By Lina Aas-Helseth, Guest Writer
You might have noticed the tiny coffee shop on the corner of Garfield and C streets, just a stone’s throw away from Pacific Lutheran University. At any given time, Northern Pacific Coffee Company is either filled with students or musicians putting on a show, and the atmosphere is always very welcoming.
Northern Pacific Coffee Company, also known as NPCC, has been around since 1994 when the owner, Ed Cedras, moved to Parkland.
Cedras, a New York native, said he wanted to get a change of scenery from the chaotic big city lifestyle. He found the coffee consumption in the Pacific Northwest area interesting.
“You know, being born in New York and spending most of my childhood and youth in the South,” Cedras said, “I’ve definitely noticed the high coffee consumption here in the Pacific Northwest. I think it’s the weather. It gets cold here.”
Junior Chloe Hagstroem often finds herself studying at NPCC and takes advantage of the shop’s amenities.
“I like studying here because the atmosphere is very studious — when bands aren’t playing of course,” Hagstroem said. “There’s always people I know here, so it’s a great place to study, and I am actually able to get things done.”
Sophomore Brent Tyhuis said that unlike his dorm, he appreciates the many tables that are at NPCC, which makes studying easier.
“You know,” Tyhuis said, “I haven’t really been here that often, and I don’t really know why, because it’s a great place to relax, grab a cup of coffee and just study.”
Students aren’t the only ones who spend their time at NPCC. Parkland local Kesendra Williams swings by the coffee shop at 3 p.m. every Friday.
“I usually meet my theater group here. This place is a wonderful space for the local community to gather together,” Williams said.
U.S. coffee consumption is big bucks
Coffee consumption remains high throughout the year.
According to First Research, there were about 20,000 coffee shops in the U.S. with combined revenues of $10 billion in 2011.
Seattle residents consume more coffee than any other American city. According to a study conducted in 2011 by market research firm NPD Group, there are 35 coffee shops per 100,000 residents.
Annually, Americans drink more than 400 million cups every day, more than 4,600 cups every second and 300 billion pounds of beans every year.
When NPCC owner Ed Cedras was asked why he chose Parkland of all places to start up NPCC, he said, “How can you not? This place is great, and it feels good to be able to give back to the community by having this shop up and running.”
