A lot of difficulty comes with being a high school student, balancing social and family life, extracurriculars, a job, or schoolwork. Some teenagers try to find a fun part of their day such as getting a fun drink or a bite to eat at their local coffee shops. Many students bring these drinks to class, or they are looking for a cozy atmosphere to study in and find a little tranquility in their day.

One of the most underrated coffee shops in Ankeny is Cafe Diem, a small, rustic café on Ankeny Boulevard. Cafe Diem’s menu features a variety of hot and iced coffee, smoothies, energy drinks, and a full breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They offer a space that is quiet and comfortable, a perfect place for studying and getting work done.

“I feel like at least with the staff, we’re able to be super close and I think that’s pretty awesome. We also put extra care in making sure everyone has a good experience when they come through,” Cafe Diem store manager Isabella Gagne said.

Another great spot is Smokey Row located in the Ankeny district, a vintage style coffee shop with a comfortable and dynamic atmosphere.

“I feel like it’s special because it’s not a chain…so we have a little bit of a tangible connection with the people that are making your food and drinks. We also offer a huge variety of options for all ages. We are a family establishment which is really nice. I think we have a quality that not a lot of other chains have,” Smokey Row store manager Marquis Bundy said.

Smokey Row currently has a full menu with fall seasonal drinks, coffee and tea, a soda fountain and ice cream bar, and a rich lunch menu. Smokey Row fosters a big and lively space, perfect for catching up with friends or getting some homework done.

“I would say that Smokey Row is the place to come if you want a lively environment, but also one that you can feel at home in. We are huge on our community outreach…we have a bulletin board where groups and schools can put up posters and let people know about things that are happening in the community,” Bundy said. This is definitely the place to go if you want to feel more in tune with the things that are going on around us as well as get quality food and quality service.” 

A classic spot for a drink enjoyed by several AHS students each day is the local Starbucks on Delaware. Starbucks is a chain restaurant with a wide drink menu, containing hot and iced coffee, iced teas and blended drinks, with light lunch and pastry options. This Starbucks is the closest to AHS, and is known for their fast and efficient service. Starbucks employee and AHS senior Jenna Strable shares her favorite parts of her job.

“I like seeing all the customers that come in, especially our regulars, and I really like the holiday season because there’s kind of a culture around Starbucks holiday drinks. It’s really fun at our store. Even when I’m not talking to customers all the time, I really like the challenge of making drinks,” Strable said.

A newer store that has gained a lot of attraction from the teen community is  7 Brew. This chain drive-through coffee stand is special because of their values, as they try to get to know each customer on a personal level. Along with their kind service, their menu is unique with their seven originals (available iced, hot, or blended), seven energy drinks, smoothies, teas, and shakes. AHS senior Madison Braun shares her experience working at Seven Brew.

“My favorite part of my job is just the culture that we have when we’re working. It’s so much fun, and our goal is to cultivate kindness,” Braun said. “That means that we are just nice to everyone and nice to our co-workers. And if anything’s wrong, we can always find a way to fix it.”