What college student doesn’t start their morning with a caffeinated beverage? Here at Monmouth University, our campus not only has a Dunkin’ but our very own Parson’s Cafe located in the Great Hall. If you’re stepping into the Great Hall on a bustling Monday morning, you’re likely to find the line for coffee leading out the door.
Over the summer the cafe underwent a major change in collaboration with New Jersey’s very own Offshore Coffee Co. Instead of using Booskerdoo Coffee Co., Parson’s will now be using Offshore Coffee Co. beans for their hot coffee and espresso. However delicious coffee may be, it’s still quite the costly item. Generally coffee is about five to six dollars, unless you get some sort of specialty item. So will having Offshore Coffee Co. on our campus provide a new alternative for students? Will it be just as costly or will it be affordable?
The Outlook editors decided to discuss the very topic of coffee for this week’s editorial in correlation with
this week’s news story. In order to get a better understanding on where the editors stand, they were asked how frequently they seek out the drink.
One editor said, “I drink coffee literally everyday, sometimes more than once a day. I’ll either make my own at home, buy it on the way to campus, or buy it on campus. I can’t go without it, it’s my routine at this point.”
Another editor said, “I drink coffee, but not as frequently as some people might. It’s normally a sweet treat of mine.”
While some people might not be a hardcore coffee fanatic, the drink is clearly a part of campus. The editors were asked how they feel about coffee pricing on campus and how that might impact where they get their coffee. For some college students saving money is an important aspect of their lives and their spending habits.
“I think coffee on campus is way more expensive than it is off campus for no reason. I would rather get a coffee from Dunkin’ over the Great Hall simply due to price,” an editor said.
“My first time purchasing a coffee from Parson’s this semester I was caught off guard by the price. I felt as though I really was paying more for a coffee on campus compared to when I am off,” an editor explained.
Whether students are paying unrealistic prices or not, it’s evident coffee is a necessity for most college students.
One editor commented, “I think having Offshore on campus is a good idea because a lot of Monmouth students already get their coffee, so now it’s more convenient.”
Meaning that having coffee besides Dunkin’ might be an alternative for students who are looking for a different variety of choices.
Another editor said, “I’ve loved Offshore from the start. I go there all the time in Long Branch as well as in Belmar, so having them in Parson’s now is so cool. Yes, coffee prices are always expensive, but I’d rather give a local business take my money rather than Dunkin’. There’s something so special about our local community.”