By Rory McNelley, Staff Writer

This weekend as I was returning to Kuhlman Hall after a run to Target for toilet paper, I saw people dressed in coffee cup costumes holding signs that said “Free Drinks” so of course I changed lanes and followed the excited yelling. 

7 Brew, a coffee franchise similar to Starbucks and Dunkin’, is opening its first location just across the river in Newport, Ky. As a St. Louis native, I am very familiar with the company, and I can say I am a fan. I was more than excited to see that the signs were leading me to a piece of home. 

My free drink was an unsweetened peach green tea, which tasted delicious, but everything tastes better when it is free. My usual order is a chai latte with a shot of espresso and a little brown sugar syrup. Now, having ordered this delectable drink my hometown friends call “The Rory,” I can confidently say that 7 Brew does it best. 

There is so much to love about this place, and I am so glad it’s now 10 minutes from campus. 

Starting off with the efficiency of the drive-thru, as 7 Brew has no inside. It is a stand-alone building with only a drive-thru that I could argue is more efficient than Chick-fil-A. Back home, the line would wrap around the parking lot of the huge shopping center it surrounded and somehow, I was still in time for school.

What is really important about a coffee shop is, of course, the coffee. I have tried a variety of menu items from 7 Brew including their flavored breves. The Blondie, Brunette, Smooth 7 and Cinnamon Roll are some of the most popular. With the ability to add up to six shots of espresso, the coffee is more customizable than other similar shops.

It doesn’t end there. They also offer flavored energy drinks of any flavor you could imagine. You can infuse the Red Bull-like energy drink created by 7 Brew with over 25 syrups also created by the franchise. The syrups and flavor options include seasonal varieties depending on the time of year and can be added to coffee, tea or what they call a 7 Energy.

You are able to order any variation of coffee you can think of or try out their signature drinks. The menu may seem overwhelming, but that is when the excellent customer service comes into play. A personal drive-thru experience lacking a window makes a face-to-face conversation so much easier. If you need help deciding, you’ll have all the help you need. 

If you aren’t convinced enough, you can attend their opening day on Monday, April 21 for a free drink or swag day on Saturday, April 26 for a free drink and t-shirt. 

This new addition to the Xavier area is one to celebrate. It is an argument that may never come to a consensus, but maybe a free drink will help you settle the Starbucks, Dunkin’ and 7 Brew debate.

  Take my advice and pop in for a visit – you will not regret it. The talk of the Midwest is moving East, and we should consider ourselves lucky.