Bring your own mug
Freshman brews coffee, hosts casual events in dorm
Thomas Currey
Issue date: 3/5/09 Section: Your News
Freshman Chris Ong says the stash of coffee in his room could sustain a 12-cups-a-day lifestyle, but even he, a former Starbucks barista, can't handle that much.
He came up with a simple solution for the surplus: Continue working as barista from his dorm room, free of charge, in the name of campus community.
Ong operates out of his room on Simpson Hall's third floor south, where resident adviser Mitch Klingenberg, a junior, said Ong's occasional "Coffee and Tea Appointments" have helped to build camaraderie and fellowship.
"These types of get-togethers seem to resonate well with the floor," he said.
He also cited Ong's experience working at Starbucks and A.J.'s Café as one potential source for the events' popularity.
"He's definitely a connoisseur in the coffee realm," Klingenberg said.
Ong said when his parents visited last semester, his mother reluctantly allowed his father to purchase their son a pound of coffee and a new coffee machine.
Upon learning of her nephew's newfound love for coffee, Ong's caffeine-enthusiast aunt promptly gave him two to three pounds over winter break, sent six to seven more via mail, and still regularly sends him Starbucks gift cards, and - because a war chest of 12 pounds is not enough - more coffee.
"Yeah, she really likes me a lot," Ong said.
Ong decided to open up his room to friends and hallmates for occasional weekend "Coffee and Tea Appointments" after approval from his roommate, freshman Michael Smith, who offered to brew hot chocolate and tea for non-coffee drinking guests.
Ong and Smith coordinated their first two official events through a Facebook group Ong created, which now boasts about 60 members, as of March 2.
Guests are reminded that though the coffee is provided free of charge with an RSVP, he and Smith maintain a strict BYOM (bring your own mug) policy.
Ong seems pleased with the warm reception his coffee nights have enjoyed.
He and Smith have already discussed expanding their operation by providing baked goods courtesy of friends from women's dormitories. They have also discussed turning their gatherings into a ministry opportunity, perhaps by pasting Bible verses onto Styrofoam cups.
Ong said attendees come from all across campus, though events normally begin with several students from women's dorms before transitioning into mainly guys from Simpson and finally just his hallmates, some of whom are baseball players.
Freshman Brad Riggsbee, one of the baseball players who attended the last coffee night, said he went over just to socialize and enjoy some hot chocolate.
Would he come back again?
"Yeah, oh yeah!" he said. "It's fun just to hang out and talk to people."
He came up with a simple solution for the surplus: Continue working as barista from his dorm room, free of charge, in the name of campus community.
Ong operates out of his room on Simpson Hall's third floor south, where resident adviser Mitch Klingenberg, a junior, said Ong's occasional "Coffee and Tea Appointments" have helped to build camaraderie and fellowship.
"These types of get-togethers seem to resonate well with the floor," he said.
He also cited Ong's experience working at Starbucks and A.J.'s Café as one potential source for the events' popularity.
"He's definitely a connoisseur in the coffee realm," Klingenberg said.
Ong said when his parents visited last semester, his mother reluctantly allowed his father to purchase their son a pound of coffee and a new coffee machine.
Upon learning of her nephew's newfound love for coffee, Ong's caffeine-enthusiast aunt promptly gave him two to three pounds over winter break, sent six to seven more via mail, and still regularly sends him Starbucks gift cards, and - because a war chest of 12 pounds is not enough - more coffee.
"Yeah, she really likes me a lot," Ong said.
Ong decided to open up his room to friends and hallmates for occasional weekend "Coffee and Tea Appointments" after approval from his roommate, freshman Michael Smith, who offered to brew hot chocolate and tea for non-coffee drinking guests.
Ong and Smith coordinated their first two official events through a Facebook group Ong created, which now boasts about 60 members, as of March 2.
Guests are reminded that though the coffee is provided free of charge with an RSVP, he and Smith maintain a strict BYOM (bring your own mug) policy.
Ong seems pleased with the warm reception his coffee nights have enjoyed.
He and Smith have already discussed expanding their operation by providing baked goods courtesy of friends from women's dormitories. They have also discussed turning their gatherings into a ministry opportunity, perhaps by pasting Bible verses onto Styrofoam cups.
Ong said attendees come from all across campus, though events normally begin with several students from women's dorms before transitioning into mainly guys from Simpson and finally just his hallmates, some of whom are baseball players.
Freshman Brad Riggsbee, one of the baseball players who attended the last coffee night, said he went over just to socialize and enjoy some hot chocolate.
Would he come back again?
"Yeah, oh yeah!" he said. "It's fun just to hang out and talk to people."
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