THE COFFEE OF COPENHAGEN

Copenhagen in Denmark has become a staple study abroad destination with Hamilton students over the past couple of years. DIS has always been a popular program with many students from all over the NESCACs coming to spend a semester in Denmark continuing their academic learning while embracing the new culture away from the campuses they are usually confined to. I am also one of these students who is currently studying abroad in a European city that frankly I did not know too much about going in, but now, with a month’s experience under my belt, I have found my calling in this city: and that is coffee!! I’ll go through two of my favorite spots to get coffee and do work in Copenhagen.

After I finish my classes for the day, I usually decide to indulge myself in a little cafe-hopping. I have picked up the habit of going to one of the many cafes that are located around the city to compare the famous European coffee with that I drink in the United States. To my own surprise, I have begun to enjoy drinking hot coffee a lot more in Europe than I would in the United States. In fact I don’t even remember the last time I ordered hot coffee in the US, but here I only order hot drinks, whether it is an oat milk latte, a cappuccino, or a chai latte. Oftentimes, these are accompanied by a pastry on the side. In the afternoon, usually after class, the cafes I frequent are either The Living Room or Studentrhusset. Both of these cafes are pretty close to the main area where classes are, with Studentrhusset being a little farther than the other. The Living Room is a small cafe down the street from the main DIS area. This cafe is just as the name suggests and feels as if you just walked into the home of someone with couches and comfy seats all over the bottom floor with the cafe area on the top floor. If I had to describe it in Hamilton terms, it would basically be an Opus/Fojo area on steroids. They also happen to have the best chocolate chip banana bread that I have ever eaten! This place is very popular with DIS students since it is quite close to the main area itself, but also because there is a generous discount for students there. That is the secret about all of the places that I mention in this article; they all have student discounts for Americans at DIS!

The second place which I mentioned earlier is the Cafe/weekend bar aptly named Studenrhusset. The direct translation of this name is called Student House. This place is by far one of the most unique places that I have ever visited, with (as far as I know) no equivalent in the United States. It is a non-profit, completely student-run cafe who volunteer to be baristas or workers. I even know a couple of American students who have decided to volunteer and get free coffees by working. This “Student House” is a place run by students and for students. When we first arrived in Copenhagen, DIS provided every student with one free coffee from here—and we also always get a 25% discount on any drink or food item here! Their cookies are also super delicious. It is quite funny because I am in fact sitting in this cafe sipping a coffee as I type this article! The main area is a large open space with a ton of different seating options to do work. During Friday nights and the rest of the weekend, the place is often cleared out for a wide array of events. For example, just last Friday there was a drag show and the week before that there was a punk rock concert. It is by far one of my favorite spots, and I recommend it if you ever decide to visit Copenhagen.

This is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of great coffee places in Copenhagen! I highly recommend exploring yourself if you ever come to visit or study here during your junior year like me. While you all enjoy your Fojo, I will keep on drinking my European lattes (brag intended).