On December 7, the CST’s new event series, Brainy Bites, made its debut! This program aims to bring science to the forefront of conversations about foods that we may interact with every day but seldom take a moment to think about, and what a better way to kick off the series than with some coffee. By collaborating with the phenomenal, student-led Coffee Club on campus, we were able to organize two event sessions where undergraduates first engaged in a conversation about the ecology and sustainability of coffee and then got to bring what they learned to a coffee tasting (otherwise known as a “cupping”) led by Ben Schellack, the owner of Penstock Coffee, a local roastery and Coffee Club partner. By the end of the event, participants had learned about the realities of coffee harvesting throughout the world, the ways changes in climate are affecting coffee growth and exports, and the variations in taste of several kinds of coffee beans. The event was a great success and we are very excited to work with more community partners on and beyond campus to bring students more informative and fun Brainy Bites next semester!