For some, visiting a café or the usual commercialized hotspot for a much-needed cup of Joe can be routine.  However, for those of you without the acquired taste, here are a few places around town to take into consideration.
           
Ruta Maya Coffee Company, located off of East Martin Street, may be the right spot if you’re looking for some flavor outside your coffee mug. The shop offers a wide variety of weekly scheduled events, including Hatha Yoga, hand massages, silent auctions, poet features, and wine tasting, to name a few.
Ruta Maya is also a great place when searching for a weekend hangout. Open until 2 a.m., the shop is host to a diverse assortment of bands ranging from house, Latin and rock music.
           
Do not be fooled by their calendar, Ruta Maya, prides itself on being a coffeehouse that offers what they call the “World’s Best Coffee.” All ingredients are produced in Latin American countries. Their coffee is an organic blend of 100 percent Arabica coffee beans from Chiapas, Mexico. If that alone is not enough to bring a crowd, a portion of profits generated by the shop are returned to those Latin American countries.
           
Another modern hangout is Madhatters. Although Madhatters is not quite a coffeehouse, instead their specialty is tea, but like Ruta Maya, it provides customers with a cozy atmosphere. Proud of its selection of 50 different teas, Madhatters is located in the King William art district, a short distance from the River Walk.
           
Fresh entrees, lunch specials and a hearty pastry listing are also included on the Madhatters menu. If you’re avoiding the crowded social scene, Madhatters has several rooms for a quick escape. It is not unusual to see students plopped on couches tending to their studies while sipping a freshly brewed cup.
           
Madhatters is a unique tea house café which also serves beer and wine, but take note, they follow regular business hours from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on most days.
           
Back on the coffeehouse trail, Candlelight, located off of North St. Mary’s Street, also serves gourmet teas, along with an array of entrees, desserts and alcoholic beverages. This café/bar can be described in one word: casual.

Candlelight is no stranger to the first date, however, if that is not an option, a covered patio suits a crowd eager to chat and unwind. Unlike the other shops, Candlelight does not open until 4 p.m. yet closes at midnight.
           
It is easy to stick to the ordinary, but with a range of cafés to choose from, why bother?