Bean offers pick-me-up for late nights at library

Liz Baird Guest Writer

It's 12:30 a.m. You're holed up in the library, writing a ten-page paper. It is due in eight hours and lacks five pages. Already your head is beginning to droop, the words on the computer screen are blurring, and you wonder how you'll ever stay awake to finish. You need coffee, but the Retreat is closed and ACDC is so far away. What is one to do?

Luckily, you remember that Matthew's Bean is just down the stairs. It may be difficult to get to, but keep looking—it’ll be worth it. Once you arrive, you order a steaming cup of coffee, and the caffeine gives you strength to press on. This little café has saved the day once again.

Donated by the Class of 2002, Matthew's Bean is the ideal place for those in need of rejuvenation, for those who want to relax and momentarily pretend that they've finished their work.

“They wanted to create a place in the library where students could [unwind with] a cup of coffee or cappuccino,” said Director of Campus Dining Maureen King of the Class of 2002. “The class officers had a real vision of what they wanted and how they wanted this space to look.”

Serving a variety of coffee drinks (with café mochas being the most popular beverage), as well as chai tea, hot chocolate, and various pastries, anyone can find something to enjoy. The Class of ’02 succeeded not only in providing much-needed refreshments, but also in creating a tranquil atmosphere for frazzled students. On any given night, music plays quietly in the background as people chat with friends, their books and notes lay forgotten for a moment as they take a brief break.

“It's more of the workers who study here,” said Bean employee Tricia Stanley ’07, whose ability to do homework while working is a reflection of the subdued, casual environment. “We sit doing our work and then the occasional customer comes in and we get up to serve them,” she said. The only breaks in this routine occur on Sunday and Monday nights, the peak study time for most students. “Sunday and Monday are much busier,” Stanley observed. “We can't really do work then.”

Along with providing students with the break they crave, Matthew's Bean does its part to help those with more serious needs by only brewing Pura Vida Fair Trade coffee, different from the Java City Fair Trade coffee served elsewhere on campus.

Pura Vida’s mission is to help change the way business is conducted, working for good as opposed to greed. A portion of the profits go towards helping families in need in coffee growing countries. One more excuse to take that coffee break!

It's clear that Matthew's Bean has become an important part of our campus.

“I think the Class of 2002 would be happy to see that their gift has benefited so many students, just as they had hoped,” said King.

Matthew’s Bean is open Sunday through Thursday from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.