— in fact, the Starbucks brew was incredibly weak. The iced white mocha latte was flavorful, but the drink was the same price as the Dunkin’ coffee, and the Dunkin’ coffee was about three times the size. It was very sweet, almost sickeningly so, and only a very small crowd enjoys coffee that sweet.

Comparing the two Dunkin’ and Starbucks cups side-by-side, we absolutely could not justify the price difference compared to the quality. If you want to brag that you’re studying at a coffee shop by posting a picture of your coffee to your Snapchat story with the caption, “The grind doesn’t stop,” then sure, Starbucks is the place for you. Unfortunately, for us, it was a complete no-go.

With the two coffee chains down, we also decided to visit some relatively local options that some may not have tried yet, so we made our way to downtown Brighton, about a 20-minute drive from Milford. We first visited Two Brothers Coffee Brew and Eatery. Notably, its iced latte was different from the other two places in that it was made with cold brew instead of espresso. Therefore, at this location, we were able to test both the cold brew and the iced latte at the same time. We both chose caramel flavoring. The first sip was amazing, and initially, we both agreed that this place was the best. However, after we mixed the drink up a little bit and had been sipping for a few minutes, it somewhat lost its initial “wow” factor (although it was still quite good).

Finally, we both visited an incredibly unique cafe called Brighton Coffeehouse and Theater. They have a fully stocked cafe, and, unlike most places, something that makes it special— they have a theatrical stage set up in the middle of the cafe. Just before everything was shut down statewide due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they were planning on putting on a fully-fledged musical in the coffeehouse. Although no shows are currently running, the cafe is completely open and running as usual. They did not have cold brew, so we got an iced caramel latte and a hot latte with raspberry and vanilla syrup. Both drinks were aesthetically pleasing, and the hot latte was phenomenal, but the iced caramel latte was just… so-so. It wasn’t horrible, but it was certainly nothing memorable. Once they’re putting on shows again, Brighton Coffeehouse and Theatre will be a very fun place to hang out with your friends, and the atmosphere is stellar, but in terms of fuel, you’ll find better elsewhere.

Each place to get coffee had its own merits and drawbacks, but for us, there were two clear winners. Dunkin’ won due to its unbeatable low prices and the fact that it does not completely sacrifice flavor to achieve them. Two Brothers tied with Dunkin’ because it was slightly more expensive, but its flavor far surpassed Dunkin’s. As you panic-study for finals, AP Exams, or anything else you might need to stay awake for, these two places will most certainly have your back.

The end of the school year is always hectic. Many students have to suffer through AP Exams, and everyone has to deal with projects, papers and exams. Plus, seniors have the added stress of finalizing prom and grad party plans as they celebrate beginning the next phases of their lives. It’s even worse for anyone who does spring sports, choir, or other activities that have culminating events. With so much going on, sleep can become an afterthought.  For a lot of students, coffee is the way to get the energy back that they need to finish everything and stay awake during those early morning classes. But what is actually the best place to fuel you through the busiest time of the year? We put four places to the test: Dunkin’, Starbucks, Two Brothers Coffee Brew and Eatery in Brighton, and Brighton Coffeehouse and Theater.

We traveled to Dunkin’ first. Annabelle consistently ordered cold brews at every establishment, and Ansley ordered iced lattes so that both types of iced drinks could be compared appropriately. At Dunkin’, the cold brew and caramel iced latte alike both had a slightly nutty flavor to them, which we didn’t really taste until we compared it to the other coffees we purchased. It was definitely the most cost-effective option on the list— it only costs fifty cents to size up the drink. It’s a tried and true classic coffee chain. If you’re looking for something that will be friendly to your wallet, this is definitely the place to go.

The next place we visited was Starbucks. One of the most expensive options on the list, Starbucks is also a very well-known chain, and there’s one on every corner. However, the cold brew was extremely disappointing. It didn’t taste as appetizing compared to the Dunkin’ cold brew— in fact, the Starbucks brew was incredibly weak. The iced white mocha latte was flavorful, but the drink was the same price as the Dunkin’ coffee, and the Dunkin’ coffee was about three times the size. It was very sweet, almost sickeningly so, and only a very small crowd enjoys coffee that sweet.

Comparing the two Dunkin’ and Starbucks cups side-by-side, we absolutely could not justify the price difference compared to the quality. If you want to brag that you’re studying at a coffee shop by posting a picture of your coffee to your Snapchat story with the caption, “The grind doesn’t stop,” then sure, Starbucks is the place for you. Unfortunately, for us, it was a complete no-go.

With the two coffee chains down, we also decided to visit some relatively local options that some may not have tried yet, so we made our way to downtown Brighton, about a 20-minute drive from Milford. We first visited Two Brothers Coffee Brew and Eatery. Notably, its iced latte was different from the other two places in that it was made with cold brew instead of espresso. Therefore, at this location, we were able to test both the cold brew and the iced latte at the same time. We both chose caramel flavoring. The first sip was amazing, and initially, we both agreed that this place was the best. However, after we mixed the drink up a little bit and had been sipping for a few minutes, it somewhat lost its initial “wow” factor (although it was still quite good).

Finally, we both visited an incredibly unique cafe called Brighton Coffeehouse and Theater. They have a fully stocked cafe, and, unlike most places, something that makes it special— they have a theatrical stage set up in the middle of the cafe. Just before everything was shut down statewide due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they were planning on putting on a fully-fledged musical in the coffeehouse. Although no shows are currently running, the cafe is completely open and running as usual. They did not have cold brew, so we got an iced caramel latte and a hot latte with raspberry and vanilla syrup. Both drinks were aesthetically pleasing, and the hot latte was phenomenal, but the iced caramel latte was just… so-so. It wasn’t horrible, but it was certainly nothing memorable. Once they’re putting on shows again, Brighton Coffeehouse and Theatre will be a very fun place to hang out with your friends, and the atmosphere is stellar, but in terms of fuel, you’ll find better elsewhere.

Each place to get coffee had its own merits and drawbacks, but for us, there were two clear winners. Dunkin’ won due to its unbeatable low prices and the fact that it does not completely sacrifice flavor to achieve them. Two Brothers tied with Dunkin’ because it was slightly more expensive, but its flavor far surpassed Dunkin’s. As you panic-study for finals, AP Exams, or anything else you might need to stay awake for, these two places will most certainly have your back.