A Public Relations Success:

As a freshman in college I randomly applied to Dutch Bros. Coffee in the hopes of finding an “easy” job, I loved coffee and people and thought it would be a perfect fit. But little did I know that getting hired would change my previous plans for the future.

Espresso Machine and Tins

 

Coffee is what we do, but is not who we are

Everyone sees Dutch as a group of happy, unique, hipster kids who have been brought together by the love of coffee. But being a PR student, I see their company for much more. I never knew where I wanted to pursue my career until I got to witness how DB headquarters operates.

Dutch Bros. Instagram
Each Dutch location controls their own PR and marketing, with the guidance of HQ. The most difficult part about this is maintaining a consistent voice across all 256 locations’ accounts.

Then where is the content created for social?

There is a private Facebook group for all the PR teams to share content they curate themselves with one another that is available for use by any shop. However, many stands choose to create their own content while working.

What makes this company stand out from the rest?

Dutch is different because of how much freedom the owners give their employees to express themselves, while still holding true to the company’s tone and mission statement (or in Dutch’s case, our Dutch Creed).

Dutch Bros Facebook
Dutch Bros. has a Love Abounds program built around giving back to the community through various projects as far as El Salvador. The company’s PR comes so easily to them because they’re built around serving and improving the lives of others, and in return, it improves their image.So how has Dutch been able to give so much freedom while staying consistent? Every employee is in a probation period once they are out of training, where each employee is given a mentor that they work with on shift that does not only work on recipes but how to uphold Dutch’s Creed: Speed. Quality. Service.

Turning “kids” into PR pros

Few companies would entrust their college-aged employees to run the job of a PR agency, but somehow Dutch has successfully done so. This says a lot about how times are changing and how millennials are altering the conservative ways businesses’ once operated.

All photo credit to DutchBros.com and DB Facebook social forum

Written by Hope Lumbley, Account Executive

Coffee, Tea, Coca-Cola or Red Bull? Go on, pick your poison!

Photo credit: The Guardian
Photo credit: The Guardian

 

To me, coffee has always been the number one go-to for early morning and mid-day pick-me-ups. It’s clear to see, especially as a student on a college campus, how many people are about to fall asleep at any given moment without that little burst of caffeine in their day.

Benefits and risks are associated with most caffeinated substances. If you have too much, you’ll probably start acting like a maniac, experience anxiety or start talking at a mile-per-minute.

I have decided to break down the caffeine content, pros and cons of each of these drinks that we consume daily.

COFFEE:

Coffee is a deliciously (ok, I’m biased) dark and nutty beverage. Coming from coffee beans, this drink is all natural. The caffeine content can vary from 30-173 mg for your generic home-brewed cup.

The pros are waking up, getting your caffeine on and having an excellent day. The con? If you drink more than a cup or two a day, you risk dehydrating your body severely.

Avoid this by drinking a lot of water on coffee drinking days. Coffee is also a strong stimulant and can tend to hurt sensitive stomachs as well as other organs. Coffee can also cause anxious or jittery behaviors – try drinking “half-caff” instead.

For more information on caffeine, visit http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/caffeine/art-20049372?pg=2

TEA:

Like coffee, tea can be made in many forms and depending on the type, caffeine levels vary. Black tea is typically the strongest at anywhere from 14-64 mg per 8 ounce cup.

Unsweetened tea can aid the body in many ways. It can help with digestion, diabetes, skin issues, liver problems and much more.

Some see tea as a “lesser” form of caffeine because it’s not as instant as a coffee, energy drink or Cola. The caffeine will eventually kick in and likely keep you up at night if you consume too much tea during the day. A tip is to switch to decaf tea.

For more information on tea, visit http://www.livestrong.com/article/501108-pros-and-cons-of-drinking-unsweetened-tea/

ENERGY DRINKS:

Energy drinks are slowly becoming more natural, but companies such as Rockstar and Red Bull are still in business.

Energy drinks are used to boost energy and help sharpen alertness, and are used typically for a long day of work, a long night out or before a workout.

They are pretty much available everywhere and are a really convenient drink that provides around 80-200 mg of caffeine per can.

Sadly, they are filled with chemicals and toxins as well as a high amount of sugar. These drinks can lead to cardiovascular problems, increased blood pressure and obesity if consumed regularly.

For more information on energy drinks, visit http://healthresearchfunding.org/pros-cons-energy-drinks/

SODA:

Soda is something I don’t really care for anymore. I rarely drink it and have grown to hate the taste of such a sweet drink.

There are many folks out there who look to a Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Dr. Pepper or Pepsi for a burst of caffeine and sugar that gives them energy to continue working.

A typical soda beverage has anywhere from 35-50 mg of caffeine. This will definitely give you a quick spike of energy, but because of the added sugar and artificial flavorings it can rapidly drop you off back where you started.

A soda can contains about 40 grams of sugar, on average. Drinking soda daily has been linked with weight gain, heart problems, various cancers and also creates a cycle of sugar addiction.

For more information on soda, visit http://www.onecanofsoda.com

So, pick your poison! It seems that tea is the healthiest choice, but to each their own. Now, excuse me while I go brew some Starbucks Colombian Roast in my kitchen.

Stay on the Go Without Your Cup of Joe

Happy Monday! Time to wake up for that 8 a.m. class! After a long, typical, “Chico weekend” sometimes that early morning class isn’t the first thing on your to-do list. Oftentimes, the pillow takes priority. Luckily we have coffee. But what about the days you wake up late and don’t have time to brew your cup of Joe? Or you forget to bring your wallet to campus? How do we get through our day without our regularly scheduled morning coffee? Kiss the caffeine habit goodbye with some healthier alternatives to staying awake throughout the day.

coffee and fireplace
Photo credit: philmikejones

Sleep: As students, we all have random, crazy schedules that may not allow us to get the full amount of sleep our bodies require to function properly throughout the day. Sleep is extremely important. Let’s face it, after a late night of studying, we wake up looking forward to that afternoon nap. Don’t underestimate the power of the nap! About.com has some Tips for Great Naps about how to nap effectively. Our bodies go through different levels of rest throughout a nap and a night of sleep. Check out this bedtime calculator to figure out the best times to go to sleep and wake up so that your body feels refreshed instead of groggy when you wake up.

Food: Certain foods give us an extra boost of energy, while others make you crave crawling back into bed. Back away from the bed and grab an apple instead. According to Oddee.com, the natural fructose in apples slowly gets released in the body, which provides long lasting energy. Apples also contain carbohydrates to keep you moving and they are a good source of fiber. Another super food that keeps us on the move is eggs. Eggs are packed with protein and help keep us full so we don’t start getting sleepy and feeling lethargic. Throw some eggs in a pan with some chopped up veggies for an easy, energy packed start to your day. Even just the smell of breakfast food cooking will wake up your brain!

Music: Listen to upbeat music while walking to campus and in between classes. You’ll be surprised how some upbeat tunes can boost your mood and energy. Make a playlist of your favorite party songs, because we all know what it’s like to get the “that’s my jam!” feeling. If you need a little help picking out some energizing songs, spinebreakers.com has an awesome Top 10 Songs to Wake You Up in The Morning playlist already made to help you get your booty out of bed with a smile on your face.

You can tackle tomorrow without a caffeine crash. Ditch the cup of joe, bump your favorite beats, throw an apple in your school bag and take a guiltless power nap!