Ground Zero: USC’s coffee-saving grace

Sit tight and grab a cup of coffee, Daily Trojan readers, because you are in for a long, highly requested review of one of my favorite coffee shops.

Due to unfortunate circumstances in timing before my freshman year, I lived in Trojan Hall. While the Yelp reviews were not particularly enticing, I had to make do with what I had and embrace my new home.

Unknown to me when I moved in, Trojan Hall sits right outside of a cute little USC legend known as Ground Zero Performance Café. In case you live under a rock, Ground Zero is an entirely student-run, on-campus coffee shop that reels in caffeine-junkies and soda-fans alike through creatively named coffees, milkshakes and barista inventions. They serve Groundwork Coffee and have recently added a number of new shakes (and cold brew coffee) to their ever-expanding menu.

If you live around campus, GZ is best reached via bike, board or foot, because unless you have a parking pass or street parking luck, you’re headed towards $10 day parking or a parking meter quarter dump.

Granted, I didn’t drink coffee during the first two years of undergrad so my early exposure to GZ was entirely caffeine-free. I remember my first drink like it was yesterday: The Bore. As the menu describes it, it’s “just some Oreos” in milkshake form, which I am definitely all about. It’s pretty impossible to mess up making a milkshake that consists only of Oreos and ice cream, so if you feel like playing it really, really safe, I’d say go for it.

My first non-caffeinated drink from Ground Zero was a vanilla cappuccino. Actually, my first cappuccino ever was from Ground Zero. Not sure if it was how well it was made, the fact that I was determined to pull an all-nighter, or that I was really excited to have accepted espresso into my life, but I kinda sorta accidentally downed three large vanilla cappuccinos. I only didn’t sleep for two days. But it’s chill.

More recently equipped with a caffeine tolerance not in the negatives, I’ve been delving into some custom drinks. Thanks to a combination of being friends with GZ baristas and a finicky palate, the Freddo (a.k.a. my favorite espresso drink in the world) has unofficially nestled its way into my campus life. Ask for a double shot of espresso over ice with raw sugar and honey, and shake it until foamy. Your life will change for the better, and if I’m being honest, I’m trying subtly hard to get in on the secret menu and renamed in my honor.

As its on campus, GZ is a fantastic place to get work done. It has an abundance of outlets, comfy couches and, despite the black interior, ambient lighting. During Study Days and Finals Week, Ground Zero halts all music and shows and reopens as “Sound Zero,” ensuring on-campus students get a chance to snag a great cuppa and study in peace. When it’s not up to the brim with stressed-out students, you can head over to Open Mic Night every Monday, or sporadically scheduled culture and music events throughout the semester. It’s a wonderful place to host casual interviews, catch up with old friends, bring your parents while they’re visiting (so they can pay for you) or go on that first date with that dude/lady from your GE class you finally asked out (I’m writing this review from Ground Zero, and I am watching this very thing happen right in front of me in the most uncomfortable way).

My only trepidation with GZ is their milkshake pricing. As far as espresso and coffee go, they are relatively cheap, which is a huge plus as a poor college student, but considering the cheapest shake is $4.50, I’m not sure they’re worth the calories. That being said, I’m always down to support local baristas, especially those at ’SC. I’m a fan of coming in during peak hours because that’s when their best baristas are at the bar, but if you want to help out the newer guys practice, then stop by mid-afternoon. It’s not a huge disparity, just a slight disconnect between “amazing espresso” and “good espresso.” Win-win either way.

Find your next Ground Zero favorite at 615 Childs Way, Los Angeles, CA 90007. Maybe I’ll see you there!

Jackie Mayuga is a junior majoring in applied and computational mathematics. Her blog column, #JackieLikesJava, runs every Saturday.