I rarely manage to write a decent paragraph in the confines of my own home. Somedays it's my boyfriend's fault (how dare he open the refrigerator door noisily!).  Other times, my apartment is too messy to focus, or I am too far behind on my recorded TV shows.  When I absolutely must produce words, it's imperative that I get the heck out of dodge and into the nearest coffee joint.  By the time I've found parking and paid four bucks for a cup 'o joe, there is enough cognitive dissonance going on to guarantee I stay put for an hour.

At times, I make due with Char-bucks (usually for proximity's sake), but in each city I've lived (and currently live)--Los Angeles, Evanston, and Austin--one special coffee house has wormed its way into my heart.

Espresso Profeta, Los Angeles, CA
I don't love "Profeta" simply because I am a sucker for shabby chic decor.  Not only do the hiply dressed baristas whip up a mean cappuccino, but the wooden tables are big and generously spaced.  The free wireless (password required but gladly shared) extends even to the lush courtyard outside.  When I've written a page, I reward myself with the fruit-granola-yogurt parfait.  One downside: there are only two outlets in the entire joint and the management frowns against stretching charger cords across the room, something about tripping and liability.  So charge up your laptop in advance!

Quack's, Austin, TX
Quack's has a whole lot going for it.  While the bright and cheery space is constantly filled with academic types, I have somehow never struggled to find a table.  There is free WiFi and the electrical outlets abound.  I love the wide windows that line the front of the building (people watching helps my writing when I'm stuck), but my law student boyfriend he hates watching happy people walk by (to each her own, I say).  One caveat: when I'm watching my figure, I watch out for Quack's.  Simply put, rhubarb pie, crumb coffee cake, and molasses cookies are not this girl's best friend.  

Unicorn Cafe, Evanston, IL
I can think of no cozier place to write than Unicorn Cafe, my coffee house of choice during college (its coziness probably stemming from the snow drifts outside).  What made Unicorn so welcoming was the wide and affordable lunch menu--house made sandwiches, baked goods, and soups--which enabled me to work through lunch.  Seeing your TAs at nearby tables was a blessing and a curse; you could ask one a question if needed but you'd also have to watch the volume of your gossip so as not to tarnish your intellectual image.  The cute (albeit heavily tattooed) guys behind the counter helped make each visit worthwhile.  

As I write this, you might wonder whether I am at Profeta, Quack's, or Unicorn. Well, the answer is none of the above, which is precisely why I am writing this, rather than the essay I am hiding from.