Before taking the For the Love of Coffee course during Interim, iced lattes from a national chain were the be-all, end-all for Sarah Greenlee ’24. Greenlee, an international affairs and Spanish double major from Spartanburg, South Carolina, and her group scored the top prize in the class’ brewing competition.
“My palate matured to enjoying many flavor notes and roast styles,” Greenlee says. “It was incredible to explore the range coffee has and the community it brings.”
Caroline Doss ’24, an English and Spanish double major from Greensboro, North Carolina, echoed the fascination with the social and cultural impact of coffee, and wouldn’t have experienced her last Interim any other way.
“This class has been the best start to my last semester at Wofford,” Doss says. “I tried unique coffee with interesting flavors from all around the world, and I loved showcasing our new brewing skills at the community coffee exhibition.”
Dr. Dane Hilton, assistant professor of psychology, and Dr. Aaron Harp, assistant professor of music, decided to first teach the class in 2023, originally hoping to share their love of coffee with students. Whether coffee connoisseurs or bean beginners, students were welcomed into the classroom to learn about brewing and tasting coffee.
Throughout the month, students practiced making their own coffee in preparation for two events during the final week. At one class event, eight groups competed for the title of best-tasting brew. On Jan. 29, they hosted a community coffee day, where members of the Wofford community were invited to taste free coffee prepared by the students.
The class also involved immersion in the roasting and brewing process through sessions at Little River Roasting Co., taught by owner Gervais Hollowell ’85. They also learned about the various locations from which beans are sourced.
“We’ve had students take this course who were interested in starting a coffee shop one day,” Harp says. “It’s a great way to immerse yourself in the world of coffee.”