Co ee shops are worth it, even amid in ation

morphed into a valuable aspect of our lives.

Colleges should review effectiveness of GEs

and work more e ciently — coffee shops o er this ideal working environment for many of us.

BY EMILY MCGINN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

As a college student, co ee has — for better or for worse — become a habit. I visit co ee shops around campus regularly and have, along with many others, witnessed the price of co ee-based drinks creeping up into the $5-6 zone, even for 12-ounce beverages. In 2022, a cup of co ee cost $4.90 on average, mainly due to inflation. While a leap in costs like this is far from ideal, co ee will still hold onto its portion of my budget because co ee culture has

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Co ee culture, driven in large part by local independent co ee spots, has exploded in our generation. While the culture is relatively new, the principles that drive it are not. Humans are social creatures and, in every generation, they find ways to connect, though what this entails does change. Now, co ee has become an activity in which to participate more than a beverage to drink. You are not just paying for the drink; you are paying for the experience.

The importance of co ee shops in our culture is perhaps best displayed through what has been dubbed “the co ee shop e ect” — the idea that working in an environment like a co ee shop increases creativity and productivity, according to an article at Trello. I, along with many other people, tend to find my way to co ee shops over the weekend to finish work and study because of this phenomenon. The buzz of activity and the change of scenery can motivate people to complete tasks

Co ee shops also o er a much-needed social atmosphere, which I learned during the COVID-19 pandemic. Until we were in a lockdown, it was di cult to comprehend how valuable it is to hear people conversing around me and to chat with the barista as I ordered. Now, co ee shops have once again become hubs of activity that can provide these simple yet much-needed social interactions.

Independent co ee shops are especially valuable in fulfilling this social need. Hearing my local barista ask if I want my “usual” and integrating co ee runs into my weekly routine help me organize my days and start o on the right foot.

Sure, I could brew my own co ee — which I sometimes do — but doing so takes the fun out of the journey (and the handcrafted beverages, unless I decide to invest in an espresso machine that costs hundreds of dollars). Focusing on the price hike of co ee and blaming coffee shops for it is like blaming your local grocery store for the skyrocketing price of eggs — most of these businesses cannot help raising prices in the current economic climate. The prices might have increased, but you are receiving a much larger return on your payment than just a drink: valuable social interactions, the energy boost of going somewhere new and perhaps the best possible work environment. Isn’t a productive, happy day worth an extra dollar or so?

Of course, some will always argue that — even with all the perks — the co ee will never be worth the price. But if you go to Twee down the road from campus, you know sometimes the co ee really is that good.

Coffee shops are successful scams due to consumerism

BY JAMESON SHOWERS LIFESTYLE EDITOR

Completing general education (GE) courses in college is something we know we must do. While some of these classes are helpful, many are similar to what students have learned in high school. Though GE courses help broaden the knowledge of the student population and develop critical thinking skills, the prices for those classes and the time to complete them add to the mountain of student debt. Universities across the nation should consider how GE requirements a ect students.

do not align with their destination can increase both their stress and loan costs.

On the other hand, GE classes give students the opportunity to explore subjects they did not think they would try or did not have exposure to in high school. The idea that an 18-year-old is supposed to choose a career field that will be a central feature of their lives for decades is unrealistic given their limited exposure to these fields. GEs o er that exposure and flexibility, allowing students to pivot in another direction. While this is advantageous, the classes still have a price tag attached to them, and it would be easier on a student’s finances if they took time o to figure out what they really want to do.

BY ALEXZA BAHNMILLER MANAGING EDITOR

One of my favorite childhood memories is going to Starbucks. When I was little, my mom used to wake up my brother and I at the break of dawn, shu e us downstairs in our pajamas and drive us to Starbucks before we hit the best deals of the year at garage sales. My order was always the same, and it is one I still cherish to this day: an iced, unsweet green tea and a piece of banana bread. Before I knew how important co ee would be in helping me function on a day-to-day basis as I grew older — let alone even knowing what it tasted like — I had a soft spot carved out for Starbucks, the most famous co ee shop in the world. However, I soon began to realize that this co ee shop was something that should be considered a luxury. I distinctly remember reading in some teen drama novel that the main character was teased by her friends for throwing away her expensive cup of Starbucks without finishing it. As a result of this, I started paying attention to prices. The next time we went through the line and I ordered my strawberry frappuccino, I made a mental note of the price and cherished every last sip. After all, there was no way that I would be able to a ord this $5 drink when I was older.

But then I got to high school.

Side note — I firmly believe that co ee culture kicks in during high school. This was the case for me. Getting a co ee and bringing it to school was as much a part of your look as your Uggs. Every high school is di erent, and at mine, Dutch Bros was the Chanel of the coffee brands. People would swarm to find out what flavor of co ee slush someone had gotten that day. The catch? It was an expensive accessory. Whereas I had considered a $5 Starbucks to be a pretty penny, Dutch Bros ranged from $6-9. I didn’t really understand the hype, but I figured it must just be that people really love their co ee. It wasn’t until I was out delivering an Uber order that I realized buying co ee is about so much more than the co ee. I was picking up a $20 Uber order consisting of just one co ee from Dutch Bros and trying to wrap my head around how anyone could justify the buy when I came to the conclusion that no one really wants co ee that bad — they want the satisfaction.

Although this answer might seem obvious, my next question would be: why co ee? It seems like such a random item to give so much weight and purpose. “I need my Starbucks.” “Have you tried Peet’s?” “The Dutch Bros line is so long but so worth it.” Of course, there’s the reason that co ee is something most everyone has in common, so it makes for an easy conversation starter. But would you really pay that much to have a discussion topic ready to go?

People pay the price for their co ee, no matter what it is, because it speaks about who they are. Are you a go-getter who orders their Starbucks on the app, or are you a small-business supporter who goes to the local family-owned cafe even though it costs an extra $1.75 for one shot of vanilla? I admit, on days when I’m feeling down, I almost always buy myself a drink. Sure, my hair may look awful and I may be on the verge of a breakdown, but if I have my vanilla latte in my hand, I am ready to take on that breakdown. If I’ve had a good day? Let’s go get an iced co ee to prove to myself that nothing can stop me, as these two extra shots have my back.

Sure, you could make the argument that you pay the price you pay because you enjoy the environment of co ee shops. But I’d point out that there are lots of beautiful parks and libraries that are free. You could make the argument that the co ee really just is that good. But I’d point out that if you loved the co ee that much, you could ask for the beans that they use and brew it yourself.

I’m not making the argument that we shouldn’t go to co ee shops and use them as ways of making us feel or look good. If there was an Urth Ca é next to my house, I’d probably be broke. I’m making the argument that no matter what, coffee is just beans and water, and paying $6 for it is never justifiable for the co ee alone. Let’s stop trying to come up with excuses for paying that price because it’s ‘just that good,’ and admit that co ee prices are a scam. They are a scam that works and will always work because we are humans. We will pay for things that make us look good or feel good, especially if they are socially acceptable and commendable.

I recently came back from living in Germany for three years, and throughout my time there, I befriended a few of the locals. Often, they would bring up American education and how we require our college students to take a myriad of general education courses to graduate, as this was not the case in the European system.

After doing some research, I found that it is standard for German universities to o er significantly fewer GE courses in their degree programs. In addition to paying lower tuition for public universities, these students also graduate in less time. I wondered what this might look like in America.

How many transfer students have you met that went to a community college for GE classes? Going to community college is a common practice to reduce tuition expenses and eventual student loans. In fact, more than three of every four community college students plan to transfer to a university, according to The Public Policy Institute of California.

And tuition is not getting any cheaper. Over the past 20 years, tuition has increased more than any other service besides hospital care, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Soaring expenses make students think twice about what degree path they want to pursue, especially if they must also work jobs outside of coursework, and courses that

Restructuring GE requirements would make it possible to obtain your bachelor’s degree in two years instead of four. The extra two years would push graduates into the workforce sooner and allow them more time to scale up in their career field at a younger age. Working earlier would also benefit those who have accrued student loan debt and do not want to spend the rest of their lives paying it o . Students may become more specialized and lose the broader knowledge they would have picked up in GE courses, but the trade-o could work well for those who have direct ambitions in their career field.

Shortening the degree path can also help with student burnout and dropout rates: It is much easier to get through the papers, presentations and homework if students know they only have to get through two years and if they enjoy their courses. The current national college dropout rate is at 32.9%, with California residents 46.5% more likely to drop out during their undergraduate program due to financial sacrifice and stress, according to Education Data Initiative. Reducing the size of degree programs across the board could o er a win-win situation for students and universities.

If a student wants to take extra classes to extend their education, that should be their choice. It should fall on the high schools to o er general education. It’s also true that everyone’s high school education is di erent, which is a debate for another time, but mandating knowledge and financial redundancies with GE classes should be reevaluated. Going back to the drawing board and reexamining America’s educational priorities would help to fix some of the issues we are experiencing today.