Hi everyone, it’s Lindsay! Welcome to my first official blog entry of the year – I’m so glad you decided to check it out.
For my first coffee shop, I chose to visit O & A in downtown Sarasota. O & A began as a mobile coffee cart in 2015. They opened their first permanent brick-and-mortar location in 2019 – this was the location that I paid a visit to for this entry. Since then, they’ve opened a second location in Waterside (Lakewood Ranch) and still have a mobile coffee cart available for booking.
The downtown location, nestled between a sandwich shop and another cafe at the start of Main Street, has a natural and comforting atmosphere, created by their grained wood tables, large windows, plants in the corners and on the walls, and forest-green wall paneling.
Seating options include both high-top and normal-height four-top tables, with both chairs and stools, as well as a counter and a larger table near the floor-to-ceiling window at the front of the shop. What you can find behind the counter also contributes to the aesthetic-a retro letter-board lists the coffee and beverage options, various beans, machinery, and merch for sale adorn irregular wood shelving on the wall, and canvas and 3-dimensional pieces of artwork hang.
Also on the counter is their pastry case, usually stocked with various muffins and cookies, as well as coffee-cake-style fruit bars (which are delectable). In addition to the grab-and-go options, they also offer a few breakfast sandwich options (including a French toast grilled cheese, which I did not try this time but was quite intrigued by) as well as paninis from the shop next door.
For this visit, I ordered an iced peppermint mocha latte with oat milk. They have multiple milk options, both dairy and non-dairy, as well as many syrup/flavor choices. The peppermint mocha was a seasonal offering (so, of course, I had to try it).
In-shop drinks are served in beautiful textured glasses, which I loved. Mine had a bit of extra-holiday spirit: the peppermint mocha is served with a mini candy cane hooked over the glass! The latte wasn’t too sweet or weak, which I was happy about-it was the perfect mix of strong, smooth espresso and comforting peppermint and cocoa.
I also got a breakfast burrito to eat, one of their made-in-store breakfast options, and it was honestly one of the best I’ve had in a long time. The cheese was melty, the peppers added a nice flavor, and the bacon was perfectly crispy.
The cozy, dark green, and moody atmosphere made it easy to get some quality work done. I spent most of my time there working on college supplementals and other writing-writer’s block was no match for my surroundings along with the indie and R & B music playing softly over the speakers. Many of the tables have their own outlets on the wall, so a computer dying in the middle of your session is not a worry.
For this entry, I want to recommend some study music that I think goes along with O & A’s vibe. First, if you’re looking for an instrumental vibe, I recommend searching “dark classical” or “dramatic classical” for some moodier classical background tunes. If you’re more of a lyrics-music person, some foresty indie music would also suit the atmosphere well. Think Hozier, Noah Kahan, The Lumineers, etc.
Lastly, as promised, I also wanted to provide a few quick study tips to keep in mind if (when) you pay O & A a visit yourself!
- Don’t undersell Quizlet’s other features. The flashcards are great, but I also love the Write mode, Learn mode, and Test mode, depending on what you’re trying to memorize or study. Having to select or write the term yourself can be a great form of active recall that will get the information in your head more successfully than just reading it from a page.
- Find what works for you when it comes to the order of getting things done. Personally, I like starting with an easy assignment to get the ball rolling, then tackling a harder one second. You feel productive and ready to work on more difficult tasks when you get that first thing done!
- Romanticize your surroundings. Obviously, you’re already much of the way there when you’re in a coffee shop as adorable as O & A, but you can take this a step further by choosing the spot you sit based on what it’s near – window, artwork, plant, etc. – as well as by arranging your space neatly and listening to some of that music.
All in all, O & A is a wonderful spot for anyone looking for delicious craft coffee, various treats, and a cozy, moody surrounding. The downtown cafe is located at 1316 Main Street, Sarasota, FL. Check it out soon!