Favorite On Campus Coffee Spots: Olive x Dollop Coffee Co.
From finishing up your first quarter at UChicago, to wrapping up your final year in the College, you've undoubtedly spent at least some portion of your time here frequenting your favorite on campus coffee shop.
Whether you gravitate towards these places for a quick shot of caffeine, a study break between classes or to meet up with friends, we've decided to feature MODA bloggers as a part of the Blog's ongoing On Campus Coffee Spots series to discover the intersections between campus culture, fashion and of course, caffeine! Keep scrolling for our unique profile on Olive Lopez, a second year Psychology major and Gender Studies minor.
What kinds of RSOs and activities are you involved in on campus?
I’m involved with the Maroon Business Team, Women in Business, Kappa Alpha Theta, and I write for MODA!
Why is Dollop your favorite cafe on campus?
Dollop is my favorite café on campus because it’s close to my apartment and it has the best coffee and such a wide variety of snacks! I love their quiche (they have two different kinds a day) and savory pastries. There’s a lot of different spaces within Dollop so depending on what I want to do – read, hang out with friends, send emails – I can sit at a counter, at a 2-person table, or on a couch. It also has excellent lighting. Not just for taking pictures of my food and latte art, but I consistently fall asleep in other coffee houses on campus because the lighting is dark and I get sleepy very easily.
How often do you come here?
I come about once a week – I live in the area and so it’s a great place to send emails between classes, or grab coffee or lunch with friends! The coffee is amazing and so much better than the other coffee options on campus but on the more expensive side compared to other coffee options on campus so I try to keep it to a treat.
What is the best type of activity to do here?
I love to come here and do readings on the couches in the corner, which are cozy but not cozy enough to fall asleep in. I also love to work on the long wooden tables and spread out my stuff so I can see it all and at least feel like I’m an organized person. Dollop is a great place to meet friends and have informal meetings – but it’s not a large enough space to invite your whole RSO.
What’s your go-to drink?
Their cold brew coffee is my favorite – no matter what the weather is! Although if you ask me that in a couple of months, I’ll probably say their lattes.
Best item on the menu?
The coffee, no doubt, but I also love the brie sandwich! It’s perfectly satisfying for a light lunch, and the brie/pear/jam combination is delicious. During O-Week, I lived off of their breakfast sandwiches – they were the perfect size for a morning meal and had the perfect ratio of biscuit to egg!
What are you wearing?
I’m wearing Madewell boots, a Forever21 skirt, a J. Crew blouse, a Skaagen watch (my favorite!), and a cursive necklace that says “San Francisco” that I found in a thrift store in Wicker Park.
How would you describe your personal style?
All over the place, but never entirely in one place. I’ll never dress fully preppy or grunge, but I’ll wear my favorite pair of fuzzy leopard print vans with skinny jeans and a blouse. I like to mix it up – I love going to thrift stores in Chicago, and in San Francisco (where I’m originally from) and finding a cool scarf or pair of shoes and incorporating them into my wardrobe.
All images courtesy of Jaire Byers. View his online photography portfolio here!
