Students perform live music at Penny’s birthday party. Courtesy | Kate Roberson

“And every time it rains, it rains pennies from heaven,” freshman Dave Bellet sang at Penny’s Coffee Shop on Saturday, Sept. 14. While they managed to avoid any rain, attendees enjoyed the pour as Penny’s celebrated its sixth birthday with cold brew floats and live music.

Since its founding in 2018, Penny’s has held birthday parties every September. It’s the only time the coffee shop makes cold brew floats, decorated with sprinkles for the occasion.

Penny Arnn, after whom the coffee shop is named, came to the event for a short time.

Manager Jen Lutz said the coffee shop in Kirn Residence has been run by students since it opened in 2018.

“It’s a space for the Hillsdale College community so people could come and gather to have coffee dates and study together, while still creating that Hillsdale atmosphere,” Lutz said.

Lutz said the coffee shop was “retrofitted into the dorm,” meaning the idea of having Penny’s in the dorm was developed while the dorm was being built. The founders thought that having a gathering place on the west side of campus would be a good addition.

According to Lutz, Penny’s is known for its quality of the coffee, and it strives to preserve that reputation.

“We maintain really high standards in quality from the coffee we serve to the alternative milks to the food we bring in, and we’re really trying to have attention to detail and excellence about everything we do,” Lutz said. “That’s really the goal. We’re creating community but also having people gather around something they love. I feel like we’ve built a following that way, and people are really loyal to us.”

Penny’s scheduling manager and barista senior Olivia Michiels said Penny’s has “the best coffee on campus.” Michiels said she loves her job and its opportunity to serve campus.

“I also worked as a barista in high school for a few years and just love working with coffee,” Michiels said. “Working at Penny’s has helped me grow my craft as a barista, and it has given me an opportunity to keep learning latte art.”

Senior Marina Weber, head resident assistant of Kirn and Penny’s barista, said seeing friendly faces is one of her favorite aspects of both working and visiting Penny’s.

“You can see a wide variety of people in this one space,” Weber said. “It’s not only just seeing friends; it’s meeting and getting to know new people. It’s just a great environment for people to come together. That’s something totally unique from any other coffee shop on campus.”

The location of Penny’s in Kirn influences both the coffee shop and the dorm culture, according to Weber.

“A lot of our RAs either go to Penny’s or work at Penny’s. It’s a great way for our residents to connect with the RAs, and that enhances our dorm culture because when you’re spending time with people you get to know them,” Weber said.

The location of Penny’s within a women’s dorm can sometimes cause confusion, Lutz said. She said she wants people to know that the coffee shop is open to all of campus. Weber said the location within Kirn could be a downside for guys in particular as they might walk in and feel uncomfortable because they don’t know anyone.

Though Penny’s has only been around for six years, customers enjoy the many qualities that make Penny’s popular.

“I’m excited to celebrate Penny’s sixth birthday because it reminds me that even though Penny’s is a newer addition to Hillsdale, the campus community we have built is so special,” Michiels said.

Weber, however, said the newness of the coffee shop has not inhibited its effect on dorm culture.

“I still feel like we’re a baby on campus,” Weber said. “We don’t have a crazy history, but the culture has only been growing, and that’s definitely more significant than a lasting history. A lasting culture, I think, is super important to have as a coffee shop in a dorm.”

Penny’s is continually working to improve the quality of coffee and the atmosphere of the shop, according to Lutz. This year, Penny’s got a new grinder and some additional updates. The shop’s catering services have also grown to a point where Penny’s can now cater for larger events. Baristas are constantly being educated on the best ways to make coffee and the differences between them, according to Lutz.

Weber said Penny’s has improved both in coffee and aesthetics since its founding six years ago.

“I’ve noticed that our quality of coffee has gone up and the amount of knowledge that our baristas have has improved significantly,” Weber said. “Jen has also tried to add more student art to the shop because we have so many amazing artists on campus. Hopefully, that increases over the next couple of years too.”