In switching to a new coffee supplier this week, the Coffee House joined one of two campus contracts that give money back to the university in support of students and academic programs.
NEW COFFEE IN THE HOUSE
Read more below about ecoGrounds and a half-price offer coming to the Coffee House, CoHo South Café and Bio Brew, the first week of winter quarter, Jan. 7-11.
The university entered into eight-year contracts with Java City and Peet’s last year, to supply all UC Davis-operated coffee operations on the Davis and Sacramento campuses, and the ASUCD Coffee House if it desired. The Coffee House at the time elected to stick with Beantrees.
Still, even without the CoHo’s participation, the university estimated the contracts would contribute $1 million for scholarships and internships and other student- and academic-oriented purposes, including additional support for the UC Davis Coffee Center — none of which the university was getting under its old contracts — as well as equipment and service for campus coffee operations.
Now, with the CoHo’s participation, that figure is sure to rise — exactly how much is not yet known, as the contributions will be based on actual bean purchases. We do know this: The CoHo alone purchases about 15,000 pounds of beans annually, about the same as the university purchases for its own operations (dining commons, catering and UC Davis Health).
The CoHo’s new coffee is ecoGrounds from Sacramento-based Bewley’s North America — which also owns Java City, among other brands. (The contract UC Davis signed last year is with Java City, which at the time was doing business under its own name, despite being part of Bewley’s; since then, Bewley’s started using its own name as the owner of Java City and related brands).
The bottom line: The CoHo’s bean purchases will boost the value of the university’s partnership that UC Davis forged with Java City-turned-Bewley’s — a deal that supports the Coffee Center, undergraduate research and The Pantry, which is the ASUCD’s food bank.
Under the terms of the contract, Bewley’s North America is already making contributions based on its sales to dining and catering operations on the Davis campus, and to the following UC Davis Health coffee operations: Ambulatory Care Center, patient care and catering (a continuation of UC Davis Health’s longtime partnership with Java City).
New coffee in the House
The ASUCD Coffee House this week began serving ecoGrounds coffee from Bewley’s North America. And, with every cup sold, Bewley’s will increase its support of the UC Davis Coffee Center, undergraduate research and The Pantry — under the terms of an eight-year contract with UC Davis.
“This transition will help us maintain our favorable coffee prices while elevating our sustainability efforts,” said Darin Schluep, food service director for ASUCD Dining Services. “EcoGrounds’ focus on Fair Trade Certified, organic and Rainforest Alliance Certified-coffee varieties will build on the CoHo’s already strong foundation of sustainable purchasing, while allowing us to support a locally-based company.”
As part of the change, Schluep said, the CoHo has added matcha lattes to its espresso menu and transitioned to a new cold brew option.
The CoHo, Coho South Café and Bio Brew will offer half-priced coffee during the first week of winter quarter, Jan. 7-11, to introduce ecoGrounds to the campus.