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Campus and Community

Beloved SLO Coffee Shop Coming to Campus This Fall

A man with short black hair and a plaid button down sits in a chair, while a girl wearing jeans sits in another chair to his right. Behind them is a white wall with Scout Coffee Co. painted on it under a drawing of ocean waves.

Scout Coffee Co. is bringing its scratch-made pastries and craft-roasted coffee to the yakʔitʸutʸu neighborhood on Cal Poly’s campus for the opening of the 2021-22 academic year.

The locally owned coffee company recently agreed to partner with the Cal Poly Corporation and open its third San Luis Obispo location next to the Cal Poly Welcome Center in yakʔitʸutʸu.

“We are so excited to have this opportunity to be a part of the campus experience,” said Scout Coffee Co. Owner Sara Peterson. “We feel honored to represent the family run, local businesses of SLO and to bring that bit of hometown feel directly outside the door of so many students.

“We are having a lot of fun planning the ultimate cafe experience. To all the students and faculty, we can’t wait to meet you and serve you! This is going to be a wonderful collaboration, and we are so grateful!”

The new space will serve as a gathering spot for all campus residents and visitors to grab a quick coffee and pastry on the way to class or to join a tour of the campus.

Scout will offer their signature HoneyCo Coffee Roasters coffee, a brew that Alton Brown of the Food Network called “scientifically perfect.”

Owners Jon and Sara Peterson opened HoneyCo Coffee Roasters in January 2015 and have since been featured in The New York Times, Sunset Magazine, The Guardian, The Venue Report, AAA Westways Magazine, Sweet Paul and more.

Alongside the award-winning coffee, Scout will offer an extensive menu of fresh baked goods including morning buns, muffins and scones as well as an almond blackberry jam croissant, ham and cheese croissant, giant cookies and multiple short bread options will be available.

For those looking for something more substantial, Scout has many other options including avocado toast, fruit and yogurt parfait, chia pudding, Liege waffles, and a buttermilk biscuit with salted honey butter and jam.

In addition to its coffee, teas and delicious food, Scout Coffee Co. is known for its inspiring spaces that locals have come to love since they opened their first Garden Street location in 2014.

“The inviting spaces that Sara and Jon are able to create are exactly what our students have been asking for — that and the coffee of course,” said Corporation CEO Cody VanDorn. “We’re happy to bring them to campus and take another step towards enhancing the student experience.”

Cal Poly Corporation is funding the buildout of the space, with total capital expected to exceed $1 million. The investment is one of many, including the $28 million renovation of Building 19, in the Corporation’s 10-year commercial services plan.