Students have long awaited the opening of the new café, and two years later it has finally opened. The gate has lifted, revealing sparkling counters lined with flavorful syrups and filled with complicated, fancy-looking machines. There’s a bar with chairs to sit at by the window, all surrounded by Cary Academy merchandise. The best part, though, is the music. The playlist completes the comfortable feeling of the café and includes so many great songs. But how do people feel about it? Are the drinks good? What’s it like to work there?
Starting with just a simple yet delightful cup of cold brew, the café has since evolved to smoothies, Italian soda, and, of course, various types of coffee. Some lucky students were able to try these out before the café even opened simply by hanging out in the library and grabbing samples.
I’m sure many students have enjoyed taking a trip to the café in their free periods, sipping on coffee in hopes of inducing a caffeine rush to stay awake. Sitting in the library, I have seen many students with a drink on the table beside them, ranging from cups overflowing with whipped cream to colorful Italian soda. In honor of Friday Night Lights, there was even the option of adding a glitter bomb to create a spiritual cup of coffee. Despite seeing so many happy coffee drinkers, the coffee grinders and blenders are loud, and the sound travels upstairs. Some think the noise is a small price to pay for a cup of coffee, but others find it distracting.
The price of drinks is another topic of discussion. Obviously, the café just opened and intricate machines are certainly expensive. But how does the price influence people’s incentive to buy? How many people are purchasing drinks in a day? The Arboretum is only a mile away and some Starbucks drinks are less expensive. Maybe my economics class has led me to think this way and I’m the only one wondering about this, but it really affects the success of The Hub.
As it turns out, students have discussions that answer those questions in the Entrepreneurship course. Students in this course were introduced to the financial aspect of The Hub and barista training and then designed pricing items and creating specials. As Mr. Seeley states in a blog post, “The learning lab aspect of The Hub’s business model empowers students with entry-level technical and human skills while simultaneously lifting the curtain about what happens in the back office and how management makes decisions.” To read more of his article, click here.
There are so many opportunities to work in the café. A few months ago, I was able to attend barista training as a Flex day event. We learned how to make expresso shots, froth milk, and clean out the machines. That experience acted as a training for many students, and many of them now take shifts at The Hub.
Maris James reflects on her experience working shifts, “It’s a super fun experience that combines customer service, entrepreneurship, and café know-how. There’s a variety of different drinks that we make, and it’s a super fun service opportunity to work both with your fellow coworkers, café administration and the Cary Academy Community.”
Not only can you learn how to make a delicious cup of coffee, but you can also meet all the students or faculty members who come to get a drink. The Hub is a great meeting space for anyone on campus – one that’s full of energy, life, and sweet drinks- hence the name. If you are interested in volunteering, sign ups are now available for semester two, and if not, I hope everybody has the chance to visit this special place!