By Laura Sandoval, SUNY Oneonta
During my pre-departure preparation, I developed a methodology for collecting my data and organizing it. My original idea was to visit different coffee shops in different strata, as mentioned before, and establish conversations using a questionnaire for workers, managers, and customers. However, once I arrived in the first city, I realized that this approach was not always effective. After introducing myself and the purpose of the research, I noticed that people were not comfortable having a formal conversation or answering a series of questions. Because of this, I had to shift my methodology and take a more casual and natural approach.
Instead of approaching people with a structured list of questions, I began having conversations that flowed more naturally. This shift ended up being one of the most valuable parts of my investigation. It allowed me to interact with people not only in coffee shops, but also in supermarkets and other places that were not directly related to coffee. These conversations felt more genuine, and people seemed more comfortable sharing their experiences and opinions since it was an open conversation. I was able to collect information that I may not have gotten through a more formal interview. This was also a good reminder that research does not always go according to the original plan, and to be open to changes. It can lead to better results.
Thanks to this investigation, I have improved in my communication and writing skills. I had to learn how to approach people, introduce the purpose of my research informally, and keep a conversation going without making it feel like an interview or forced. I also had to pay closer attention to what was being said to me and take notes afterward so I could remember important details and organize my ideas better. These perspectives are necessary, it helps understanding this topic beyond statistics or existing research.
One of the biggest changes in my perspective has been my understanding of what goes into growing and commercializing coffee. As I mentioned previously, coffee is part of my culture and who I am as a Colombian, but before this investigation, my knowledge about the workforce behind it was very limited. I knew coffee was important to Colombia, but I did not fully understand the amount of work, knowledge, and dedication that goes into growing, producing, and commercializing coffee to create new experiences about the product for consumers.
Going into this investigation, my focus was on price and how it influences the type of experience a customer can have depending on their socioeconomic status. While this is still an important part of my research, I have realized that there is another side of the subject that deserves more attention, and I’m talking about the people behind the coffee bean. I want this investigation to be an opportunity to recognize the farmers who have dedicated their lives to coffee, the baristas who have taken the time to know about the product that they are serving, and the others who have decided to create their own brand in a market that, from the outside, seemed saturated.
I have been able to try different types of coffee and experiences that I never imagined existed. I discovered coffee-related products, cafés, parks, books, games, scents, and other experiences that go beyond simply drinking a cup of coffee. This showed me that coffee is more than a business or a product. It is also an experience and a part of people’s identities and communities.
One of my biggest takeaways so far is that my theory was right: price can vary significantly depending on the city, location, and socioeconomic environment, and consumers often choose the experience that best fits their monthly income. However, behind every price and every experience is a much larger group of people whose work makes it possible. That is the message I am most excited to continue exploring as I move forward with my research.
