Jitters Coffee Cart and A.J.’s Café opened the first week of November with Zingerman’s new coffee brew of the month, the Holiday Blend.
The coffee stands began serving Zingerman’s brew of the month in October with a Bourbon Peaberry blend named after the first coffee tree planted in the Western Hemisphere. Until this academic year, Jitters sold Starbucks coffee blends while A.J.’s served Cadillac coffee, a Michigan-based company. Although Jitters manager junior Phoebe Kalthoff said Starbucks loyalists remain, many have voiced their praise of the new coffee brand on campus.
“A lot of people like it more than Starbucks,” Kalthoff said. “Dr. Pongracic calls on the phone now to order his coffee.”
Throughout the month, each coffee stand serves three brews: Roadhouse Joe, Detroit Street Decaf, and the coffee of the month. Twice a week, Retail Supervisor Lisa Beasley places an order. The beans are roasted overnight and shipped out the next day.
“I’m not a coffee drinker, but everyone seems to like it a lot,” Beasley said.
Zingerman’s determines each brew of the month. Although the college was not required to run a coffee of the month, Beasley said she decided to sell the brew to add more variety.
Jitters barista sophomore Rachel Solomito said the coffee of the month has found success among Hillsdale caffeine lovers so far.
Barista junior Emma Vinton said that so far the Bourbon Peaberry made more of a splash as the Holiday Blend is more acidic, a taste not for the faint of heart.
“A guy earlier this week was very sad when we weren’t selling Bourbon Peaberry anymore,” she said.
Senior Aubrey Neal, an avid coffee lover, has struggled to adjust to the new coffee brand due to its distinct taste. Although she enjoys Zingerman’s espresso, the house coffee has yet to impress.
“Last year I used to get house black coffee refills between classes, but I don’t do that anymore because of the taste of Zingerman’s coffee,” she said. “Zingerman’s has strong character, unlike a basic black coffee.”
To satisfy her caffeine needs, Neal uses her meal plan at Bon Appétit which still serves Cadillac coffee.
Although A.J.’s and Jitters picked up the new blend of the month in October, Beasley plans to run a coffee of the month all year round.
