Beaver’s Brew Cafe
Interview | Linnea Hopfenbeck
J | Josh / M | MEMO
M: If it’s ok with you I’ll just get straight on with the questions. So, I was wondering if you could first tell me a little bit about how long you’ve been working at the cafe, and what your role is there?
J: Nearly two years. Started in third of university, continued after graduation.
M: If you knew anything about the history of the cafe, how long it’s been there, maybe why it came about?
J: Newish - 3 years. The cafe opened at the same time as the building.
M: With the cafe being for students, on campus, but also open to the public in central London - how would you characterise the space? Is it fast moving, casual, does it feel like a student community, or are there lots on new faces each day?
J: It’s quite busy. We get a lot of the same customers. It’s one of the few cafe’s that’s easily accessible.
M: Fav part of working?
J: Honestly, it is making the coffee. It’s always fun making a new drink.
M: Finally, I was wondering what your favourite item on the menu is?
J: I’m extremely basic, I’d say a at white.
Beaver’s Brew cafe started as part of LSE’s opening of the Marshall Building at the beginning of 2022. Located near Covent Garden in central London, the cafe is open to both students and the general public. In a conversation with Josh, who has worked as a barista at the cafe since his third year as a student at LSE, he describes how most days are busy throughout, with new faces from across the city. Yet, because it’s one of the few cafes at LSE that is really easily accessible, he also sees a lot of returning customers. 'There is a student community,' he says, 'our friends, our classmates.' When asked what his favourite thing about his work is, he laughs, 'honestly, it’s making the coffee.' With LSE having a very international student body, he says he’s often requested to make regional drinks he’s never heard of before. 'It’s always fun making a new drink,' he says happily, before going back to his shift.
Beaver’s Brew cafe | WC2A 3LY