Coffeehouse to celebrate 30th anniversary with public party
In celebration of Rice Coffeehouse’s 30th anniversary, the managers are planning a public party to occur either Dec. 6 or 7. The party will take place within the Rice Memorial Center, and the week leading up to the public will feature multiple events to commemorate the business’s birthday, according to General Manager Mandy Quan.
According to Quan, a Will Rice College senior, the weeklong celebration will begin Dec. 2 for the current Keepers Of Coffee and alumni with a small, exclusive event. Then the celebration will open up to all customers on the official 30th birthday of the business, Dec. 3, with birthday cake and affogato for visitors.
“Coffeehouse turning 30 is a big deal for a student-run business,” Quan said. “We are the oldest [SRB] at Rice, and I think it’s a way to celebrate the legacy of the KOCs that have come before us, the work we have put in and the future of Chaüs.”
Quan said one of the managers is coordinating with Willy’s Pub to host a joint trivia night Wednesday, Dec. 4, and Coffeehouse will have games with prizes to win throughout the day in-house Thursday, Dec. 5. Willy’s Pub said they are not aware of this event at this time. On Friday, Quan said that Coffeehouse is planning a public education event on the coffee preparation process, from its cultivation to its purchase by a consumer.
“We really value knowing where our products come from and being ethically sourced,” Quan said. “We want to put on an event on what the art and soul of what coffee farming is, from farm to table to the hands of baristas and roasters.”
According to Quan, Coffeehouse is arranging to hold the public somewhere other than the cafe in the Student Center due to the small maximum capacity of the space. For the party, Quan said they want to bring in kegs of non-alcoholic nitro cold brew coffee from Katz Coffee and possibly include a coffee garden instead of a beer garden.
“Most of our events are non-alcoholic, but 30th birthdays are driven by alcohol sometimes,” Quan said. “We’ve spoken to the student-run business advisors and the Student Center Office, and as long as we’re under regulation and have everything set up legally and logistically, I think we are really excited to have a fun and safe public. We always joke we are the best college, so it’s time to throw a public party.”
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