ENTREPRENEURIAL PROJECT BREWING AT CLEMSON

DATE:    12-9-02        

CONTACT: Johnny McGregor, 864-656-6632 johnny@clemson.edu    

WRITER: Peter Kent, 864-656-0937 pkent@clemson.edu

CLEMSON -- Students in Clemson University's department of food science and human nutrition are getting some "real world" experience by integrating academics and entrepreneurial projects into the Clemson University Coffee Roasting Company, also known as MicroJoe.

"This project has a real strong academic focus where our students learn to work together to solve real problems and get training in the food science area, and that leads to outstanding employment opportunities. One of the most exciting things to watch is these students taking ownership and creating something really special," said Johnny McGregor, department chair of food science and human nutrition.

Clemson students blend and roast the coffee products for the new Loggia Latte Coffee Shop in the University Union. The students have developed their own unique coffee beverage, the MicroJoe, which is a blend of their specialty espresso, "Big Daddy Joe," and Clemson ice cream. The students have also created the "Stumphouse Mountain Blend" to honor Clemson University's long-standing blue cheese tradition. The blue cheese initially was aged in the Stumphouse Mountain tunnel in the South Carolina foothills.

END