“I have always wondered about the process that occurred when caffeine enters the nervous system, and this class provided the answer. I also wondered what the proper ratio of water to coffee is, and now I know how to make a better cup at home. A better explanation of the supply line of coffee also helped me become a more aware consumer. I hope to only visit coffee shops that pay their growers a fair wage. I was unaware of the extensive labor involved in the growing, picking, sorting, weighing, washing and shipping process. Having a better understanding of this process allows me to be a more responsible consumer of coffee.”
“I certainly changed from appreciating the flavors that can be put into a cup of coffee to appreciating the flavors that are in a cup of coffee. I never thought of coffee as flavorful before and after learning about the flavor wheel and what nature naturally puts in coffee, it’s fun to see what tastes I’ve been missing and what tastes I may discover.”
“My thoughts before the class on coffee were that I only drank it for the caffeine. I wasn’t very intrigued by the flavor or type of coffee. Now after the class I find myself paying more attention to detail. I enjoy trying different types of coffee.”
“This class has made me more aware of the social responsibility that comes with drinking coffee. It’s made me more prone to support smaller business since I can trace where they are getting their beans from and discern whether or not they are sourcing their product ethically. Additionally, it seems these smaller businesses have a more artistic and personal approach when it comes to their quality of coffee as well. All to say, this class has made me into a much more conscious consumer and has increased my already adamant passion for coffee.”
“My thoughts about consuming coffee have change because of this class. I now actually pay attention to what kind of roast I’m drinking instead of just grabbing one off the shelf in the grocery store. I know that I prefer dark roasts to light. I also feel like my thoughts on where coffee comes from have changed dramatically. I never used to think about how much work actually doing into crafting a cup of coffee. It gave me a much broader view of the world and where things come from. I appreciate that this class has broadened my outlook and palate. I was able to try and learn things that I never had before.”
“My thoughts about coffee have changed from taking this class because I now have a more in depth and detailed understanding of coffee. My views on coffee have profoundly evolved since the beginning of the class because of what I have learned about the culture, history, and chemistry of coffee. Last semester when I traveled abroad to Iceland I learned about the concept of sustainability through community. I immediately decided that this concept is one in which I want to work and help others. When Ruth Ann Church came to speak to our class, I was very eager to learn about what she was doing because her work revolves around sustainability and community strength. I am so glad I got the chance to take this class because not only did it help[ me appreciate coffee on a more informed level, but it also gave me assurance about what I should do after college.”
“Yes, my thoughts (and attitude for that matter) have changed as a result of this class. Before taking the class never knew why a certain cup of coffee tasted good to me: it was random. But now with what we have learned I know why certain cups of coffee taste better to me than others - based on how the beans were roasted, or how the specific cup of coffee was brewed.”
“Yes. I am now more mindful of the coffee that I drink. I find myself taking much more than just taste into account. I also think of the roast, the chemistry of the water, where the beans came from, how the farmer was treated, etc. After this class, coffee is much more than a tasting experience.”
“Being that I had a background in coffee prior to this class and work at a coffee shop, I would say that my opinions have not changed much. I did really enjoy roasting though. I found it fun to drink the fruit of my labor. I still want to further a career in coffee, specifically with sourcing. I find that my appreciation for a cup goes beyond the caffeine fix and the flavor, rather it is the process and experience. I’m excited to keep finding was to become more a part of the process.”
“My thoughts on coffee have changed dramatically because of this class. I used to think of coffee as merely a beverage, now I cannot separate coffee from its roast or its origin. I think the roasting process is fascinating for what flavors you can get out of coffee. As the class has gone one I have become intrigued by the ethics and origins of coffee.”
“Yes, I have become more aware of the science behind coffee, which has helped me become more interested in why certain coffee tastes the way it does. It makes drinking coffee more of an interactive experience for me since I now try to pick out the different flavor notes and differences to other coffee I’ve had.”
"In this class, because all of us drink coffee, the knowledge is applicable to us. And we’re taking a class we’d never expect to take in college. This class to me is the definition of a liberal arts education.”
“This class has definitely increased my appreciation of coffee, especially in the roasting of it. I see all of the work and love that goes into the process. Coffee really brings people together throughout the world and I now recognized that when I go to a coffee shop here. So many people around the world — farmers, families, fair traders — are affected by the cup of coffee I’m drinking ....”