You’re walking through the Memorial Union at UC Davis, and the first thing that hits you isn't the smell of textbooks or the sound of bike tires on pavement. It’s the wall of noise. The UC Davis Coffee House, or the "CoHo" as literally everyone calls it, is basically the beating heart of the campus. It’s loud. It’s chaotic. It’s managed almost entirely by students. Honestly, if you haven't stood in a 12:15 PM line for a bagel sandwich while frantically checking your Canvas notifications, have you even really attended UC Davis?
Established back in 1968, the CoHo started as a tiny operation in the basement of the Memorial Union. It wasn't always this massive food court style hub. Originally, it was a dark, moody space with a stage for folk singers and poets. Think beatnik vibes, but with more midterms. Today, it’s one of the largest student-run businesses in the country, pulling in millions in revenue while keeping prices low enough that you don't have to call your parents for a loan just to buy a muffin.
What Actually Makes the UC Davis Coffee House Different?
Most campus dining is corporate. You see a Starbucks, a Panda Express, maybe a Subway. But the CoHo is a different beast entirely because it’s a self-supporting auxiliary of the Associated Students, University of California, Davis (ASUCD). This means the student government runs the show. They employ over 250 students. This isn't just a place to get caffeine; it’s a massive employment engine that teaches undergrads how to manage supply chains, handle payroll, and survive the lunch rush without having a breakdown.
The food isn't just "cafeteria grade" either. Because they aren't beholden to a massive corporate contract like Sodexo or Aramark, they have a lot of leeway with their menu. They make their own croutons. Seriously. The "TxMx" station (pronounced Tex-Mex, obviously) doesn't just open cans; they’re actually prepping ingredients. You can get a massive bowl of chili or a "Foco" (Focaccia) sandwich that’s essentially a rite of passage for freshmen.
People get confused about the layout sometimes. It's not one single line. It’s a series of "platforms." You’ve got Ciao for pizza and pasta, Crustians for sandwiches, and Swirlz for the sweet stuff. The logistics are a nightmare during peak hours, yet somehow, it works. The sheer volume of coffee they move—mostly sourced from local roasters—is staggering.
The Secret Economy of the CoHo
Let’s talk money. Because the CoHo is student-run, the profit doesn't go to some CEO’s yacht. It goes back into student services. When you buy a $4 latte, you’re essentially subsidizing student government programs, clubs, and campus events. It’s a closed-loop economy that actually benefits the people spending the money.
Prices stay lower than the downtown Davis cafes. Usually.
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There's a trade-off, though. Since it’s student-run, the service can be... "relaxed" at times. You might get a trainee who’s never used an espresso machine before, or someone who is clearly thinking about their O-Chem midterm instead of your oat milk substitution. It’s part of the charm. If you want a silent, professional corporate experience, go to the Starbucks across the street. If you want the authentic, slightly frantic energy of 30,000 students trying to survive finals week, you stay at the UC Davis Coffee House.
Dealing With the Crowds
If you show up at 12:00 PM on a Tuesday, good luck. You’ll be lucky to find a chair, let alone a table with an outlet. The CoHo is a battleground for real estate. Students will "squat" on a table for six hours with a single empty cup of coffee. It’s a known issue.
- Pro tip: Head to the back corners near the "Lounge" area if you need a plug.
- The 10-minute rule: If you see someone packing their laptop, stand nearby. Don't be creepy, but be assertive.
- Off-peak hours: 8:00 AM is surprisingly chill. 3:00 PM is a ghost town compared to the lunch rush.
Sustainability Isn't Just a Buzzword Here
UC Davis is a "green" school. We have an entire department dedicated to viticulture and enology, and a massive agricultural focus. The CoHo leans into this hard. They were pioneers in composting on campus. Long before it was trendy for every cafe to have three different bins for waste, the CoHo was sorting scraps.
They also try to source locally. We’re in the Central Valley, the literal salad bowl of the world. It would be embarrassing if they didn't use local produce. They work with the UC Davis Student Farm to get fresh ingredients when the seasons allow. This isn't just marketing fluff; it’s a logistical partnership that reduces the carbon footprint of your lunch. You can actually taste the difference in the salads at the Chopstix or the salad bar—the greens don't have that "shipped in a plastic bag from three states away" texture.
Beyond the Coffee: The CoHo South and Sidekicks
The main CoHo is in the Memorial Union, but the empire has expanded. You’ve got CoHo South over by the SciLec (Sciences Lecture Hall). It’s smaller, more focused on quick grabs, and infinitely better if you have back-to-back classes on that side of campus.
Then there’s the BioBrew and the Exchange. These are smaller satellites, but they carry the same student-run ethos.
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Wait, we have to talk about the pastries. The "Kitchen" at the CoHo is a legitimate bakery. They aren't just defrosting frozen cookies. They are back there at 4:00 AM baking muffins, scones, and those massive rice krispie treats that could double as a brick. The pumpkin bread is a seasonal cult favorite. People will literally track the dates it returns to the menu. It's moist, spiced right, and usually sells out by noon.
Why It Survives When Others Fail
The restaurant business is brutal. Most places fail within three years. The UC Davis Coffee House has survived five decades, a global pandemic, and constant changes in student tastes. How?
Adaptability.
When students started demanding more vegan and vegetarian options, the CoHo didn't just add a sad salad. They overhauled entire platforms. When the "third-wave" coffee movement hit, they upgraded their beans and equipment. They listen to the ASUCD Coffee House Advisory Committee. Yes, that’s a real thing. Students literally sit in meetings and argue about the price of bagels and the quality of the tofu.
It’s this hyper-local accountability that keeps it relevant. If the coffee starts tasting like battery acid, students complain to their peers, and things actually change. You don't get that at a multinational chain.
Navigating the Menu Like a Local
If you’re new to campus, don't just order a "coffee." That’s amateur hour.
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Try the Iced Aggie. It’s basically a mocha with a kick, and it’s the unofficial fuel of every all-nighter in Shields Library. If you’re hungry, the "Chicken Adobe" or the "California Club" at the sandwich station are solid choices.
But the real MVP? The soup.
They have a rotating soup calendar. The Tomato Bisque or the Broccoli Cheddar served in a bread bowl is peak comfort food on the three days a year it actually rains in Davis. It's cheap, it’s filling, and it’s consistent.
A Quick Reality Check
Look, it’s not perfect. The acoustics in the MU are terrible. It’s like eating in a gymnasium. Sometimes the floors are a bit sticky because a thousand people just walked through with wet bike tires. And yeah, the line for the restrooms in the MU is always five people deep.
But there’s a soul to the place. You’ll see professors arguing about physics at one table and freshmen trying to figure out their first crush at the next. It’s the "Third Place" that sociologists always talk about—that spot that isn't home and isn't work (or school), but a community hub where life just happens.
Practical Steps for Your Next Visit
If you're planning to drop by, keep these things in mind to make the experience less overwhelming:
- Download the Mobile App: You can often order ahead. This is a game changer. Skip the 20-minute line and just grab your bag from the pickup shelf.
- Bring a Reusable Cup: You get a discount. It’s small, but over a quarter, it adds up to a few free drinks. Plus, it saves on the mountain of paper waste the MU produces daily.
- Check the "Daily Specials": They are usually posted on the monitors near the entrances. This is often where the best value is found.
- Mind the Bike Parking: Don't just dump your bike on the sidewalk outside the MU. TAPS (Transportation Services) is ruthless. Use the designated racks or prepare for a ticket.
- Payment is Easy: They take AggieCash, credit cards, and mobile pay. Cash is increasingly rare, but they still have a register for it.
The UC Davis Coffee House is more than just a place to get a caffeine fix. It's a lab for business management, a community center, and a testament to what happens when you give students the keys to the kitchen. Whether you’re a cynical senior or a wide-eyed visitor, you haven't really seen UC Davis until you've sat in the CoHo, surrounded by the hum of ten thousand conversations, and enjoyed a pastry that was baked just a few feet away from where you’re sitting.
Next time you’re there, take a second to look at the photos on the walls. They show the history of the place—from the 70s hippies to the 90s grunge kids to the tech-focused students of today. The fashion changes, the laptops get thinner, but the need for a good, cheap cup of coffee and a place to sit stays exactly the same.