Campus Coffee Craze

By: Katie Sullivan
Posted In: News

At 9:40 a.m. Jazzman’s Café in O’Hare goes from the quiet conversations of few to the dull roar of many as classes begin to let out. With hands in pockets, purses and backpacks, students and professors line up to place their orders. Sounds of smoothies being made and milk being steamed into foam can be heard echoing throughout the room as a small crowd of customers wait for their personal concoctions to be finished. Some patrons are seated at the many tables with their laptops or books out getting in some last minute studying in before class. Within 30 minutes, the line is gone. Jazzman’s is once again hushed as workers begin preparing for the next rush.

Between classes, especially the early morning classes, Jazzman’s Café is the busiest place on the Salve Regina University campus.

“It can become pretty crazy during the rushes,” says Katharine Stevens, a junior political science major at Salve who has been working as a barista at Jazzman’s Café for two months. Stevens said she never realized how hectic it could be for the workers when she was just a customer.

Stevens said that even though she gets anything for free now, she was a frequent Jazzman’s customer before she started working there. Nodding her head towards the growing line, she admitted she was one of those people that went to Jazzman’s between every class.

“It’s a great place for students to just take a break in between classes,” Stevens said. “The atmosphere is nice to relax and get some work done, or grab a coffee and catch up with friends in between classes.”

When asked about Jazzman’s popularity, Stevens said it was all about the location. “I don’t think it’d be as popular if it wasn’t in O’Hare,” Stevens said. “People have a lot of classes in O’Hare so it’s really convenient.”

Roger Greer, a Jazzman’s barista who recently switched from working in Miley Cafeteria to Jazzman’s, said that he believes part of Jazzman’s popularity is due to the personal attention the baristas pay to each customer. Greer tries to remember each customer that comes in because he feels it is that little extra that keeps people coming back.

“Little extras like ‘Have a nice day’ or ‘That’s a nice dress’ go a long way,” Greer said.

Greer said that the personal attention and sincerity is key. He said off campus options such as Dunkin Donuts, Ma’s Donuts and Starbucks offer the sincerity that Jazzman’s does when they tell you to have a nice day.

Sarah Schofield, a junior in the cultural historic preservation program, said the service is what she enjoys most. “I like that I can come in whenever and the same people are working,” Schofield said. “I do feel like they know me.”

She may love the service, but like most, Schofield is not a fan of the long line. During an in-between-class rush, the line can go as far as the O’Hare entry area.

“I understand the lines, because it’s in between classes, but it’s annoying,” Schofield said. “I still wait in them. I just don’t enjoy it.”

Schofield goes to Jazzman’s two to three times a week because she has time to waste, but goes to Dunkin Donuts every morning.

“Usually I go because I have time between classes,” Schofield said. “It’s not really a conscious choice.”

While she enjoys Jazzman’s Café, Schofield said she would prefer is there was a Dunkin Donuts on campus.”I’d be there all the time!” Schofield exclaimed.

Many of Salve Regina’s clubs use Jazzman’s for group meeting and a place to set up tables to publicize their causes and events. Events such as the Social Work Club staging a sweatshop and Table Francaise during International Education Week have been held in Jazzman’s Café this semester.

Jazzman’s has been an integral part of Salve Regina’s O’Hare Academic Building for 10 years. For students with a meal plan, Jazzman’s is a great place for a quick breakfast stop. With the meal plan, they offer students a bagel with cream cheese and their choice of a small coffee or juice.

In addition to the meal plan options, Jazzman’s offers 10 signature blends of coffee, teas, chais, smoothies, an array of pastries, salads, wraps and soup.

Jazzman’s Café was named a “Hot Concept” by Nation’s Restaurant news. This award is presented to fast-growing, financially-proven companies that are on their way to being the next big thing.

Jazzman’s Café is owned and operated by Sodexo-the same food service that provides food for Miley Cafeteria, Original Burger and Global Café in Wakehurst. Sodexo, founded in 1966, supports the operation of over 500 companies throughout the United States and Canada. The company serves more than 10 million customers in corporations, health care, long-term and retirement centers, schools, college campuses, government and remote sites.

The Jazzman’s Café, in the O’Hare Academic Building, is open Monday through Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.