Cozy study spot Max Caffé whips up frothy coffee drinks with bohemian flair

As finals and warm weather approach, students can tear themselves away from Butler and explore a range of neighborhood study spots. With campus life concentrated around 116th and Broadway, it’s easy to forget the plethora of café options on Amsterdam Avenue. Max Caffé stands out as one of the best choices in the neighborhood for a long afternoon of coffee and Kant.

Max Caffé serves a more diverse clientele than many Broadway cafés. Although there are plenty of students typing away on Macbooks, older neighborhood residents meet up with their friends here, too. Mismatched chairs and couches invite customers to sit and linger, creating an intimate atmosphere. Paintings on the walls and funky chandeliers add charm. In short, this is the perfect spot for students who lament the lack of independent, bohemian cafés uptown.

Students coming after class will want to start with the café’s coffee and espresso options. A full array of hot and iced drinks is available, and Max’s espresso stands out from that served at other, more conventional shops nearby. Their latte seems a bit heavy on foam but maintains a dark, bold flavor and a delightfully creamy finish. Coffee drinks come in sizeable portions and are fairly priced.

While Max offers a variety of lunch and dinner options such as paninis, soups, and tapas, finding something appropriate and filling to accompany a coffee drink in the afternoon feels difficult. The café’s only pastry offerings are standard croissants, available with jam and butter, and sfogliatelle—pastries filled with ricotta cheese. The croissant comes warm, sprinkled with powdered sugar and accompanied by strawberries. While the sugar adds an intriguing contrast to the rich flavor of the croissant, the overall effect tastes a bit dry and leaves some butteriness to be desired.

If Columbians hope to enjoy themselves here, let alone get work done, a pair of headphones is an absolute necessity. Max Caffé has a poor playlist, blasting ’80s and ’90s hits on repeat. Students are better off bringing their own soundtracks, since Max’s detracts from an otherwise perfect atmosphere.

On warm days, the café opens all of its windows to create an open-air atmosphere, with outdoor seating available as well. If students snack beforehand and stick to Max’s coffee, they’ll be quickly charmed by this delightful café off the beaten Columbia path.