After months of evaluating various coffee brands, St. Thomas Dining Services has replaced Starbucks with Peace and Alakef Coffees.

Duluth-based Alakef Coffee is now served at Summit Marketplace, T’s, Beakers and Brady coffee cart, as well as at Food for Thought on the Minneapolis campus. Minneapolis-based Peace Coffee is offered at the View and the Loft.

Director of Dining Services Todd Empanger said the university’s contract with Starbucks lasted until last December.

“Students asked for something local and fair trade,” Empanger said. “We took some surveys and evaluated new coffees.”

Empanger said a coffee tasting at Summit Marketplace measured student feedback.

“We haven’t had any complaints,” Empanger said.

Freshman Andy Kaufer, who works at Summit Marketplace, said he hasn’t noticed a difference in coffee sales.

“Students seem to like the coffee just the same,” Kaufer said.

Junior Heather Meeks said she thinks students will get used to the new coffee.

“Some people may be more used to Starbucks, but I’m sure they won’t have a hard time adjusting,” Meeks said.

While the change to Peace and Alakef Coffees began in January, Empanger said it is difficult to predict which coffees will be most popular until at least three semesters of implementation.

“When you’re in a position to please people, two options work better,” Empanger said. Though there are two options, the prices of the new contracts are about the same as they were for Starbucks, and the varieties are very similar, Empanger said.

Both companies emphasize being organic and fair trade, which was highly recommended by Students for Justice and Peace.

“Dining Services is all about being sustainable, and both of these companies follow that philosophy,” Empanger said. “It was a good switch.”

Senior Josh Zahrbock, president of Students for Justice and Peace, said he supports the switch. According to Zahrbock, before the switch, St. Thomas was the only ACTC school to not have a mission-driven coffee provider.

“Now, we have joined the other universities in supporting ethical, organic, fair trade coffee companies, and more importantly making sure money is going back to support the coffee growers and their communities,” Zahrbock said.

Michelle Doeden can be reached at doed1842@stthomas.edu