Food
Best Coffee Shop Cougar Grounds
By Megan Biasiolli | Photos by McKenzie Misiaszek
T
he smell of coffee consumes the entire south wing of the Hilton college. A line is almost out the door filled with those waiting for their mochas, matchas and smoothies. The chatter almost drowns out the soft music playing overhead. The Coog Choose 2021 Best Coffee Shop winner Cougar Grounds is a University of Houston institution that has been in operation since 2008. “Really that’s all it comes down to, good service and great coffee,” said general manager Sean Lawless. Cougar Grounds customers are not surprised that the coffee shop was voted the best on campus. They praised the quality of the coffee, and said that it tastes better than Starbucks. The Cougar Grounds manager and employees were also unsurprised by this poll because they continuously 14
COOGLIFE // November 2021
strive to provide the best products and service to their customers. Cougar Grounds is beloved by students for being a great place to meet with friends or to have an interview. Accounting junior Lauren Morton has been working at Cougar Grounds since the end of September. Before she started working there she was a frequent customer, and she said her love for Cougar Grounds and for coffee in general was the reason she wanted to be one of their baristas. “I would say Tuesday is our busiest day, because that’s when most people are on campus, but everyday there’s going to be students,” said Morton. Accounting junior Betsy George has worked at Cougar Grounds since August. She said she wanted
