Before you read this piece, you need to understand I prefer my coffee without cream and unsweetened.
Coffee is, arguably, the greatest legalized drug on the planet. Its aroma overwhelms and infatuates our senses with a subtle taste of euphoria while embodying the perfect catalyst for productivity and relaxation. I personally call it ‘go-go juice.’ This special potion is one of the cornerstones of modern civilization and we owe a lot to Coffea.
First seen in Islamic states in the 15th century, the bean’s popularity widely spread among Muslims, eventually leading its way to Europe, where the drink became prolific. It was normal to have a pint of lager or a swig of whisky every morning, but a slurred alcoholic start to the day is now a thing of the past as ‘the coffee buzz’ became the preferred morning pick-me-up.
Soon after, Europe was in the Age of Enlightenment. Some of the first coffee shops opened up near academic institutions, like the first English coffeehouse in Oxford. Academics congregated to these houses to discuss philosophy, arts, natural sciences and politics. I would argue today’s academia is rooted in the introduction of coffee, something we should hold dear.
Despite the progressive influence the drink had on our society, campuses like Western fail to embrace the importance of coffee.
I must be honest, Western, we have a blinded love affair with bad coffee. With more than a dozen Tim Horton’s on campus, we routinely enjoy mediocre coffee (at best) that is supposedly ‘augmented’ with two hefty servings of cream and sugar – the so-called Double Double.
Unacceptable.
What about Starbucks? Yes, I enjoy select drinks from the chain but I find their beans inconsistently roasted. What’s more, I am primarily paying for an ivory-coloured disposable cup so I can look like Miranda Priestly – minus the keen fashion sense, of course.
Clearly, I’m a loon when it comes to coffee, but I need good coffee. It is not feasible to carry around my French press, grinder and baking scale so I can scrupulously grind and measure out my coffee grinds to water ratio (21.3 g per 8 oz of water).
But, there is hope. The best coffee on campus is The Spoke’s dark roast. The blend they use from Planet Bean is excellent; it has the right release of flavours through their roasting treatment without trying to punch you in the face.
To my delight, it is the same blend used at The Wave when you purchase their magical potion.
Even with The Spoke’s dark roast, Western still fails to capture what coffee culture is about; the social component is missing. We need a cultural shift toward coffee and take a grassroots approach i.e. embrace the old coffeehouses. I am not coming at this from the perspective of a coffee snob (perhaps a little), but rather from a social determinants of health approach.
Coffeehouses were a comfortable place to get an invigorating buzz and talk about any number of topics without being inebriated in a drunken stupor. There is no venue on campus that encapsulates a dedicated coffeehouse vibe. Sure, The Spoke has good coffee, but the lounge is not ideal and it can get noisy. The eating area in the UCC is not acceptable either where the atmosphere reeks of stress with busy students waiting in coffee lines to get their fix before heading off to write an exam or hammer out a paper. Students are missing out on coffee culture and don’t realize it because there is no dedicated space to foster that culture.
So, why am I so fervently eager for a proper coffee shop on campus?
First, good coffee. Second, good coffee. Third, and most importantly, health and wellness.
There is something about a well-designed and laid-out coffee shop that ignites your creativity and passion, but paradoxically mellows you out. Artists flock to stake a claim at a table to design ‘the next big thing’; politicians will have a quick meeting about an upcoming election; hackers will identify known problems with Internet Explorer in coffee-fueled hackathons or travelers who just need a break from the world with a warm beverage.
Everyone is welcome to be productive and be true to themselves.
It is a place of social relaxation without the pressure of alcohol or cultural norms. The atmosphere is truly inspiring, every topic of conservation will make its way to a coffee shop. Mix in a few board games and it becomes the ultimate spot to relieve stress and feel connected to your friends (or a first date). And when it rains, what better way to relax and perk up the day than watching a thunderstorm and doing readings with a cup of coffee.
A prominent coffee culture coupled with a larger campuswide mental health initiative can go a long way for providing a positive educational experience.
Luckily, there is a new love for local coffee shops and I think Western can take advantage of this. Local coffee shops have also been one of the key drivers of the gentrification efforts in neighbourhoods and managed to liven up communities. Why not support local business, especially a place that serves excellent coffee, freshly baked lemon loaves and hosts quirky poetry slams?
We have the right pieces in place to build a coffee shop at Western.
Our beans can be supplied from a local shop like Fire Roasted Coffee; there is potential space in the University Community Centre; a new mental health strategy set in motion; and the best students and professors in Canada. The only thing missing is someone willing to helm the enterprise and bring coffee to the forefront of Western.
Any takers?
What I propose is possible. Universities like the University of British Columbia have several local-esque coffee shops and they are extremely popular among students. The West Coast already has a famous and prominent coffee culture brewing, which easily supports campus coffee shops and we are starting to see this culture trickle into Ontario.
On the whole, I’m still happy to see more campus coffee outlets than bars. But it is ultimately up to us but it may be time to bring some of the West Coast caffeinated flare to Western.
Anyway, I need another cup of ‘go-go juice.’
Bhavin Prajapati is a graduate student in Health and Information Science and a member of university Senate.