The student-run coffee shop in the Hotel Restaurant Tourism Management (HRTM) building, Beans Café, opened for business last Wednesday.

Samples of coffee and baked goods were given away from Wednesday morning through Friday morning of last week.

Beans Café is a chance for students to get “real world, unique experience in another experiential learning avenue,” said Matthew Brinton, director of operations.

Beans Café is a project that has been in the works since winter quarter of last year, when 10 students of HRTM 3350, food and beverage leadership management, came up with the initial idea.

All of the baked goods are made from recipes developed by executive chef Paul Schutt, who cooks for events in the HRTM building.

“He is working with a bunch of new recipes that are only being sold here,” said Brinton.

Beans Café uses Lavazza coffee, a premium Italian roast. Lavazza donated an espresso machine that cost approximately $20,000, Brinton said.

“The original class wanted to be as sustainable as possible, and of course we agreed,” Brinton said. “We have as many eco-friendly products as we can use.”

Beans Café uses eco-friendly cup and lids for hot products. Cups and lids for cold products, as well as the plastic-ware, are made from corn, which biodegrades faster. Paper products are also recycled.

The coffee shop has a staff of three students from the class of HRTM 3350, taught by David Corsun, who is also the director of HRTM .

Sarah Weyhrauch, a senior HRTM major who works at Beans Café, said she was interested in taking the class because it sounded like a “unique opportunity” to have real-world experience.

“It’s very hands-on, and we get to take charge by working in the coffee shop rather than the classroom, and dealing with customers and making sure everyone’s happy,” Weyhrauch said.

Senior HRTM major Jennifer Collins said she has seen several non-HRTM majors come to Beans Café for coffee.

“It’s reasonably priced and conveniently located,” said Collins, who is also the vice president of Hotels of the HRTM Society. “The students who work there will be able to put many of the skills they have learned in Daniels business school and HRTM to use.”

The coffee shop plans to expand its menu to offer breakfast, lunch and brunch foods in the near future.

“We’ll evolve into a full café,” Brinton said.

Beans Café is 400 square feet and is located in the Beverage Management Room to the left of the entrance in the HRTM building.

Beans Café will be open every quarter, and its hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Plans are being discussed to be open during the school’s breaks as well.