Coffee Education on Campus: Why Trade Schools Need More Than a K-Cup Machine
It’s well known that most offices run on caffeine. Trying to get the morning started in the average office without coffee on hand would be an uphill battle, to put it nicely. But it’s not just offices that face this reality. Campuses are the same way. If you’re hoping to give your trade school students the best possible experience and education, having quality coffee options on hand is non-negotiable.
Adding a couple of K-Cup machines to a student lounge area for campus coffee might be a starting point, but it shouldn’t be seen as a finish line. There needs to be a variety of options for students to choose from, so diverse tastes and preferences can be met, and so the lounge space can keep up with demand on a busy Monday morning. Connect with InReach today to learn more.
Creating a Campus Culture
One major challenge for trade school administrators is to create a strong culture on the campus. Bringing students together isn’t particularly easy in this setting, as the student body is typically made up of commuters and people of a wide range of age demographics.
Having a good coffee program that encourages people to gather in spots around campus to get started in the morning is a strong step in the right direction. What may begin as casual conversations around the coffee machines can evolve into groups of students who feel connected and want to stay engaged with the school as a result of the friendships they have formed.
A Few of the Many Coffee Options
There is nothing wrong with K-Cup machines. They are popular for a reason, as they offer convenience and a quick way to get a hot cup of coffee to start the day. That said, they don’t really serve the needs of a busy student lounge, where many people will be wanting to get a cup of coffee all at the same time. Some of the other options that may better suit your needs include:
- Bean-to-cup brewers that grind fresh beans for every cup
- Espresso and specialty drink options to serve students who prefer lattes or cappuccinos
- Sustainable options like bulk brewing systems that reduce waste
- Grab-and-go stations that provide access to quick coffee for those who are short on time
The key to building any successful coffee station in a trade school (or an office, for that matter) is to have options. Not everyone will want the same thing, and not everyone will be comfortable using the same type of machine. Diversify your offerings in this area to make sure more and more students can benefit from the program.
You Don’t Have to Do It Alone
Whether or not you’re a coffee drinker yourself, you might not know much about building a coffee station for a large number of students. After all, how can you determine what everyone else likes to drink? That’s a hard question to answer without having specific, relevant experience in the field of coffee services.
Fortunately, we have that experience, and we are happy to share it with you. By teaming up with InReach, you can easily build a successful, manageable coffee program at your trade school. Over time, we’ll monitor the performance of the various components of the coffee station and tweak it as necessary to get even better results.
Get Your Students Up and Running
Trade schools are all about providing students with practical, applicable skills that can be put to use right away in the real world. That’s a great mission, but it’s only successful if the students are wide awake and ready to learn. Toward that end, have quality coffee on campus and watch more and more of your students suddenly reach their potential.
Proudly part of Sodexo, InReach offers a global reach, customized attention, and a large, growing buying network that keeps food costs low while maintaining high quality. Contact us today to learn more.