Who Doesn’t Love Coffee?
Upper School Teacher Hannah Zurn teaches a Math Essentials class to high school students at Franklin Academy. This course focuses on the practical skills required to be successful in day-to-day scenarios, such as making a purchase or tipping a server.
Ms. Hannah noticed that worksheets and projects weren’t engaging her students the way she hoped. They seemed tired and low-energy in class. “I needed something fun to draw students in,” she shared. “Especially those who weren’t interested in math.”
She spent time brainstorming, and speaking to peers. How could she sneak essential math skills into an experience students would actually look forward to?
One morning, a thought came to her. What if the students enacted a real-life scenario each week, and ran their own business? And so, the Owl Coffee Company was born.
From Concept to Café
When Ms. Hannah shared her idea, the students were immediately on board. However, there was much work to be done.
To bring their shop to life, students had to start with the basics:
- Develop a business model
- Create an action plan
- Build a realistic budget
There were important questions to answer. What would they serve? How much should it cost?
A trip to a local grocery store gave students the chance to research ingredients and calculate the cost per serving. They worked out pricing that would allow for a small profit while keeping drinks affordable for teachers and staff.
What about getting the word out? A business is also about branding and visibility. Students voted on logos, designed flyers and posters. They created a digital order form so busy staff could order ahead of time for pickup or delivery.
And, in the spirit of real-world applications, they even presented the business plan to their principal and asked for a loan to get the store on its feet!
Come and Get It!
After months of planning, problem solving, and preparation, the Owl Coffee Company officially launched.
Each Thursday, our Community Room is transformed, and students wearing aprons and branded t-shirts greet customers with a smile. Tables are set up, snack bars are arranged with care, and the smell of freshly brewed coffee fills the school.
The class is divided into three teams, each supervised by a staff captain:
- Baristas craft hot coffees and teas, offering various sugar and cream options.
- Cashiers manage the register, calculate totals, and handle change.
- “Door Dashers” are in charge of deliveries, ensuring orders arrive on time and with a positive customer experience.
There’s no question that this experiment is fun for the students, and the staff certainly appreciate the convenient pick-me-up, but important learning is happening, too.
Stealthy Skill Building
Beyond the mental math used in transactions, students are flexing critical skills: communication and professionalism.
One can overlook all the elements of a simple interaction, such as ordering a morning beverage. But when you really think about it, there’s a lot of steps involved!
Students need to greet customers as they approach, start up the conversation by asking what they’d like to order, ask follow up questions to understand their preferences, and thank them for their business.
The “Door Dashers” have their own challenges to navigate: What should I do if the staff member’s door is closed? What should I do if they are in a meeting, or on a phone call?
Through it all, Ms. Hannah is coaching her students to think about professionalism, and how to conduct themselves in this different setting. To practice, the class has done role playing exercises, and written scripts to be used as tools.
A Future Full of Flavor
Each Friday, the class reflects on how it all went down. They look at their expenses and revenue. They brainstorm improvements and give kudos where they’re due.
There have already been innovations as a result of these conversations:
- The launch of Owl Coffee Company bracelets, handmade and sold to staff
- A rotating monthly special—October featured a pumpkin spice coffee
- A field trip to a local coffee shop, Triple D Espresso, where students saw how beans are roasted in-house and asked questions about what it’s really like to work at a café
Next up for the team? Adding additional offerings, such as coffee syrups and pastries!
One Final Sip
The Owl Coffee Company is just getting started, and for this one-of-a-kind math class, there’s much to look forward to.
The coffee shop isn’t just a classroom activity—it’s a powerful example of what education can look like when creativity meets purpose. Through this student-run business, teens who once dreaded math are now engaging in problem-solving, teamwork, and financial literacy—without even realizing they’re learning.
As Ms. Hannah and her students continue to innovate and grow their coffee venture, they’re gaining confidence, independence, and a taste of the real world—one cup at a time.
About The Author: Lizzie Esposito
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