Efficiency of a Caffeine Distraction

To say it has been raining in Birmingham the past few days would be an understatement - flooding is more like it. Unfortunately, I and a number of my fellow graduate students have a very important test coming up; although studying is our top priority at the moment, all I truly want to do is to crawl back under those bed covers and pretend the world does not need another brain. But as the Proverbs (10:4) say, "Poor is he who works with a negligent hand, but the hand of the diligent makes rich." Though I may never reach that status of actually being monetarily rich, I still let motivation be my guide and caffeine be my distraction in pulling me out of a state of laziness.

Neighborhood Brew in Hoover, Al

Logo from Neighborhood Brew's website

It smells right as soon as you walk in the door. That is always the best sign for coffee. Having grown up in Europe, I am extra particular about my coffee being made just right. I ordered a regular cup of their featured coffee, which on this particular day was Caffe Umbria. More information about this specific brand and their different blends can be found on the company's website: https://caffeumbria.com/.

Before my study partners Tracy and Amanda showed up, I wanted to just take it all in. I sat down at a long, wide table which was perfect for scattering papers and books - an opportunity we did in fact take advantage of. Looking around the open room, I saw neat little corners the owners had designed for cozy conversation. The wall art was definitely unique, almost child-like in nature and color which only added to the casual ambiance of the cafe. 

Upon arrival, Tracy ordered a traditional mocha which had me a bit jealous, as I eyed that swirl of foamy whipped cream and chocolate syrup floating on top. Amanda desired a bit of a 'pick-me-up' but was not ready for the caffeine frenzy and instead settled on the decaf coffee. Remembering that she generally enjoyed coffee with more cream or milk, I was ecstatic to hear that she added this dark roast cup of joe to her list of favorites. She is also recognized for having a sweet tooth, so it came as no surprise that she dived right in to those homemade cinnamon muffins that greeted her at the counter. 

Our study session was a success, lasting in fact for about four hours. We covered some basic physics concepts introduced in our undergraduate courses (which in fact always turn out to be the most challenging to remember) as well as those complex electrodynamics problems we have studied more recently in our graduate career.

This small midwestern family-owned place definitely gets a thumbs up from me. It is not my favorite spot to seek out coffee, but it is definitely a place worth checking out. It does well for study sessions and even is convenient for meeting up and enjoying a casual hang out with some friends. I am absolutely certain this location is on my list of places to return.