Starbucks, Dutch Brothers, Peet’s, Dunkin’ Donuts, Edwin’s, Origin and more. The coffee shop options are endless in this town. And with all that competition, it can be hard for a new place to stand out. But The Hoot, a new coffee shop that opened on February 12 on Blue Oaks Boulevard, has stepped up and tried to do just that.

The place has gone out of its way to set it apart from its competition. Its Facebook page boldly proclaims that it’s “a hipster’s paradise,” and the shop definitely gives off that vibe.

Upon entering, customers will take notice of the coffee shop’s unique decor. The benches and tables have a made-it-in-woodshop feel to them, and there’s even a chandelier fashioned from a metal bucket. Hoot’s walls are also furnished with painted and carved portraits of celebrities such as Audrey Hepburn. The music that plays is quiet and pensive, and indie music and acoustic versions of pop songs make this an ideal place to relax or study.

But this isn’t just a place for teens looking for some quiet. The front of the venue is relaxed and new age; the back of the shop possesses a lively, amusing vibe. Once you pass the center of the Hoot, wooden benches and rustic antiques give way to a pool and foosball table, mini theaters and even a bounce house.

Many of the attractions in the back are meant to entertain children, and you have to pay for the ones that require electricity, but there’s still plenty for a group of teens to do once they get tired of studying. The pool and foosball tables are free to use, but if you want to use the consoles, theaters and coin-op games, you’ll have to pay $7 up front.

However decor and attractions only go so far, and in the end, this is a coffee shop. So how does it stack up against the other offerings in Rocklin and Roseville?

Well, as it turns out, pretty well.

Sticking with its modern theme, The Hoot sells organic, free-trade coffee that they get from a local business called The Mast. You might expect that kind of coffee to be expensive, but it’s actually reasonably priced. A large coffee will set you back by $3.25, and even the fancier options don’t push above $5.

The coffee is quite good, but The Hoot is very light on sugar, so if you want a drink that’s on the sweeter side, such as a caramel macchiato, you might want to ask for extra. Also, if you’d prefer something other than coffee, The Hoot offers kombucha, Italian sodas and tea.

The shop also vends a variety of breakfast foods and assorted pastries if you’re feeling a little peckish. These, however, didn’t compare to the coffee. The cinnabon waffles with cream cheese frosting and the scones are decent choices to satisfy both hunger and tastebuds. The fruit turnover on the other hand, left something to be desired. Their food is a decent accompaniment to the coffee, but if it stands alone, it’s nothing special.

Overall, The Hoot’s main selling point is the coffee because of its quality and price. The place makes a good hangout, but don’t expect great food. As it stands now, The Hoot is a ⅘.