Coffee Culture Brews Strong On Campus
April 11, 2025
UR Dining Services is committed to vibrancy and variety across its campus retail locations, as is evident in our use of five different coffee vendors. To say that our students love this variety of coffee is an understatement, but their genuine affinity appears to be with lattes. In the fall of 2024, on a campus with just under 4,000 students, 22,660 lattes were purchased from the University of Richmond's 8:15 @ Boatwright cafe. This averages out to approximately 5.68 drinks per Spider.
But 8:15 isn't the only popular coffee stop on campus. Combined with ETC, Dining Services has sold 111,389 units of coffee, from expertly poured lattes to Starbucks Nitro cans. Passport Cafe, known for its paninis and international fare, sold over 11,000 lattes and iced brews. Just a few steps away in the Robins School of Business, Spiders enjoyed Blanchard's iced coffees at Lou's, which trailed just behind the famous Red Pepper Gouda Soup in sales. Another Richmond area roaster is Afterglow, a Scott's Addition cooperative that supplies the coffee for hundreds of FlavUR cold brews.
In 2019, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) reported that around 92% of college students consume caffeine, with coffee being a primary source. This trend is evident at UR, where Spiders refuel with brews produced by close-to-home spots like Blanchard's Coffee. Founded by alumni, Blanchard's is a coffee roasting company featured in Passport Cafe, Lou's, and ETC.
If students want to recharge while grabbing their favorite snacks, they now have that option in ETC. Two coffeemakers greet customers upon entry, allowing them to order a hot cup of Blanchard’s Richmond Brew, or a JavaHouse cold brew. Or, if they're pressed for time, they can check the fridges for their bottle or can of choice.
Significantly, 8:15 @ Boatwright fills the "café" niche on campus, according to Director of Retail Operations Rich Jacobs. "It serves the purpose of elevated coffee, teas, and beverages paired with traditional breakfast pastries, some meal options, and a wide variety of snacks." If you're craving a sweet treat or a savory croissant, they are reliably available, along with a range of pick-me-ups.
8:15, which currently represents the peak of a Gen Z-led coffee craze, partners with La Colombe, a Philadelphia-based brand. "Our goal is to provide our guests with several different options on campus. Each roaster has their own distinct flavor and blends," says Jacobs.
Nia Williams has been the manager of 8:15 for nearly 10 years and has witnessed firsthand the shifting interests of students. Regarding lattes, she states, "[They] have always been a popular beverage because they are an espresso standard. Due to Grubhub and a customer's ability to customize their beverage, it's a go-to for customers to have whatever they want at the time." Williams notes that other social movements – like wellness habits – "[have led] to more consumers looking for low or no caffeine alternatives at their local cafés," contributing to the rise in matcha and chai teas.
Looking ahead, 8:15 has plans to expand next semester with a "much larger footprint and expanded menu," reflecting evolving coffee trends. Jacobs mentions that cold brew and tea sales are two meaningful growth categories that will be further explored in the new 8:15, scheduled to open in August 2025. As a fresh academic year begins, Spiders will find 8:15 the perfect place to study, socialize, and sip.
But 8:15 isn't the only popular coffee stop on campus. Combined with ETC, Dining Services has sold 111,389 units of coffee, from expertly poured lattes to Starbucks Nitro cans. Passport Cafe, known for its paninis and international fare, sold over 11,000 lattes and iced brews. Just a few steps away in the Robins School of Business, Spiders enjoyed Blanchard's iced coffees at Lou's, which trailed just behind the famous Red Pepper Gouda Soup in sales. Another Richmond area roaster is Afterglow, a Scott's Addition cooperative that supplies the coffee for hundreds of FlavUR cold brews.
In 2019, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) reported that around 92% of college students consume caffeine, with coffee being a primary source. This trend is evident at UR, where Spiders refuel with brews produced by close-to-home spots like Blanchard's Coffee. Founded by alumni, Blanchard's is a coffee roasting company featured in Passport Cafe, Lou's, and ETC.
If students want to recharge while grabbing their favorite snacks, they now have that option in ETC. Two coffeemakers greet customers upon entry, allowing them to order a hot cup of Blanchard’s Richmond Brew, or a JavaHouse cold brew. Or, if they're pressed for time, they can check the fridges for their bottle or can of choice.
Significantly, 8:15 @ Boatwright fills the "café" niche on campus, according to Director of Retail Operations Rich Jacobs. "It serves the purpose of elevated coffee, teas, and beverages paired with traditional breakfast pastries, some meal options, and a wide variety of snacks." If you're craving a sweet treat or a savory croissant, they are reliably available, along with a range of pick-me-ups.
8:15, which currently represents the peak of a Gen Z-led coffee craze, partners with La Colombe, a Philadelphia-based brand. "Our goal is to provide our guests with several different options on campus. Each roaster has their own distinct flavor and blends," says Jacobs.
Nia Williams has been the manager of 8:15 for nearly 10 years and has witnessed firsthand the shifting interests of students. Regarding lattes, she states, "[They] have always been a popular beverage because they are an espresso standard. Due to Grubhub and a customer's ability to customize their beverage, it's a go-to for customers to have whatever they want at the time." Williams notes that other social movements – like wellness habits – "[have led] to more consumers looking for low or no caffeine alternatives at their local cafés," contributing to the rise in matcha and chai teas.
Looking ahead, 8:15 has plans to expand next semester with a "much larger footprint and expanded menu," reflecting evolving coffee trends. Jacobs mentions that cold brew and tea sales are two meaningful growth categories that will be further explored in the new 8:15, scheduled to open in August 2025. As a fresh academic year begins, Spiders will find 8:15 the perfect place to study, socialize, and sip.