MARCH 2011

Dont Think, Write: Print Edition

VOLUME1 ISSUE 1

OHIO STATE STUDENT FACEBOOK POLL RESULTS

Java Crunch

Black, con leche, non fat, or soy: it doesnt matter how Ohio State students like it, with finals around the corner they are drinking more, lending more business to area coffee vendors. At Ohio State campus dining services, coffee sales stay consistent throughout the day, said Karri Benishek, marketing manager in the Office of Student Life University Residences and Dining Services. During finals week and midterm week is where we see the spike (in sales), Benishek said. The gross sale increase for campus dining, including food and coffee, tends to be around 15 percent during midterms and final exams, said Benishek. I think its (sales) noticeably different during exam weeks, said Mario Fitros, manager of Brenens Caf and Catering on North High Street. Gross sales at Brenens Caf tend to increase at least 10 to 20 percent, according to Fitros. I think the sales increase just because people are out and about more, theyre going to class for sure, theyre studying more, theyre not gonna skip on exams, said Fitros. And in future exam weeks, Fitros said, students may be paying more for their caffeine fix. Benishek said most of the campus coffee vendors are near study areas. The busiest campus locations tend to be The Berry Caf, inside of the Thompson Library, and Espresso-OH, inside of the Union, she said. Espresso-OH also does very well because it is located right by a bus stop, which means students can quickly get coffee and then catch their bus, explained Benishek. The new Union and bus stop seemed to hurt Fitros business. Fitros said when the Union and library were shut down, those consumers came to Brenens. But now sales have dropped since they have opened again. Fitros also attributed a portion of the sales drop to the Campus Area Bus Service reroute. Theyre dropping people off in front of the Union. I used to have a bus stop right out front, said Fitros. Still, Fitros said 80 percent of his business sales are from students. While studying at The Berry Caf, Angela Carlberg, who is earning her doctorate in political science, said she averages a cup of coffee each day. But during exams she will drink definitely more, maybe an additional cup. Im not a coffee person, (but) during exam time I spend more time at the library, said Jia Cao, a sophomore accounting major. Cao tends to drink three or four cups each week while studying at the library, she said.
Continued as Coffee on Campus on Page 2

EMILY TARA
Dan Caterinicchia Final-Coffee on Campus Java crunch Exam week means more caffeine, less cash for students

MARCH 2011

Dont Think, Write: Print Edition

VOLUME 1 ISSUE 1

Coffee on Campus
Bridget Cunningham is a student manager at The Berry Caf and a sophomore studying philosophy. She said the caf is probably twice as busy during exam weeks. Not only does the caf sell more large sized coffee during finals week, but also more junk food, Cunningham said Cunningham said she believes the caf sells the most drip coffee, followed by the TBC Mocha. On High Street, Aaron Wagner is a fourth-year psychology and Korean major and also a Starbucks barista. Wagner has been with Starbucks Coffee Co. since August 2009. Wagner said the most popular size at Starbucks is a Grande, or medium. The most recent promotion on the menu is the Skinny Caramel Macchiato and Wagner said this has been the most popular drink outside of regular drip coffee. Starbucks also gains business during Ohio States exam weeks. Wagner said the store remains open an extra hour during finals and is open until midnight weekdays for finals week. Tessa Anton, a third-year majoring in dance is also a barista. She said, the Starbucks on High Street is the only Starbucks open till 11 during weekdays. With campus dining service locations selling over 2,500 cups of joe daily, according to Benishek and Brenens grinding out approximately 200 pounds of beans each week, according to Fitros; how much are students willing to pay for a caffeinated finals week? For those on campus, an Ohio State meal plan is always an option. Benishek said there are several promotions for coffee drinkers. With a punch-loyalty card, Benishek said, If you buy nine coffee beverages the tenth one is free, but the tenth is always a small one. Brenens runs a similar promotion; a punch card for a free beverage after 10 purchases. The main difference is that the tenth beverage can be anything, including a specialty beverage or a large size, explained Fitros. If you bring a mug into any campus dining coffee merchant, it will be filled for the cost of a small, said Benishek. Fitros said with the cost of oil rising, he will soon have to raise his prices. I have not yet raised my prices like some of the other guys; Im probably 30 percent less on average per cup than any of the other major coffee suppliers. Customers should be expecting a 10 to 15 percent increase by spring quarter, said Fitros. Once prices are raised, Fitros said he will offer a promotion to use your own mug; probably 10 cents off per cup. Its not going to make or break anyone financially, but it does make a difference, said Fitros. The cost of coffee doesnt seem to keep the avid drinker away. Coffees kind of replaced the cigarette break, Fitros said. You know people will leave their office every couple hours to come over and get a cup of coffee.

Coffees kind of replaced the cigarette break, Fitros said.

GRINDING NUMBERS
Campus Dining
Daily Cups Sold o 2500 Percentage of Drinks Sold: o Drip Coffee 41% o Hot Coffees 47% o Frozen Coffees 0.7% o Iced Coffees 0.4% Gross Sales Increase During Finals o 15% Popular Drinks o Caf Mocha o Caf White Mocha - Karri Benishek

Brenens Caf and Catering