Vanderbilt Campus Dining welcomes 8th and Roast as official coffee partner
Vanderbilt Campus Dining is pleased to announce a new partnership with Nashville-based specialty coffee company 8th and Roast to provide its high-quality, ethically sourced coffee to the university community. Starting this fall, Vanderbilt students and faculty can enjoy one of the many 8th and Roast signature flavors like Sunflower Espresso, Santa Maria De Dota, Sweet Brazil, Dark Blue and more at any of the dining halls and markets across campus.
“8th and Roast’s local reputation paired with its global sustainability efforts align with Vanderbilt University and our values, and we couldn’t be more excited to offer their exceptional products right here on campus,” Sean Carroll, senior director for Auxiliary Services.
Originally founded in 2009, brothers Ed and Sam Reed and their best friend Q-Juan ‘Q’ Taylor took over the 8th and Roast business in 2016 with the goal of making the best craft coffee experience imaginable. The business concept is unique, realizing that a coffee shop is always more than just a coffee shop – it’s a community within a community that connects the interesting, vibrant and diverse people of Music City. 8th and Roast currently has five in-store locations, including one in the heart of Midtown on 20th Avenue South. The newest location, situated in the Broadview at Vanderbilt, accepts Meal Money through Vanderbilt’s Taste of Nashville program.
“8th and Roast is a true ‘relationship coffee,’ meaning the foundation of the company is rooted in the relationships we have built with our customers, farm partners, team members, baristas, wholesale clients and local partners like Vanderbilt,” said Ed Reed. “We look forward to this next chapter immersing ourselves in the campus community and hope to be the coffee that fuels the Commodores for years to come.”
By connecting with a network of fair-trade farmers from around the world, 8th and Roast serves the most ‘green coffee’ available while being an active and important player in the global coffee sustainability movement. Not only is their coffee the highest in quality, but 8th and Roast shines in corporate responsibility by partnering directly with the producers to set the price, import straight from the source and bypass the middlemen.
“Nothing is more important to us than community, and we intend to continue growing our network and partnering with institutions like Vanderbilt that share the same unwavering commitment to Nashville,” said Q Taylor.
Whether you’re a coffee aficionado with a keen eye for quality, a food activist who appreciates the direct sourcing process or just a student in need of a caffeine fix, 8th and Roast has something all ‘Dores can appreciate.