As final exams creep closer and closer, coffee shops get more crowded as the desire for caffeine and a quiet place to study becomes a necessity.

Off the Ground, a coffee kiosk in Redifer Dining Commons in South campus, provides a popular study section and place for students to get their caffeine fix.

"I've seen kids here at all times of the day," said Kathy Fox, an Off the Ground employee. "Kids are here all night too, studying and getting drinks up until 1 a.m. when we close shop for the night."

Fox said the most popular drink requests are Chai tea or a vanilla or caramel latte, and that she doesn't blame students for wanting to study in the vicinity of the kiosk.

"It's a safe, nice place to be and there are places to plug in your computer," she said. "That's what it's here for and one reason why we stay open later."

Anekia Brown (senior-economics) said although she usually doesn't study by Off the Ground, she goes there daily for her coffee fix.

"I don't go anywhere else but here," she said. "I think their coffee is pretty good and I love all the flavors they offer."

Eryn Elkin (sophomore-division of undergraduate studies) said though the quality of the Off the Ground coffee could be better, the great location can't be matched.

"I go there because it's convenient, but I don't think it's that good," she said. "I go there later in the day to study though, but it's too loud earlier on in the day because the commons are crowded."

Elkin considers herself a "coffee-holic" and said she prefers Chat's or Higher Grounds in the HUB-Robeson Center to get a cup of joe.

"I like Higher Grounds better because it's organic and fair trade coffee by Seattle's Best," she said. "Chat's is on the bottom floor of the HUB so it's more easily located, but they usually put too much flavor in their coffee."

Elkin said Starbucks, 232 W. College Ave., is one well-known coffeehouse that she feels doesn't live up to its reputation.

"I never get coffee there, only sugar-free lattes," she said. "Plus, I hate walking there because it's so far from my classes, but they're opening one right across from my apartment so I'm kind of excited about that."

Anna Candella (freshman-division of undergraduate studies) also feels like Starbucks coffee doesn't live up to the hype many associate with the popular coffee shop.

"When I go there, I usually just get Chai tea," she said. "I think the coffee is overrated."

Candella said studying at Starbucks was hard because of the noise, location and sparse seating.

"Off the Ground works better for me, and I also really like going to Otto's Café in the Kern building," she said. "It depends on how busy any of these places are to get studying done, but I like areas like that rather than my dorm room because it forces me to study."