For many college students, a cup of coffee is the perfect way to start the day. But for Loyola marketing student Perry Shutt ‘25, brewing a cup is not just a morning ritual, but also the foundation of his emerging business.
Shutt recently opened up Pep’s Coffee, his very own pop-up coffee shop on campus. After thinking about opening a business all summer, he finally made his dreams come true by the second week of the semester. The lighthearted name “Pep” came from a nickname that his family used to call him. He highlighted his inspirations behind his coffee business.
“I’ve always had a passion for coffee. And when I went abroad, I kind of got shown a new way of making coffee and enjoying coffee. I wanted to take that back here and kind of show campus a different side of what coffee can be,” Shutt said.
As a business student, Shutt knew that Loyola could be a help in starting his shop. He emphasized wanting to combine his love for coffee and entrepreneurship.
“I knew I could make coffee profitable. I knew I could make it faster, I could make it more affordable, and I could make it just taste better than the other options on campus,” Shutt said.
Shutt recalled the humble beginnings of his business. He described the unique scenario he faced when first starting out.
“I started out in my dorm room which was on the third floor of Bellarmine. I actually sold coffee out of my window using a pulley system,” Shutt said.
Shutt explained that this system was not super popular and he really only received online orders. That’s when he did some research to find out which departments on campus could help him expand.
Just two weeks ago, the Simon Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation helped him secure the Campion Annex to hold pop-up shops. He has been grateful for their help, specifically Director Wendy Bolger.
Over the course of the first semester, Shutt has been working hard to improve his social media, marketing, and price points for his beverages. Right now, he is selling mostly espresso based drinks, including lattes, cappuccinos, and americanos. He also sells hot chocolate and is looking to expand his menu in the future. Prices range from $3 to $4.75.
Shutt sources his coffee beans from Ceremony Coffee Roasters, a local roaster in Annapolis, Maryland. The roast is medium to light and he described the beans as “top notch.”
“My coffee beans, what they strive for, and what I emphasize in the coffee I make, is that you can have a more natural and lighter flavor of coffee that doesn’t require a lot of artificial flavors to cover it,” Shutt said.
Shutt’s future goals for the shop include expanding and hopefully having a more permanent spot on campus. He hopes to give Loyola students opportunities to work at the shop as well.
Shutt is proud of how his business has progressed and encourages other students to take the first step to start a business of their own. He stresses the importance of having the courage to try.
“It just feels really fulfilling to do something that you know you’ve started and that you’ve taken the initiative. Anyone can be a business owner with the resources that are out there–with technology, loans, scholarships, and grants. But you just have to be willing to start,” Shutt said.
Pep’s Coffee is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the Campion Annex. To learn more about his business, visit www.pepscoffee.com.
