Bringing Better Coffee to Campus
Location: Farnham, Epsom, Canterbury
Sector: Education / University Catering
Project Scope: Equipment Installation, Coffee Supply, Barista Training, Ongoing Support
Number of Outlets: 6
Equipment Installed: Sanremo ZOE Espresso Machines, Anfim Pratica Grinders
Coffee Chosen: Roots Blossom (Fairtrade Blend from Peru & Brazil)
The Challenge
Like many large institutions, the University for the Creative Arts (UCA) works with a procurement partner, Pelican Procurement Services, to manage supplier decisions across catering and refreshment services.
When the coffee offering on campus began falling short of expectations, Head of Catering Steve Dickson decided it was time for a change. Staff and students were regularly opting to walk off campus for better coffee. Feedback pointed to low-quality beans, unreliable equipment, and a lack of training or support from the existing supplier. Steve tasked Pelican with finding a better option, and they recommended Bridge Coffee Roasters.
The first step towards discovering if we could even help Steve and his team was to have initial meetings and listen to the problems they were experiencing. A lack of support from the supplier, inconsistency in deliveries, low staff engagement and training, and long wait times for servicing and engineer support where among the operational issues.
On the coffee side: low quality equipment, low-cost and dark roasted beans and a lack of training for the staff. These issues combined to create low-quality cups of coffee that fell flat of the expectactions from both staff and students. Steve mentioned that himself, a majority of the staff, and the student cohort, would prefer to walk 10 minutes down to the high street for a great cup of coffee than buy a cup of coffee at the canteens and refectories.
The Solution
Our first step was to sit down with Steve and his team to understand what wasn’t working, and what needed to change. It was clear they weren’t looking for showy third-wave coffee, but consistently good coffee at a fair price, with reliable support behind it.
To help reassure the team, and ensure students would respond well to the switch, we sent over samples of our Roots Blossom blend for taste testing before any commitment was made. The reaction from both students and staff was resoundingly positive.
From there, we carried out detailed site surveys across UCA’s three campuses and six coffee outlets, covering:
- Equipment and electrical requirements
- Water filtration needs
- Workflow efficiency
- Cup volumes and daily footfall
Did UCA Have any Hesitations?
Of course Steve and his team were nervous about making a change – they were taking a risk by changing to a coffee supplier they had never worked with. Alongside the nervousness, there was one main area of concern and hesitation for the team about switching their coffee to being supplied by us; they weren’t sure if the students were going to like the new coffee.
To help ease their anxiety, and to also make sure that they had chosen a coffee that their students were going to enjoy, we and sent them a supply of Roots Blossom so that they could taste test their new coffee with their students before making any commitment to changing. Needless to say the students, and staff, were very glad for the change in flavour.
The Equipment
UCA’s needed high quality, reliable machines that could produce fantastic coffee at an entry level price point. We recommended:
- Sanremo ZOE Espresso Machines – reliable, easy-to-use, and perfect for education sites
- Anfim Pratica Grinders – consistent grind quality, intuitive controls
This setup struck the right balance between performance and price, capable of delivering high volumes without the complexity of a speciality café setup.
Installation and Training
Installation of all six sites took place just five weeks after contracts were signed, thanks to the preparation from our site surveys. Our engineers ensured all equipment was PSSR compliant, and baristas were given on-site training by our team, led by trainer Nikolay.
Post-installation, UCA enrolled in our Gold Service Package, covering:
- Free support, servicing, and repairs
- Guaranteed engineer callout times
- Annual safety inspections and PSSR checks
The Coffee – Roots Blossom
After taste testing with students and joining us for a roastery visit, the UCA team chose Blossom, a medium-roast Fairtrade blend from Peru and Brazil. It’s part of our Roots Collection and is particularly popular in the education sector for its balanced flavour and ethical credentials.
The Outcome
One year on, Steve says the difference is clear.
Students and staff no longer feel the need to head to the high street for a quality coffee—and the coffee offering is no longer a source of stress. Even the university’s Chief Operating Officer now regularly visits the refectory for his cappuccino—something Steve says would never have happened before.
With six upgraded outlets, ongoing training and support, and better coffee in every cup, UCA has built a dependable offer that staff and students are proud of.
What did they say?
“From the first day of install, the feedback from staff and students has been fantastic. They no longer have to walk down the high street to get a good cup of coffee, they can get it here, on campus, at a better price and with better quality.
For me, it took all the pressure and stress away instantly.”
- Steve Dickson, Head of Catering, University for the Creative Arts
