Connecting Through Coffee

Marvell Holmes Jr. has worked at Webster University’s Cyber Café for 10 years, outlasting changes to the space, graduating classes and evolving student trends.

Holmes applied to work at Webster hoping to be part of something close-knit. A decade later, it’s those relationships that have kept him behind the counter.

“I’ve met kids when they were 18 and freshmen, and I’ve seen them go on to be adults and graduate. I’ve even met students’ families. I video-chatted with international students to meet their family,” Holmes said, smiling. “That’s my favorite part of Webster – the community and the closeness of everybody here.”

Over the years, Holmes has watched the campus grow more diverse – a shift that has shaped him personally, as much as professionally.

“I’ve learned to deal with people from all walks of life and different cultures,” Holmes said. “It’s made me more diverse in everyday life. There are art students, athletes, dancers – a mix of everything here at Webster.”

Among his regulars, art students hold a special place. They design the posters and create decorations for the café, giving it a welcoming feel.

“We want to make this place like a second home. That’s why we like when they give us stuff to decorate – when they come down, they can see a little part of themselves in our cabin,” Holmes said, gesturing to the Cyber Café space.

Holmes shares that creative streak. In his free time, he draws cartoons, a hobby that occasionally spills into his shifts by doodling on the coffee cups.

“We just did hearts [on the cups] for Valentine’s Day. For Halloween, we did pumpkins. We try to do little arts,” Holmes said.

The festive spirit doesn’t stop at the cups. Holmes and his coworkers also create themed drinks to mark the seasons.

“For Valentine’s Day, we did a strawberry shortcake frappuccino, which was strawberries and cinnamon with cream,” Holmes said.

Through the years, Holmes has watched the café itself evolve. What is now a “We Proudly Serve Starbucks” has shifted through multiple identities: seven years as Kaldi’s Coffee, three years as Sun Coffee Roasters and going on three years under the Starbucks name. His preference? Starbucks.

“There are more options and students like it better,” Holmes said.

Student taste continues to change just as quickly as the café has. Holmes notes that each year brings a new flavor obsession. Last year’s was caramel – Holmes’ favorite – while this year’s seems to be chocolate.

But not all change has been lighthearted. Holmes points to the pandemic as a memorable period in his time behind the counter.

“Everything was completely different, but we still made it work,” Holmes said.

During the pandemic, customers couldn’t step inside the café, and drinks were ordered and picked up without much conversation.

“It was really in and out,” Holmes said. “I didn’t get to know people that well.”

When students returned and campus began to feel full again, Holmes noticed the difference.

“I saw the change afterwards of the school coming back to normal, from being super small and dead to being the lively place it is,” Holmes said.

Born and raised in St. Louis, Holmes describes himself as a family person. He is the youngest of four and has nine nieces and nephews. Outside of work, he loves to travel. From marveling at the art and architecture in London to seeing Nicki Minaj in Las Vegas, Holmes embraces new experiences.

Still, after years of travel and even entertaining the idea of becoming a flight attendant, Holmes said he hopes to remain at Webster as a barista, and his advice to students is straightforward.

“Stay being yourself, and stay being passionate about everything you’re passionate about,” Holmes said. “Never change. Stay the way you are.”