It’s common knowledge that Bryan College Station is nicknamed Aggieland because of the formidable presence of Texas A&M University, the state’s first public institution of higher education that put this area on the map. But I have an idea for another moniker, based on the increasing number of local places to caffeinate: Coffee Town U.S.A.
There’s little question that as a community, we love our coffee. Since Insite Brazos Valley Magazine published its list of local coffee shops a little more than a year ago, the numbers have grown considerably, warranting an update. In fact, we think coffee — as its own topic —deserves a deeper dive.
We give the subject of coffee lots of ink in this issue, with multiple stories from a variety of angles. Even if you don’t love coffee, it’s hard not to feel Bryce Schneider’s exuberance for the Dutch Bros culture or Game Day Coffee Co. owners’ passion for the customers they serve from their mobile coffee trailer.
August has traditionally been our back-to-school issue with a strong Texas A&M tie-in, and in putting together this issue, we discovered a strong connection between coffee and the college. Take, for example, the Aggie-owned Rooster’s Bike and Coffee Shop, close to campus. In addition to coffee, Rooster’s offers students a means of transportation as well as a hip hangout for studying. Then there’s Aggieland Coffee, owned by three Texas A&M alums, whose story written by Aubrey Vogel, takes us to a coffee plantation in Central America before it circles back to B/CS. Texas A&M itself is the home of the Center for Coffee Research and Education, and former Insite BV editor Katie Harris introduces us to the center’s impressive work, which has a significant reach and influence on the coffee industry globally.
Tremendous research is also conducted through Texas A&M’s Cushing Library, and writer Lydia Hill takes us inside. We also get a sneak peek at the upcoming season presented by MSC OPAS at Texas A&M and hear from Lori Allen, of “Yes to the Dress: Atlanta” fame, this year’s featured speaker for Pink Alliance’s 18th Annual Surviving & Thriving Breast Cancer Awareness Luncheon coming up this September.
It’s hard to believe we’re already planning for fall and getting ready for the coming school year. If you’re new to Aggieland, you might want to flip two pages to our roundup of some of Texas A&M's traditions so you’ll be up to speed when the semester starts; proud Aggies will likely get a kick out of this story too. Me thinks it’s time for a new tradition, something to do with coffee, perhaps? How about this: pulling an all-nighter preparing for a big exam while sipping bottomless cups of caffeinated joe? Ha-ha! Just kidding! That time-honored tradition is alive and well in college towns everywhere — but especially here in Coffee Town U.S.A.
Best,
Ellen Ritscher Sackett, Editor-in-Chief
