Like a lot of people, coffee is important to me. And at no time is it more important than when I am on my way to teaching a morning class at Middle Tennessee State University. Below is an interactive map of my personal top three places to grab a cup. Included is a description of each place.
Donut Country
There’s something about coffee from a proper doughnut shop like Donut Country (1311 Memorial Blvd, Murfreesboro, TN) that exudes mid-20th-century warmth and wholesomeness. The coffee here is cheap and strong, which separates it from my other two top choices. Plus, as the name might indicate, Donut Country offers a pretty fantastic selection of donuts, just in case you’re hungry as well as groggy.
I went for the plain cake doughnut last time I was there, and the lady behind the counter complimented my choice. The plain doughnut is, after all, the choice among we who like to dunk our doughnut into our coffee, just as God intended.
Cotti Coffee
Cotti Coffee (1513 E Main St A, Murfreesboro, TN 37130) is a new coffee spot located not far from the MTSU campus. I’ve only tried this place twice, but both times I was impressed at the cleanliness of the location and the friendliness of the service. Great place! A little on the pricey side, though.
I look forward to trying more of their unusual (at least to me) coffee offerings. The first time I went there I got something with coconut in it, which may not be for everybody but was most definitely for me. If I’m feeling adventurous one day, I might order food.
Starbucks
What can you say about Starbucks (1611 Alumni Dr, Murfreesboro, TN 37132)? They’re everywhere, they’re always updating/messing with their menu, and they’re super-reliable when it comes to coffee. And you gotta love the strong Wifi. It’s also a nice place for when you want a little something extra, like a pumpkin spice or a mocha or something. (’m probably not telling you anything you don’t already know. Anyway, this particular Starbucks location is located inside the James A. Walker Library on the MTSU campus, which means it tends to get real crowded between morning classes. That being said, it delivers a perfectly nice Starbucks-y atmosphere.