The Starbucks Coffee counter on campus will offer beverages similar to a typical Starbucks shop.
The sound of coffee grinders and blenders will officially start when The Pulse caf茅 begins serving Starbucks coffee 6:30 a.m., September 1.
The new Starbucks Coffee counter 鈥 with its own register and fast-moving service 鈥 will offer beverages similar to a typical Starbucks shop. Sodexo, the university鈥檚 food service provider, will operate it in The Pulse caf茅. The coffee will also be served in the dining hall and at catered campus events.
鈥淲e鈥檝e gotten a lot of requests from our community for Starbucks, especially from current and prospective students,鈥 said Mike Hara, director of Purchasing and Auxiliary Services at St. Kate鈥檚. 鈥淚n addition, value was a large priority for the students based on survey results. We鈥檒l be able deliver improved value with Starbuck鈥檚 charging on average 15 percent less than the previous coffee offering.鈥
Starbucks represents a commitment to quality, social responsibility, community building and sustainability. Its coffee is 鈥渆thically sourced鈥 meaning the coffee beans are grown and traded in a responsible and ethical way. Starbucks follows the Coffee and Farmer Equity (C.A.F.E) Practices, a set of rigorous standards that respect people and the environment. It created this scorecard-based system 鈥 focused on product quality, economic accountability, social responsibility and environmental leadership 鈥 with Conservation International, a nonprofit based in Arlington, Virginia.
Starbucks鈥 commitment to ethical behavior extends along its supply chain as well. Through its Supplier Diversity Program, the company works with businesses that are at least 51 percent owned and operated by a minority, woman, LGBT, veteran or person with disability.
鈥淲e were open to a partnership with Starbucks because it has established social justice efforts that align with St Kate鈥檚 mission,鈥 Hara said. 鈥淔or example, in coffee-growing regions around the world, the company has invested millions to help local farmers lower their cost of production, reduce pest and disease, and even renovate their farms. In the United States, we appreciate how Starbucks collaborates with Feeding America to donate unsold food to families and individuals struggling with food insecurity.鈥
At St. Kate鈥檚, students can use meal plan points as a payment method.
Brittney Frenette '19 is among the Katies looking forward to Starbucks opening. 鈥淭his is awesome! It will be nice to have a great coffee shop on campus. I am excited, and I know many others will be equally thrilled.鈥
The Pulse / Starbucks counter hours
Monday鈥揟hursday: 6:30 a.m.鈥10 p.m.
Friday: 6:30 a.m.鈥9 p.m.
Saturday: 8 a.m.鈥9 p.m.
Sunday, 4 p.m.鈥10 p.m.