For students who want a quick caffeine fix, there are plenty of options near the high school. Dunkin’, Starbucks, Caffe Nero, Brothers & Sisters Co, and more are all within a 10-minute walk or train ride. Contrast this with Blank Street, which is nearly a 30-minute walk. The burning question for students: is Blank Street worth the walk, or does reality not live up to the online hype?

The first thing you notice when you walk into Blank Street is its minimalist atmosphere and emphasis on efficiency. Baristas use automated Eversys machines made in Switzerland, which are extremely expensive, but allow the cafes to maintain a consistent product while serving many customers. There’s also a heavy emphasis on app ordering, and like Starbucks or Dunkin’, the company has a loyalty program that encourages customers to pay within the app.

While it’s certainly possible to get a standard double espresso or Americano at Blank Street, these drinks are not the brand’s selling point. Blank Street’s colorful, unique drinks are tailor-made for virality on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram, which is how many discover the brand. Most customers opt for iced, flavored signature matchas and lattes, such as the Iced Strawberry Shortcake Matcha or the Iced Pistachio Latte.

These lattes are certainly delicious and enjoyable, though they come with two main critiques. First, while Blank Street positions itself as bridging the gap between cheaper chains like Dunkin’ and high-end cafes, its prices have crept up to the point where they are increasingly indistinguishable from specialty options: most iced drinks are priced at over six dollars. In addition to cost, drinks at Blank Street are extremely sweet. Without making any modifications, signature beverages can be cloying and dessert-like (the Iced Coconut Cream Matcha has 36 grams of sugar in a 16-ounce size, for example).

Though matcha drinks are very popular at Blank Street, they are arguably its weakest offering. The amount of sugary syrup and milk completely overwhelms the taste of the matcha, and it is often hard to distinguish it from an iced latte of the same flavor.

Blank Street is also very clearly a drink-first brand. The store has only a small pastry case, with items sourced from local wholesale bakeries. This contrasts with Tatte or even Dunkin’, which have more variety in food offerings.

Compared to local chains like Tatte and Flour Bakery + Cafe, Blank Street doesn’t win the battle. But that framing misses the point. Perhaps Blank Street’s biggest advantage is not maximizing taste but a refreshing predictability. Across multiple visits to Blank Street, ordering the same Iced Cherry Glaze Cold Brew from different baristas, the similarity in taste is noticeable. Consistency is the product being sold.

For those in need of a quick caffeine hit or traveling to other cities with locations of the chain like Washington, D.C., Blank Street offers a reliable menu in a sea of unfamiliar options. In comparison to the low-quality coffees at Dunkin’ and Starbucks, Blank Street’s lattes are a welcome addition to the cafe scene.

So, is it worth the long walk from the high school? For those seeking the best cup of coffee or matcha, probably not. If you want a drink that’s reliably delicious, a step above the usual chains, and looks great on an Instagram story, Blank Street delivers what it promises.