WASHINGTON — In a college environment, caffeine, especially in such drinks as coffee, is what makes the world run. In the U.S., around 54 percent of Americans older than 18 drink coffee every day, according to the Harvard School of Public Health. And in 2013, a study of University of New Hampshire students found that 40 percent of 18- to 24-year-olds drink coffee every day. This is true at American University (AU) as well, a school that has a number places to get coffee on-campus, including a student-run coffee shop and a nationwide chain.
At AU, one of the most well-known places to get coffee is the Davenport Coffee Lounge. In 1957, the School of International Service (SIS), along with room for a chapel, was founded. After the Kay Spiritual Center was built, the chapel became more of a community hangout. In the 1980s, the hangout was turned into a coffee lounge by the SIS student government, a space for students to talk and collaborate as well as drink coffee. In 2010, the lounge moved to where it is today, in the entrance to the new SIS building, adding more space for students, staff and faculty to sit inside and outside.
“We still consider the main objective for the space for students to get together and hang out. In that way, we differ from every other coffee area on campus,” Manager Rebecca Regan said.
The aim of the Davenport — or the “Dav” as it is known — is to “create a forum that enhances cross-cultural communication and forges bridges of understanding across communities in a friendly, harmonious, and nurturing environment.” It accomplishes this goal by having a series of projects helping the community.
“We don’t see ourselves as just a vendo. We see each other as a student organization that helps the community,” Regan said.
This year, those projects included the Charity Drink Campaign, where proceeds from a special drink were donated to a good cause each month, and the Stamp Cards, where each time customers brought their own mugs, they received a stamp, eventually leading to a free drink. The lounge is also a partner of the TapIt program for clean water and believes in composting and water as a free resource — in other words, no water bottles.
The Davenport is also a place for AU students to work, as well as hang out. There are 35 students on staff, all with different ideas, charities and organizations they believe in or support.
“The Dav seemed like a really cool and chill place, especially in terms of the atmosphere and how it was integrated in American University’s campus,” rising junior Leah Dunn, who works at the lounge, said.
Though the Davenport is older, the place one immediately thinks of in terms of coffee is, of course, Starbucks, which opened on campus in January. It can be found in the entrance or tunnel to AU and is easily accessed from both the dorms and the shuttle stop nearby.
“I love the idea of a local coffee shop, but the Dav only takes cash or Eaglebucks, which I never have. It’s just easier to go to Starbucks,” AU graduate student Shayna Muller said.
Starbucks is open from 5:30 to 9 p.m. It is currently running a campaign for youth education (whenever an Oprah Chai Latte is bought, a donation is made). Starbucks also has a rewards program with three different levels, allowing dedicated customers to receive such benefits as free refills and birthday gifts.
Though many would expect the relationship between the local Davenport and the nationwide Starbucks chain to be tenuous, it is, in fact, rather friendly. Those working in the lounge agree that though they were nervous when Starbucks opened on campus, they knew that because the Davenport was older, people knew the name and the brand.
“I was pretty nervous when [the Starbucks] came to campus. And to tell the truth, I haven’t actually been in the store. But this one time [the Davenport] ran out of ice and so we walked over to the Starbucks and got some from them. Our relationship is pretty cordial,” Regan said.