SU students share their campus coffee preferences

While walking through Syracuse University’s campus, students can be seen heading to class through the snow with an iced coffee in hand. In fact, the question “Want to grab a coffee?” has been the instigator of numerous college friendships, including some of my own. Aside from social purposes, caffeine is what helps students get through their most brutal midterms and wake up for their 8 a.m. classes.

SU senior Casey Gross says coffee is a daily necessity for her school day. If she isn’t making it herself, mixing it with her cookie dough Chobani creamer, she’s always on the lookout for new, tasty and affordable coffee options.

“I really can’t go a day without coffee. Whenever I’m in a new city, I always try new cafes with different types of lattes. So, obviously, I’m always excited to try new campus coffee spots, like the opening of Collegetown Bagels last year,” Gross said.

At Orange Pulse, we surveyed 57 SU students on their overall thoughts about coffee preferences. A majority (71.9%) of the respondents were seniors, 14% were juniors, 10.5% were sophomores, and the remainder were first-year and graduate students. We listed all the available places around campus to get coffee, whether it’s Starbucks, cafes within academic buildings, or homemade.

Despite the plethora of coffee options around campus, the majority of SU students make their own coffee. The survey indicated that 32.1% of students prepare their own coffee at home. Aside from the self-made preference, 17.9% buy their coffee from Salt City, and 12.5% from the Dunkin' in Schine Student Center. There was a tie, with 7.1% of respondents buying from the West Campus Starbucks or Collegetown Bagels.

The students who don’t regularly consume coffee enjoy drinks such as iced tea, bubble tea, matcha, Red Bull, water and chai or green tea. Such options can provide students with the energy and caffeine to get through long classes and late nights in the library.

While the Orange Pulse team chose this topic because we know how popular coffee is as a drink choice, we wanted to see the numbers on its consumption frequency. A leading 38.6% of SU students said that they drink coffee every day. This was followed by 21.1% saying that they drink it a few times per week (two to four days). Interestingly, 17. 5% said that they drink two or more cups a day. 

Students choose where to buy coffee for a variety of reasons, so the Orange Pulse team wanted to explore and understand the "why." The majority of respondents said that their choice is influenced by location — specifically, proximity to where they are going. The second-highest preference was related to quality (taste, flavor options, caffeine content) and the third-highest response regarded price. 

Senior Jordan Daglio says that she will buy her coffee wherever is closest to her next class. When she has a full day of Newhouse classes, she buys from Food.com, but when she is in Falk, she buys from their cafe. Even though such cafes aren't her top preference, it comes down to what's most convenient.

A significant factor that influences coffee preference is cost. With the addition of specialty syrups, whether regular or sugar-free, and milk alternatives such as oat, almond, or soy, a coffee can cost up to $8 or more. Therefore, many college students seek the most affordable option that can allow them to indulge in a daily treat and caffeine necessity. 

According to the survey, 30.4% voted that the Dunkin' in Schine Student Center had the best prices, followed by 26.8% who voted on the SU cafes in Whitman, Newhouse, Maxwell and Falk. 14.3% said the Pages Cafe in Bird Library had the best price value.

One of the respondents pointed out that Dunkin' in Schine is the cheapest for many underclassmen, as they are able to use their dining dollars toward it, deeming it "free money" to them.

Half of the respondents indicated that they are only willing to spend between $4 and $6 on coffee. Among the other half, 19.3% said they would spend $2 to $4, and 17.5% said they would spend $6 to $8. The remaining responses were considered outliers, with amounts below $2 or above $8.

As coffee continues to be a daily staple for college students around the country, it is clear that personal preference, convenience and cost are significant factors. As students balance academic and social pressures, it is evident that coffee will remain a constant in their lives—helping them get through their next lecture, serving as an enticing creamer choice upon waking up or providing a way to meet up with friends. What's your go-to coffee order?