With the loss of the River Oaks Espresso Bar, owned and operated by Gary Wallace in the Bakersfield College cafeteria, students at BC are left to the Farmer Brothers coffee offered at Panorama Grill.
BC student Christine Abarca said, “I’m happy with it, I always get the cappuccino.”
Vivian Deidda, a Human Resources student at BC, said, “Last week the coffee tasted funny. I don’t know if it was the cup or the coffee.”
Tim Cruz, 29, believes “They should have different creamer flavors like Irish Cream, Amaretto, like 7-Eleven does. ”
Other students, such as Sonny Santos, 18, prefer to make their coffee. “I usually make it at home and drink the cheapest brand I can find,” said Santos.
Joey Hargraves, 22, said, “When we can afford it, I go to Starbucks, but every morning we have a coffee machine and make Folgers Classic or Folgers Premium Roast.”
When asked if there have been any issues with the current coffee selection, BC Food Services Manager Alex Gomez said, “We’ve had no complaints” and that he has been “researching alternative choices for the students.”
As for the absence of Wallace, Gomez said, “Gary was having health issues and could no longer operate the bar.”