Page 169 - Carrollton 2019

According to a 2014 EPA report, "flooding from and you come across two cafes: Panther Coffee and
more intense and frequent storms could push toxins Starbucks. Many people may wonder why there are Panther Coffee has five locations in Miami, has
from Superfund sites (https://www.epa.gov/ two coffee shops right across the street from each built its own roasting facility and is providing their
roasted beans to 137 wholesalers. Although
superfund/what-superfund?scrlybrkr=0fbeafc6) other and how could the local shop begin to compete
business is competitive between the two local
into underground water sources like the Biscayne with the corporate giant, Starbucks. cafes, it is up to the coffee lovers to choose
Aquifer. At the same time, sea level rise is causing
between the corporate giant Starbucks, or their
saltwater intrusion and because saltwater is heavier What are the differences between the coffee?
coffee shop around the corner. Panther Coffee.
than freshwater, it pushes the freshwater closer to
the surface making it vulnerable to contamination. First compare prices. A basic cappuccino at Starbucks
costs $3.95 while the same at Panther Coffee goes for
Despite water quality often being covered in the $4.75 —Panther Coffee is more expensive. Into the Everglades: bugs,

news, a recent Upper School survey revealed that However, should price be the only factor that makes gators, venomous snakes
57.1 % of students are not concerned about water you choose Starbucks? The answer is no and this is
quality. Carrollton has drinking fountains throughout why.
both campuses which deliver unfiltered Miami-Dade
County water. During the 2015-2016 school year, Yes, Starbucks is able to deliver coffee quickly at
the Upper School Ecology Club used money they a lower price, however, Panther Coffee offers a
raised and a cash prize for having received the comfortable and neighborly environment providing a
Fairchild Silver Award, to purchase the first Halsey higher level coffee experience. The owners of Panther
Taylor water fountain and with prize money awarded Coffee, Joel and Leticia Pollock, have a passion for
the following year, they purchased the second. Not coffee. Joel started as a barista and later became a
only do the fountains provide clean filtered water, but coffee taster, traveling the world tasting coffee. Unlike
are designed to accommodate reusable water bottles Starbucks, Panther also works directly with coffee
eliminating the environmental hazard plastic water growers. Panther Coffee shops roast their own coffee
botdes cause. beans and use different brewing techniques in order Written by Gabriela Paredes *21
to enhance the unique flavors of the beans. Local
So far these water fountains have helped prevent coffee shops like Panther Coffee provide a welcoming Ten brave Carrollton students took on the
tens of thousands of plastic botdes from going into atmosphere that cannot be compared to chain cafes challenge of a five-day course in Florida's Ten
the landfills. According to the school survey, 85.7% like Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts. Thousand Islands.
of students use these water fountains at school On a
daily basis refilling their personal water botdes. Even though major chain coffee shops dominate world This past February, students participated in
Carrollton's first course with Outward Bound.
markets, small cafes like Panther Coffee are finding
Their website reads, "Outward Bound’s mission is
A water test conducted on the water quality of ways to break into local markets and ultimately are
the Halsey Taylor fountain and the unfiltered water affecting Starbucks’ and Dunkin Donuts' economic to change lives through challenge and discovery"
fountain revealed that in terms of hardness, pH, success. Smaller businesses operate with the so that through this unique experience, students
iron, Nitrate Nitrogen, and Copper levels, the philosophy of “quality over quantity." While the big can grow in the four pillars of Outward Bound:
quality of the Miami-Dade County supplied water is chains focus on preparing drinks that taste exactly the self-reliance, craftsmanship, physical fitness and
above all compassion.
comparable. However, the unfiltered water tested same at every store, the smaller cafes focus on the
on the high side for Alkalinity of 180 ppm which is unique flavor of each individual drink. These small cafes Freshman, sophomores and juniors overcame
close to the maximum recommended 200 ppm. The are not concerned with making their drinks identical, it many challenges along the way through teamwork
total chlorine of the unfiltered water fountains was is all about the authentic flavor of the coffee itself.
and patience. It was extremely hot, physically
3 ppm while the filtered water tested for 0 ppms of exhausting, and difficult to navigate in such a
chlorine. A school-wide survey revealed that 85.7% of the harsh environment. The team had to be constantly
students prefer Starbucks, 11.6% prefer Panther
aware of snakes, alligators, poisonous plants and
Coffee, 1.8% prefer Pasion Del Cielo, and 0.9%
The 800-pound gorilla versus the biting insects.
prefer Dr. Smood. This is not surprising, because
panther Starbucks is both familiar and less expensive.
Each day consisted of at least five to eight hours
The rivalry between Coconut Grove's two main of paddling. On the first night, the team slept on
If you are on the go, Starbucks could be a better option
coffee hubs: Panther coffee and Starbucks the water in a makeshift camp consisting of wood
for quick and reliable coffee. Rich, a young man from
planks supported by the canoes. The next two
Chicago, said that he chooses Starbucks because,
nights, tents were set up on beaches. Students
“it always tastes the same, the Starbucks app makes
were assigned different jobs on a rotation basis
it easy to purchase on the go, and parking is easy.
including cooking, cleaning, and navigating. On
What is interesting about the survey results is that
the final day, students navigated the route to base
most people indicated that the most important factor in
camp using just a map and a compass without the
buying coffee is "flavor."
guidance of the instructors. Safely reaching base
camp, their final destination, the team reflected on
Michelle, a Panther Coffee customer said, “I believe
their journey, all they learned and the memories
Panther is very transparent about who their producers
they made.
are. They really understand who they are getting
By Ainsley Topping '21 their coffee from - they know their coffee farmers.
Starbucks? I can’t say if anyone really knows I also
It is 3:30 pm. Classes at Carrollton just ended and am not really about supporting big corporations.
you have a Chemistry test and other homework CP
to complete for tomorrow and you are exhausted Michelle was a barista for eight years and said that
from the school day. You walk to Coconut Grove in Panther Coffee always meets her high expectations as
search of anything that would help wake you up a coffee drinker, while Starbucks does not.