Trisha Tsundapalli ‘21
Since the beginning of the year, the smoothie bar has become a pivotal destination for many Upper School students on the way to class. With offerings such as the cake batter frappe, draft latte cans, and strawberry banana smoothies, it attracts sweets-loving and coffee-loving students alike. Ashlyn Krow ‘21 says, “It’s really nice to have such a convenient way of buying a coffee or a drink after a long, stressful day or nights with little sleep.” EA’s coffee bar was inspired by a coffee company previously owned by Lisa McDonnell, the school store manager. She says, “I used to own a coffee business down in Florida. I thought it would be nice for students to have a place that they can come to for coffee. As we got started, the menu expanded, and we added smoothies and frappes to the list.”
In organizing the coffee bar, McDonnell sent out a call through the EAPA to staff it. Several women, mostly mothers of EA students, took to the challenge with optimism. Heather Radano says, “I love coffee. I have a fancy machine at home… Something in the EAPA newsletter caught my eye. I thought it might be fun to work there and see the kids.”
The well-lit and welcoming bar is located in the school store. In the original design, the shop was planned to be installed at the Newtown Post near the Lower School. McDonnell explains, “After reevaluating the location, we decided it would be more accessible in the Campus Center, which is a central and more accessible location on campus. It is also easier for me to help out the volunteering moms if there is a particular rush. Although I would love for our menu to offer more drinks, the coffee shop will not be expanding or moving to another location.”
Students have have also taken note of “rush hour” times during the year. McDonnell says, “On colder days, the warmer drinks sell better. On warmer days, the cooler drinks sell better. The most popular times of day include lunch, after chapel, and at the end of the day, mostly around 2:30.” The same applies for middle schoolers. Megan Hinckley ‘21 says, “I usually try to go to the smoothie bar during my frees, because it is really crowded during lunch.”
Although students generally appreciate the new addition to the school store, a few improvements have been suggested. Laura Lewis ‘19 says, “Unfortunately, I cannot get coffee regularly because I feel like I am draining too much money from my account each time.” Anya Kohli ‘21 says, “I don’t usually finish my drinks because, sometimes, they are too much. I think that if the smoothie bar offered a smaller size at a lower price, it would solve this issue and the one about the cost. But overall, I love the addition of the smoothie bar and the convenience!”