Students Made 1000+ Cups of Coffee in 1895 Minutes for Tianjin University

When most people celebrate a university’s 120th anniversary with speeches or plaques, a group of students at Tianjin University did something far more hands-on—and caffeinated. For over 31 hours, they brewed more than 1000 cups of coffee, all free, for the staff and alumni working tirelessly to make the milestone happen.

In total, 20+ student baristas from the 109 Coffee Room, a campus startup, served 1000+ cups of pour-over and latte coffee in 1895 minutes—that’s 31.6 hours—between October 1st 10:09 AM and October 2nd 5:44 PM. They aimed to match the year of the university’s founding, 1895, with an equal number of brewing minutes.

Why This Student-Led Coffee Marathon Happened

The idea came from seeing how hard faculty, volunteers, and arriving alumni were working to prepare for and attend the anniversary. “We wanted to support them and give alumni a place to relax,” said Teng Huan, a second-year graduate student in precision instruments at Tianjin University and one of the baristas involved. The team chose to serve both pour-over and latte-style drinks to suit different tastes and provide a welcoming space.

How They Managed to Brew 1000+ Cups Nonstop

The 109 Coffee Room team used four espresso machines running continuously. Each pour-over coffee took around two and a half minutes to brew. Though they originally planned for 900 cups, high demand led them to brew over 1000. All beverages were free and handed out on-site to those working or visiting for the celebration. The effort was not just a gift, but also an attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the longest continuous coffee brewing marathon.

Who’s Behind the 109 Coffee Room

The 109 Coffee Room was founded four years ago by Cui Hongtai, a Tianjin University alumnus, as a student-run coffee business on campus. Over the past four years, it has trained over 90 student baristas—all still enrolled as undergraduates or graduates. The operation is entirely student-led, offering real-world experience in coffee preparation, customer service, and event execution.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many cups of coffee did the students make in total?

The students brewed over 1000 cups of coffee, including both pour-over and latte styles, during the 1895-minute event.

How long did the coffee brewing marathon last?

The continuous coffee-making session lasted for 1895 minutes, which equals 31.6 hours, from October 1st at 10:09 AM to October 2nd at 5:44 PM.

What types of coffee did they serve?

They served both pour-over coffee and latte-style drinks to accommodate different preferences among the faculty, volunteers, and alumni.

Did they meet their original cup goal?

No, they originally planned to make 900 cups, but due to high demand, they ended up brewing over 1000 cups instead.

Were they trying to set a record?

Yes, the students aimed to break the Guinness World Record for the longest continuous coffee brewing session without interruption.

Who runs the 109 Coffee Room?

The 109 Coffee Room is a student-run coffee shop founded four years ago by Tianjin University alumnus Cui Hongtai. It has trained over 90 student baristas on campus.

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