PJ's Coffee

The baristas write notes on the cups. PJ's Lafayette is the Camellia Boulevard location of the New Orleans chain, drive-thru-equipped with a spacious interior that regulars describe as warm and good for reading or studying. The staff personality is the part that sets this location apart from a typical chain stop, and it's the reason the local crowd has stuck with it through the usual chain-coffee turnover. Handwritten notes show up on orders. The counter crew recognizes commuters by their drinks and starts pulling shots before the order is finished. That kind of small-town attention isn't part of the corporate template. The drink list runs to the sweet side. Beignets are the food draw, caramel granitas are the consistent hot-day pull, and the cinnamon scone has a small but loyal following. The seasonal Secret Santa is what regulars wait for in winter and rearrange their week around. A bananas faster latte with cold foam is the one to try if you want something built like a dessert and ordered like a drink. The drive-thru can crawl at peak times, which is the trade-off for getting the full menu rather than a stripped-down to-go version of it. That's worth knowing if you're trying to fit a coffee stop into a commute window. Wifi has been flagged as unreliable by at least one regular, so don't bring a laptop expecting a guaranteed workday. The indoor space still reads as a fine study spot if you're not depending on a connection, and the seating is comfortable enough to settle into for a while. Come for the beignets, the granita, and a barista who pays attention to who you are and what you order. Plan around the wifi if you need it for anything more than a quick check. The chain runs this location better than the brand's average.