For many of us in the sphere of academia, coffee is our go-to beverage early in the morning. Without coffee, the halls of learning would be filled only with the sleepiest of students and the grumpiest of teachers. Fittingly, Montgomery College’s Rockville Campus houses an oasis of caramel and mocha within the Student Services Building. The MBI Cafe proudly serves Starbucks Coffee products. attracting students and faculty in droves during the morning and afternoon hours, satisfying a common craving among the masses.
Despite its obvious utility, the author of this article would like readers to imagine a MC campus without a Starbucks. Instead, visualize one that houses a bubble tea stand to satiate its guests. The primary point is that in recent years, bubble tea (also known as boba) has spiked in popularity worldwide, appealing to a broad customer demographic that appreciates its variety, flavor, and customization. On the other hand, Starbucks Coffee is an overhyped cultural phenomenon and a typical motif in academia. Its menu offerings have become predictable to a consumer base that seems increasingly interested in either healthy drink options or expanding its taste palette. Therefore, and for other reasons to be hashed out, it is compelling to suggest that the Starbucks Coffee in the Student Services Building should be replaced with a bubble tea shop. In doing so, the Rockville Campus will be the hub of a novel, intercultural, and fresh beverage experience.
The Downsides of Starbucks
There are a few downsides to having a Starbucks on campus which ought to be further explained. First and foremost, housing a Starbucks vendor feeds into a potentially campus-wide caffeine dependency, which itself brings health drawbacks such as irritability, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating. According to Healthline, caffeine can have many negative effects on a person’s health, such as anxiety and sleep disturbances. Doubtless, many of MC’s students have fallen into the trap of caffeine dependency fueled by their daily trips to Starbucks Coffee. It’s worth mentioning that many people either avoid caffeine or are looking for caffeine-free alternatives, a niche in which bubble tea excels. It has less caffeine than coffee and a chemical compound called L-theanine which has a range of benefits including providing a dose of energy without the coffee jitters. Tapioca pearls found in boba have their own benefits as well, as they contain two key nutrients: calcium and potassium.
Bubble tea shops offer an inclusive menu, with both caffeinated and non-caffeinated options, making them accessible to a broader range of customers.
A Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino from Starbucks contains 65 grams of sugar. A White Chocolate Mocha contains 46 grams of sugar. Across the board, the Starbucks menu is littered with drinks heavy in syrups, sugar, and creams. Bubble tea maintains its sweetness and yet can be customized to have a low-sugar or zero-sugar level. Boba consumers can not only control the sweetness, they can also choose alternative milk bases, like almond or oat milk, which caters to dietary needs such as for those who are lactose intolerant or vegan. The herbs in boba like matcha or green tea also have beneficial health properties. Bubble tea is just as customizable as Starbucks Coffee if not more so, while preserving the integrity of a healthy beverage choice.
The Upside of Bubble Tea
While the downsides of Starbucks have been laid out, there are a few upsides to Bubble tea that have yet to be discussed. First, a bubble tea shop on campus would be the essence of multiculturalism. MC prides itself on many things, one of which is the large international student body. Bubble tea originated in Taiwan and so boba on campus may help many among our diverse student population feel more at home. For others, it can serve as a novel cultural exchange and invite them to explore international flavors. Many ongoing crises have highlighted the importance of cultural acceptance and awareness. A bubble tea shop would help foster these important principles in the community.
Finally, there is the matter of sustainability. When it comes to going green, boba shops have Starbucks beat. Coffee production is famous for having a significant environmental impact, with deforestation and high water consumption serving as its calling cards. Tea leaves can be grown in more varied climates and require less intensive farming methods. Plenty of bubble tea stores use environmentally friendly packaging such as biodegradable straws and compostable cups, and the potential store on campus should follow suit. I am not a fan of full and smelly trash cans around campus, so the alternative packaging of bubble tea seems like a sustainable approach in comparison.
Summary
While the MBI Cafe serving Starbucks on campus is a crowd favorite, it has its limits. Without going as far as replacing the Starbucks menu entirely, it would be appealing to see a menu change that includes bubble tea. Otherwise, it would be just as cool to have a boba truck come on campus everyday to serve as an alternative. Bubble tea is a contemporary trend that can already be found worldwide, providing a fresh alternative to coffee with its wide range of customizable options, caffeine-free beverages, sustainability, and multicultural enrichment. Conclusively, bringing bubble tea to MC is a move for the future.
