Student perspectives on the change to City Sister’s Coffee

By Mollie Allen

Along with this year's change in dining hall services, St. Catherine University has experienced a change in its cafe. Located on the second floor of the Coeur de Catherine is City Sisters Coffee. City Sisters Coffee offers a wide variety of drink options, from boba and refreshers to mochas and lattes. This cafe is a women-owned business, representing a change that aligns with St. Catherine University’s mission as a historically women’s college to uplift and support women. However, the City Sisters Coffee spot was a Caribou last year, and students have various opinions about this shift.

Johannah Westmoreland ‘30 (ASL major, she/her), was told about the Caribou during her tour last year. “...I got here and I was like, what is City Sisters Coffee? Because I thought it was supposed to be a Caribou,” said Westmoreland. She said she doesn’t drink coffee but likes the other drinks Caribou offers, which is why she looked forward to having one on campus. “And I was very excited because it’s my favorite place ever.” She went on to further describe how she felt about the change. “I was a little upset, but it’s not bad, so it’s fine,” she said. 

An interview with a returning student revealed a different opinion.  “I’m feeling really great about it,” says Narriah Copeland ‘28 (Fashion Merchandising major, Marketing minor, she/her).  “I feel like our Caribou didn’t really have that many options, and I feel like we were just seeing the same thing every season as well. So I like that with the switch, they brought over new things.” She went on to list some new varieties in beverages and dairy-free options, which she is really excited about.

These contrasting opinions reveal that students at St. Catherine University have mixed feelings about the change to City Sisters Coffee. Overall, it will be interesting to see how the student body continues to respond to this shift over time.