Coffee culture plays a significant role at California Baptist University and in the Riverside community—socially and even economically. But could rising coffee prices signal the end of coffee dates and casual hangouts?
Recent articles about coffee importation highlighted growing concerns, as shifting costs threatened small businesses and affected customers’ purchasing decisions. Brianna Möhring, sophomore psychology major, works on campus at Wanda’s, the university’s local and most accessible coffee shop.
She believed rising prices encouraged many students and regular coffee drinkers to opt for making their own drinks at home. Buying in bulk and learning to craft coffee that fit personal tastes became increasingly popular. Still, for many, the chance to socialize made the venture—and the cost—worthwhile.
At Wanda’s, prices remained relatively consistent. Möhring pointed out, “On campus, we’re supposed to be cheaper than Starbucks. We’re supposed to be cheaper than a whole bunch of other places, just for the convenience of students.”
While CBU kept prices from inflating, Möhring noted that buying branded coffee elsewhere came with its own issues. “At least 75% of what you pay is for the brand at that point,” she said.
This pricing phenomenon reflected a larger issue—climate shifts affecting global coffee production. It wasn’t just consumers facing loss; sellers also struggled as crops diminished year after year. With global demand rising, some experts warned of a possible coffee shortage or “coffee extinction.”
Arely Argueta, freshman pre-nursing major, said she avoided checking coffee prices because of how high they had become. Still, she relied on coffee to stay alert in her studies. “It’s a better substitute for energy drinks,” she said. Without coffee, she admitted she might return to other sources of caffeine.
Sham Muniz, sophomore nutrition and food science and Christian studies double major, shared a similar perspective. “When you’re buying coffee, you’re also buying a service. You’re not just buying the product, so it makes sense that it would be more expensive than making coffee at home.”
Still, Muniz expressed concern about growing dependence on caffeine. “Coffee addictions are a real issue in our generation,” she said. “Coffee energizes us by blocking the receptors that make you realize you’re tired. Any addiction, from a theological level, is not beneficial—whether it’s coffee, nicotine or sugar. You’re becoming dependent on a substance, and we are told to be dependent on Christ.”
Whether rising prices threaten coffee shop culture or machine-made alternatives reduce the appeal of in-person experiences, many coffee drinkers appeared committed to supporting local businesses—and drinking caffeine to power through their day.
