Generation Z's "Entrepreneurship" Has Fallen Deeply Into the "I Want to Open a Coffee Shop" Trap...

The arrival of March means that university students must leave their warm homes and return to their dormitories to strive for their goals. This striving inevitably involves coffee. To put it dramatically, today's post-2000s students are just as addicted to coffee as the post-90s working professionals. With campus lockdowns during the pandemic, many students born after 2000 have embarked on the path of "dormitory coffee shops."

Searching for "dormitory coffee" on a popular online platform reveals over 30,000 related posts. From these shares, we can see the process of university students starting businesses in their own dorm beds, as well as netizens publicly sharing dormitory coffee recipes that have garnered significant attention.

As the pandemic resurges, campuses have been locked down again to protect the health of all faculty and students. This means that campus members have been cut off from external coffee shops. To continue satisfying their "coffee addiction" during the lockdown, students have shown remarkable creativity.

Creative Solutions Under Limitations

Due to the limited conditions in school dormitories, most schools do not allow the use of high-power electrical appliances. Even kettles are prohibited, rice cookers must be used secretly, and hair dryers trip the circuit breakers. Under these circumstances, some coffee-making equipment naturally cannot be used.

However, this hasn't stopped the creation of "dormitory coffee shops." Since coffee machines cannot be used, instant coffee powder becomes the solution. Being able to drink a cup of coffee under such difficult conditions can be considered a great happiness. After all, many people in Shanghai cannot even smell coffee these days.

Many shared posts provide instructions on how to make this simple "dormitory coffee," with some posts receiving over 5,000 likes. The most important coffee base is typically made by mixing instant coffee powder with an appropriate amount of hot water.

Popular Coffee Trends Among Gen Z

But what kind of coffee does the knowledgeable Generation Z enjoy today? On the menus of many "dormitory coffee shops," we can find popular coffee beverages like Coconut Latte and Iced Orange Americano. The rise of new-style tea drinks has led young people to discover coffee primarily through innovative coffee beverages, with Luckin's "Coconut Latte" playing a significant role. Additionally, promotion on various online platforms has encouraged innovation in coffee beverages that emphasizes "fruits" and "ice"—elements that provide "freshness" and "refreshment."

These types of coffee beverages require simple ingredients and are easy to make, without needing extensive techniques or complex concepts. Some posts even show the daily revenue of the blogger's "dormitory coffee shop" and share the joy of their success, while introducing more people to the taste of coffee.

Important Considerations

Making coffee for yourself is fine, and sharing with others is also acceptable. However, if you earn profit or engage in monetary transactions through homemade beverages, this constitutes unlicensed business operation and is illegal. While "dormitory coffee shop" sharing can bring some joy to people's lives, making beverages does require certain financial costs, and when money transactions are involved, unlicensed operation becomes an undeniable fact.

For those who need caffeine to stay energized and start their day with vitality, you can stock up on coffee that can be stored at room temperature and is easy to brew. Given the limited storage environment in dormitories, we do not recommend purchasing products from these "dormitory coffee shops."

Image source: Xiaohongshu

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