Can You Finance Your Starbucks Addiction at Holy Cross?
Coffee is every college student's dream. Dare I say that we need caffeine to function daily? Regardless of whether or not you need caffeine, the opening of Starbucks at Cafe Babel is certainly an exciting investment. However, it comes with a price for students, as it proves difficult to budget these drinks without splurging on our dining dollars.
About 90% of college students in the United States consume some form of caffeine in order to feel more awake. College students drink an average of 400-500 mgs of caffeine daily, which equates to 0-2 caffeinated drinks per day, far more than the suggested amount. This holds true at Holy Cross. Based on my personal observations and those of my peers, Holy Cross students consume at least two caffeinated beverages daily. First, this is unsafe for our bodies. Second, it's not suitable for anyone's bank account.
Due to the benefits coffee provides, such as energy to push through the day, caffeine consumption is unlikely to cease. But, considering the financial toll starbucks puts on our dining dollars, those who need at least two cups of coffee per day can not afford to go to Starbucks daily. The typical resident meal plan provides $425 dining dollars per semester, making it nearly impossible to order a small cup of coffee daily. For the sake of this example, we'll keep it very simple. If you get a tall hot black coffee at Starbucks, it's $2.65. If you get that twice a day, three times a week, that'll come out to be $15.90 per week. If you do this for twelve weeks, it'll come to $190.80. If you buy the remainder of your coffee at Cool Beans, it would be $2.10 for one small cup, coming out to $100.80 per semester if you do that twice a day, two times a week. With this schedule, you would have spent $291.60 (~69%) on black coffee alone with $133.40 left.
Dare I say that we need caffeine to function daily?
Maybe I'm wrong, and you can purchase your caffeinated drink all the time at Starbucks because I do admit that they taste great. But, if I'm being honest, I don't know too many people who drink black coffee, including myself. The prices for specialty drinks get higher and higher, and inevitably, you cannot afford your caffeine intake for the entire semester. Drinks with flavor(s) and milk could go as much as $5.00 for a small, and potentially more. Per the example, there is no way you could sustain a necessity to keep caffeinated at that rate.
I may be an outlier, but at this point, as long as the caffeine does its job, I don't have a preference if it's from Cool Beans, Starbucks, or the new O'Connor Cafe. Of course, I understand that Starbucks has an almost nostalgic taste of off-campus, but when it comes down to trying to budget my dining dollars, I would rather spend it elsewhere. Additionally, there are several alternatives to make the most out of your money and caffeine. First, yet arguably the most unrealistic, is having a coffee machine in your dorm. Investing in a keurig, kettle or other coffee-making machine, is a good way to maintain a ‘normal level’ of caffeine intake. However this is not possible for everyone, and it could sometimes be tough in small spaces like dorms.
So, can you finance your caffeine addiction at the Starbucks at Holy Cross?
If you're going to spend at least $5.00 for a special caffeinated drink, I would recommend trying out the O'Connor Cafe in the Prior Performing Arts Center. Yes, this is certainly biased for the tea drinkers among us, but as I tried drinks from both Starbucks and the O'Connor Cafe, I believe that O’Connot Cafe provides the best ‘bang for your buck.’ But, of course, the same goes for the O'Connor Cafe for Starbucks: you can't afford your daily caffeine addiction on the resident dining plan. But, if you're going to buy something to keep you going for that price, checking out locally sourced ingredients and the lovely atmosphere in the Prior might be worth it.
So, can you finance your caffeine addiction at the Starbucks at Holy Cross? My short answer is no. Personally, I go to Starbucks once a week. You can find plenty of beverages to sustain your caffeine intake that are more financially appropriate at Cool Beans and the lobby shop. So, save those extra dining dollars and fuel your body with some good stuff.
By Alexandra Berardelli