It’s there for those late night study sessions before a huge test; it’s a way to catch up with friends; it’s an excuse to take a break from studying.
And, for senior Olivia Gensheimer, it’s a big part of her life.
Starting around Christmas of last year, Gensheimer learned the ins and outs of coffee through her former job at The Daily Grind and current job at Friends’ Café. Training was extensive.
“At The Daily Grind, we had a written exam that was a lot on the recipes and equipment that you use,” she said. “We had been trained, so we knew the answers and I felt it was easy and then we had experiential parts of the test where we would make a cappuccino or a latte and make sure you can do it. Then you are thrown in there.”
She said her favorite drink to make is a classic cappuccino, and though she likes to attempt latte art every time she has the chance, it’s a lot harder than it looks.
Gensheimer spent a lot of time at the Daily Grind. The Daily Grind, which operated for 23 years before it was closed on June 24, was a favorite staple for both thirsty and exhausted students on campus. Rather than make the trek to Franklin Street or to the south campus Starbucks locations, the Daily Grind was a centrally-located option that enticed patrons with flavored lattes like the Grasshopper, a mint and chocolate flavored drink.
Though Gensheimer spent a lot of time at The Daily Grind early in her barista career, she has moved on to working only at Friends’ Café. Unfortunately, some of her co-workers — and friends — were not as lucky.
“A lot of my co-workers lost their jobs because The Daily Grind had five people working at once and Friends’ has two who work at once, so it’s a smaller shop,” she said. “Going from seven people working at once to two people means they didn’t need as many people.”