“Common Ground” coffee shop inside Baker’s Harter Student Union is stirring up some new things among the normal coffee and refreshers with the launch of a new boba machine. American Dining has put in new automated equipment designed to prepare drinks with new additions that have become very popular in the last few years. Students can now find drinks like Frappuccinos, cold brew, and chillers with boba.
“We do Frappuccinos on that machine. There’s salted caramel and a cold brew. We do have a lot of chillers that have boba in it, which takes either strawberry or mango. Then we have milk teas and they take the brown sugar boba. The most popular one there, I would have to say, is the Caramel Crush,” said Kim Kindred, a barista for the Common Ground.
The new machine, which came to Baker when general manager Andy Theroff was approached by a sales representative last spring, quickly helped this idea become a reality. After a series of conversations with the rep and with American Dining, Baker secured permission to partner with the company and bring the equipment to campus.
“We were able to talk about it a little bit with her and then we started. Miss Kim and I talked to some people and we decided that it was something that we wanted to try. We partnered to bring the machine in, and we were very excited about it,” Theroff said.
When Theroff was asked about the popularity of the new machine, he noticed that some students are sticking to the Starbucks they know and love. Even though some students are staying with their everyday latte in the morning, the popularity of this new machine has been rising during the evenings with each week.
“Everybody has their morning drink, you know, their latte or their brown sugar shaken espresso or whatever. They have their morning things locked in, but in the afternoon they’re more willing to try things,” Theroff explained.
Students and staff alike have been very curious about the new addition to the coffee shop. Kindred said that since the machine launched, there has been a steady increase in students stopping by in the evening to try the new drinks.
“Just trying the new stuff, it’s different and good.” junior Jordan Pettus said. “It’s good. To be honest, this is my second time drinking it.”
According to a recent report from Technomic, a food industry research firm, student demand for more customizable beverages has risen significantly in recent years. This has pushed campus dining services to expand beyond traditional Starbucks drinks offered.
Theroff said the team will continue tracking the feedback they get from students throughout the year on this new addition to The Common Ground. “At the end of the day, it comes down to what you want to have,” he said. “If you like a coffee drink, then definitely try something like that. But just try some different things and see what you like and see what works for you.”
