It is five o’clock; the whir of the espresso machine and milk steamer fuses with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee as students all over the county flood their local coffee shops each day after school. For Woodgrove and Loudoun Valley High School students, this means visiting one of Purcellville’s favorite coffee shops: Doppio Bunny.
Owner and founder of Doppio Bunny, Amanda Bates, took over the Purcellville location after its predecessor, Happy Creek Coffee, closed their business in 2022. Bates worked for Happy Creek Coffee in The Plains, Virginia for two years until she was redirected to the business’s new location in Purcellville. Once Happy Creek Coffee closed, Bates started a new coffee shop, called Doppio Bunny, to continue bringing the community together. Her business name was a clever incorporation of coffee shop lingo: “doppio” means a double shot of espresso.
There is science behind why students prefer to work in areas such as coffee shops rather than in their homes. A study conducted by Ravi Mehta, an assistant professor of Business Administration at the University of Illinois, concluded that ambient noise is the key to creative cognition and success. Harvard Business Review author David Burkus writes in an analysis of Mehta’s study that “a coworking space or a coffee shop provides a certain level of ambient noise while also providing freedom from interruptions.”
Students of Woodgrove support Mehta’s study, as many are found doing their homework at Doppio Bunny after school or on the weekends. Senior Ellarie Mescar noted, “I feel more focused there because it’s an environment that is more conducive to studying—there’s less distractions and it’s not me sitting at home trying to do it.” Mescar visits Doppio Bunny about once a week to do her homework, whenever she has early release. Junior Charlotte Gesell also frequents the local coffee shop to study and complete schoolwork. Gesell added, “It’s a cute coffee shop and it’s in the center of town, so it’s close by. The environment there is nice, and obviously, the coffee is really good! It’s busy, but there are also areas where it’s nice and quiet. It’s just a really cute place to work.”
Whether you are in search of a shot of espresso or a shot at an A on your calculus test, Doppio Bunny offers the perfect blend of a small-town coffee shop and a cozy study spot.