Bandidas Coffee Co. has a fun, cozy atmosphere right when you walk in. The owners clearly put in the work to make it an inviting place, as its warm lighting and curated decorations feel intentional.

The shop was buzzing when I got there. It felt like a great place for students to study and collaborate, especially since it’s only a short walk from campus. Bandidas offers free Wi-Fi and a quiet place to lock in for homework and projects. 

While the environment is welcoming with chic couches and tables, more seating and furniture — specifically, more table surface area to put electronics on — would be handy. 

The staff was friendly and accommodating with any questions I had regarding order options. Although they were fairly busy, there was hardly any wait to get my drink. 

During one of my visits, I got the dulce de leche latte. The coffee flavor coupled phenomenally with the cajeta caramel and the cinnamon sprinkled on top. The latte was funky and unique, and I understand why it is a fan favorite. 

I really appreciate the level of care Bandidas puts into making their horchata and tres leches bases in-house. It really stands out among the products that they sell. Also, as someone who can’t have cow’s milk, I love that they do not upcharge for alternative milks. 

Unfortunately, both times I was there, they were out of matcha. This is understandable for a new business, but it will be important to keep popular items in stock as they establish themselves as a shop.

They also have special fall drinks that will keep customers coming back to try something new. The drinks include blueberry maple pancake latte, s’mores latte, dulce de pumpkin latte, pumpkin pie chai latte and cinnamon sugar cold brew. While I appreciate new and exciting flavors, the blueberry maple pancake latte was heavy on the blueberry and lacked that maple and coffee flavor.

Despite their fun flavors, Bandidas’ drinks cost around eight dollars a cup, which is not sustainable for college students, who are a large portion of Bandidas’ customers.

I understand that to make any type of profit, the drinks have to be pricey, but it can also turn students away. This is where I think Bandidas’ baked goods could really set themselves apart from other shops.

Manhattan lacks many places to get pastries or fresh bread. Bandidas already features bagels and muffins, and I think they could really add to their existing menu with more baked goods.

I had the jalapeño red pepper bagel with the jalapeño garlic schmear during my first visit. It was absolutely delicious, and the heat was well balanced with the savory cream cheese. If they made these bagels into breakfast sandwiches, they would have all of my money.

Bandidas could also add other pastries that pair well with their drinks, like conchas or orejas. A sweet bread with their featured Abuelita’s Mocha or hot chocolate would be phenomenal.

Overall, I think Bandidas Coffee is a great addition to Manhattan’s local businesses and a cool place to study and hang out. The prices may be out of a college student’s normal budget, but the unique, housemade drinks, delicious bagels and vibrant atmosphere are not something you can get from just any drive-thru coffee chain.