A researcher at the 3mE Faculty started a petition to keep the Coffee Star on the square in front of the IDE Faculty. It was signed nearly 1,750 times.
Crowded outside in front of the Coffee Star. (Photo: Justyna Botor)
The person who initiated the petition is Materials Scientist Alejandro Aragón (3mE). He and his colleagues have gone to the Coffee Star on the square in front of Industrial Design Engineering (IDE) every day for six years and he cannot bear the thought that the company may have to go. “It would be sad if this would put an end to our tradition. The coffee is tasty and is not expensive, the atmosphere and the service are good, and the employees are pleasant, young and customer-friendly.
Aragón heard from the Coffee Star staff that discussions with Starbucks are underway. Not that he has anything against Starbucks, he says, “But if something works, why would you change it?”
The discussions that Aragón is referring to are ones held between Appèl, the catering company, and potential subcontractors. Earlier this year Appèl won the European tender for the catering at TU Delft and will take over the job from Cirfood in mid-July. It also means that Appèl is free to appoint subcontractors at some locations. Coffee & Bikes on the square in front of IDE is one of them. The Coffee Star in the TU Delft Library is not. It has a separate contract with TU Delft.
‘The Coffee Star is the heart of the campus’
When asked, a TU Delft spokesperson let it be known that TU Delft is happy with Coffee Star, has informed Appèl of this, and is hearing good things about the talks between the two. Appèl will respond to Delta’s questions on Monday.
In the meantime, Aragón’s petition is doing better than he had expected. It has been signed almost 1,750 times. The responses show much support for the Coffee Star. Many also oppose the arrival of a Starbucks. One person wrote: ‘To me, Coffee Star is at the heart of the TU Delft campus. The baristas are super friendly and many of them are also TU Delft students. The PhD candidates are crazy about Coffee Star. The atmosphere is super amicable. A big American firm will not do any better than Coffee Star. And we have not even touched on the fact that Starbucks is much more expensive than Coffee Star. Students can’t afford Starbucks!’
What the arrival of Starbucks or another coffee bar would mean for the employees of the Coffee Star is uncertain. Appèl is responsible for this issue too. TU Delft made it mandatory for the catering company to offer Cirfood employees at all TU Delft locations a contract in line with the collective labour agreement (CAO) for contract catering and the same labour conditions. This requirement does not apply to student employees such as those at the Coffee Star. “But of course TU Delft will suggest putting this on the agenda,” said the TU Delft spokesperson.
Editor in chief
Saskia Bonger
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