University Cafés Are Becoming a Hub for Student Entrepreneurs

Near Nanjing Forestry University (NFU), something unusual is happening in the world of coffee: university students—not career baristas or investors—are the driving force behind many local cafés. These student-run spaces aren’t just serving drinks; they’re also becoming real-world classrooms for young entrepreneurs learning how to roast relationships, manage teams, and pour purpose into every cup.

Nearly all the staff at these campus-adjacent cafés are current NFU students or recent graduates. Many work for free or minimal pay just to learn how to run a coffee business, make drinks, and understand operations firsthand.

Students Run the Floor—And Often the Register

At coffee lala, a popular spot near NFU, every part-time team member is an NFU student. That means students are serving other students. The café’s owner, nicknamed "Teacher Yu," saves on staffing costs by hiring only learners. He schedules around seven or eight students, aligning shifts with their class timetables. With that lean team, the café runs smoothly most days. The only full-time employees? Just two people—including the manager, a recent NFU chemistry graduate.

Why Students Are Drawn to Café Life

One anonymous female part-time worker told reporters she took the unpaid role specifically to learn hands-on: how to brew different coffees and drinks, and how to manage a café. "Many students have a special feeling about coffee shops," she said. "There are always lots of students who want to work here." That enthusiasm allows owners like Teacher Yu to build a reliable student workforce without high overhead.

The manager himself, nicknamed "the handsome shop owner," studied chemistry at NFU. After working two years in sales in high-pressure Shanghai, he returned to Nanjing. While cycling near NFU, he spotted a help-wanted ad for a café manager and applied. Though he admits the pay isn’t high, he believes in the long-term potential of the business. For him—and many others—it’s not just about the present income, but the skills and future prospects.

Other Student-Led Café Stories

Similar student-powered stories are playing out at nearby cafés. "Feicheng Wurao" (translated as "Mist Over a City") is co-run by two NFU graduates. Then there’s "Exception Café," owned by 36-year-old Sun Haibo, who dreamed of running a culturally rich coffee space. Sun first managed the coffee corner at Nanjing’s well-known Pioneer Bookstore, gained experience, and then opened his own place.

Sun Haibo pointed out that coffee culture in Nanjing is still developing, and the best locations are always near universities—specifically spots close to institutions like Nanjing University and Nanjing Normal University. Proximity to student populations creates steady foot traffic. Looking ahead, Sun plans to offer café management training programs. "A lot of young people want to open cafés," he said. "Training is more profitable than running cafés—and has great potential."

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are so many university-affiliated cafés staffed by students?

Student-run cafés near places like Nanjing Forestry University often employ current students or recent graduates, many of whom work without pay just to gain experience in coffee preparation, customer service, and business management. Owners benefit from a motivated, low-cost labor pool that’s eager to learn.

Do these student workers get paid?

Many do not. At coffee lala, for example, the part-time staff are unpaid volunteers who work purely to learn skills such as brewing coffee, managing operations, and understanding how cafés run day-to-day.

What kind of experience do students gain in these cafés?

Students learn hands-on skills including coffee and drink preparation, customer interaction, shift scheduling, basic business operations, and sometimes even management and training—skills that are hard to replicate in a classroom.

Are these cafés profitable despite using unpaid labour?

While not explicitly stated, the model suggests that owners reduce labour costs significantly by relying on motivated students who work for experience rather than money. This allows the cafés to operate with fewer full-time staff and lower expenses overall.

Why do student-run cafés tend to cluster near universities?

According to Sun Haibo, a veteran café owner, coffee shops near universities like Nanjing University and Nanjing Normal University tend to have better foot traffic. The student population creates consistent demand, making these locations more viable for small, independent cafés.

Is there formal training available for students who want to open their own cafés?

Yes, at least one owner, Sun Haibo, has plans to offer café management training for aspiring young entrepreneurs. He believes there’s strong interest among students and that such training could be more lucrative than operating cafés directly.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Café Startups

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