Walking up the grand staircase of the Kimmel Center for University Life, you’ll likely be met by a lengthy line that twists and turns around a relatively small kiosk. Accompanied by the repeated calls of “iced matcha” and “meal swipe or dining dollars?” and baristas meticulously crafting beverages, walking into this environment might first appear hectic and cold. But behind the facade of the student lunch rush, the team at Peet’s Coffee has created a community that is quite the opposite. 

Whether it’s the synergy between fan-favorite employees like LuLu and Anthony or the mass relief felt by a mob of students when they finally get their morning cup of joe, the cafe brings people together. Saralyn Fendley, Peet’s food service supervisor, has been working with NYU Dining since 2013, but still feels drawn to Kimmel for the way it maintains quick service without sacrificing student interaction.

“I like the rush and interacting with people and creating new drinks,” Fendley told WSN. “With students, there’s a lot going on — midterms, finals, even down to they’re just having one of those days — and you just want to make them feel better because we’re all connected.” 

That connection runs much deeper than the quick, 15-second conversation that students have while a barista takes their order. Many cafes might start a customer interaction with “What do you want?” But a conversation at Peet’s is not complete without a “How are you?” — a simple, yet impactful way to connect with students. 

Steinhardt sophomores and Peet’s regulars Betania Solomon and Lauren Suzuki recall that the cafe’s vibrant atmosphere of loud music and laughing employees drew them in, and that any interaction they have had at Peet’s has been nothing short of electric.

“I like how they are always making the students feel welcome and the employees are always putting their hearts into the drinks,” Solomon said. 

If the line that extends well past the Commuter Lounge isn’t enough proof of Peet’s allure, the many student and even alumni regulars that frequent Peet’s on a weekly — or even daily — basis should. For Suzuki, there’s no such thing as a bad experience at Peet’s. “The staff just has such great energy and every time I see them, it’s a great time,” Suzuki said.

Of course, Peet’s wouldn’t be Peet’s without the familiar faces behind the coffee. When the staff erupts into laughter over inside jokes or sings along karaoke-style to The Weeknd, Fendley said that the team — made up of six core employees and a few former employees — transforms from a group of coworkers into a family. 

“When you have extended family, that’s the ‘fun family’ — that’s what we get here,” Fendley said. “We can joke with each other, be serious with each other, support each other and we also know our role is to make the students [a part] of that as well.”

What the crew lacks in size, they make up for in heart — they celebrate the team’s highs and push through their lows. Each staff member could easily stick to simply being a barista, but Peet’s employees’ persistent thoughtfulness have made them core members of the NYU community. 

Though the short gaps of time between classes may not seem like enough to leave a profound impact on student lives, Fendley hopes that students can look to Peet’s as a strong example of  meaningful community building. 

“Students are really important and we want [them] to grow and take up space and be excellent to each other,” Fendley said. “We hope we can provide that as an image to see: being kind to each other, having fun and supporting each other.”