Even if you're not in the mood for something from Te Cafe's diverse tea selection, there are plenty of other drinks that satisfy: tea lattes, lemonades (both plain and with unusual flavors like ginger, lemonade and hibiscus), hot chocolates and more. The pleasant staff is knowledgeable about its teas and can offer great recommendations. The loose leaf tea is also sold, and some of the more unusual tea blends can make neat gifts for people.
The atmosphere is calm enough that I can concentrate if I bring work to do. It's also really helpful that in terms of food, Te Cafe offers more than sweets--while I loved baked goods, sometimes I need something more than sugar to fuel my noggin. Grilled cheese sandwiches and vegetable soup are recent additions to the cafe's menu. While the soup is clearly from the can, it and the grilled cheese are nourishing. I definitely appreciate not having to pack up all my study materials and leave in search of a decent meal.
I really like the feeling of community that Te Cafe fosters with an area for posters and fliers for upcoming local events and work by local artists on the walls. The cafe also hosts occasional poetry readings, but unfortunately I've never been able to attend one.