Listen up, fellow Baruch College survivors! As we trudge through finals season with graduation looming for some of us, I’ve discovered the ultimate caffeine sanctuary that’s been keeping me somewhat functional these past weeks.
When the Newman Library starts to feel like a prison and the campus coffee spots shut down just when you need them most, 787 Coffee at 100 Lexington Ave. is the lifeline you didn’t know you needed.
This Puerto Rican coffee haven stays open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., a miracle when facing back-to-back evening classes.
“This place has literally saved my sanity during this busy finals era,” Paz Moran, actress in the Baruch Performing Arts division, said while practically hugging her coffee.
When you’re in need of a boost after a day of classes but can’t face the subway home yet, 787 is your friend.
Its atmosphere is more social than study-focused, but when your laptop is gasping at 2%, their working outlets are a godsend when the library ones seem to function only on bank holidays.
787 has nice yellow walls and cute wooden tables that create a cozy and inviting atmosphere with just enough background chatter to keep things interesting. It’s not the place for deep concentration, but it’s perfect for that reading you’ve been putting off all semester.
Its signature cold brew comes in a literal bag with a straw, which sounds ridiculous until you try it. It’s served in a distinctive transparent one rather than the standard cup. The sealed bag keeps it cold for a while and makes for an excellent Instagram story.
“The first time they handed me a bag of coffee, I thought there was some mistake. Now I look forward to it,” Gray Joyner, co-captain of Baruch’s cross-country team, said.
For my peers 21 and over, celebrating that last final or submitted assignment, 787’s boozy coffee options blur the line between coffee shop and bar. The espresso martini and rum-infused cold brew provide the perfect celebratory beverages after submitting that final paper or surviving a particularly brutal exam.
“It’s solid after a long day,” August Guerra, a junior majoring in digital marketing, said. “I get that caffeine pick-me-up with just enough rum to make it seem like I have my life put together.”
Price-wise, it’s standard Manhattan damage, with specialty drinks ranging from $5.50 to $11.
If you’re feeling fancy (or have received your tax return), 787 sells its specialty Puerto Rican beans too. Its Supremo Roast Coffee Bag costs $38, and its alcohol-infused beans (non-alcoholic but soaked in the good stuff for 48 hours) are $48 for tequila, rum or whisky varieties.
Food-wise, grab its guava pastries if you haven’t eaten anything all day. The avocado toast is good too when you’re pretending to be an adult.
The establishment is not without its haters. Sazida Marzia, a Baruch alumna, thinks the espresso is “too light-roasted” and that finding a seat during peak hours can feel like registering for classes as a freshman, with everything full except for the worst slot.
But when it’s 6 p.m., your laptop is at 5% and you’ve got three more chapters to review before tomorrow’s final, 787 does come in clutch despite Marzia’s concerns.
“Having a quality coffee shop with actual seating that’s open past 5 p.m. near campus makes those evening classes in 17 Lex a little less murderous,” Yasmine Agdali, the vice president of legislative affairs for Undergraduate Student Government, said between sips of coffee.
For Baruch students looking to escape campus without going far, who need a caffeine fix when most places are closed or who crave that distinctive bagged cold brew experience, 787 offers a taste of Puerto Rican coffee culture right at the edge of campus.
Whether you’re legal to try their boozy coffee creations or sticking to the traditional options, this Lexington Avenue gem has carved out its place in Baruch’s off-campus culinary landscape. Do yourself a favor and check it out. Your finals-week brain cells will thank you.
