The Coffee House was established in 1968 by the Associated Students of the University of California at Davis. Originally located in East Hall, it was founded with the concept of creating a small eatery that would provide high quality food and offer an environment where students could relax between classes.

In 1973 the Coffee House changed location to the East Side of the Memorial Union, where it was run entirely by students with only a $75,000 budget.

As part of a general MU expansion plan, it moved again in the spring of 1991, this time to the West Side of the MU, where it happily prospers today.

The Coffee House is currently a $4,000,000 break-even operation staffed by 5 full-time and career employees, a handful of student managers, and over 200 student employees. Approximately 40 part time student supervisors are responsible for daily oversight and weekend management of the Coffee House, while the full time staff oversees all aspects of the operation from annual budgeting to customer service.

As the most popular dining facility at UC Davis, the ASUCD Coffee House has been providing some of the most inexpensive and nutritious food on campus for the last 40 years, and continues to do so for more than 7,000 customers daily. The Coffee House also hires over 100 new employees each year.

Objectives

To provide the highest quality of food at the lowest possible prices.

To operate on a break-even financial basis.

To offer alternative food with emphasis on freshly prepared, natural and ethnic specialties.

To offer service during non-peak hours when all other food services are closed.

To foster an atmosphere of concern and responsiveness to ecological practices to the fullest extent possible.

To support other ASUCD activities.

To employ students to the maximum extent possible.