The “Teen Cafe” at the Great Bend Public Library was host to baristas from Starbucks coffee on Friday. 

A dozen students in grades 6-12 tried samples of hot and cold beverages, along with cookies and cake pops. Jodi Burdg, manager of the new Starbucks at 3530 10th St. in Great Bend, was joined by store employee Desiree Workman.

First, they tasted hot, black coffee, following Burdg’s advice to smell the aroma and then slurp – not sniff.

“You want to get it to the back of your tongue. It’s OK to slurp today,” she said.

Students described the smell (“burnt toast” was one description) and made faces that indicated most of them weren’t particularly pleased with their first slurp, although one girl said she loves coffee. However, they then tried pairing the coffee with a bite of cookie, and there were other, non-coffee beverages to sample, such as cold fruit drinks. They got to do some hands-on mixing as they tried different flavors.

“Starbucks is known for their drinks,” Burdg said. Because the associates follow precise recipes and keep the brews fresh, a Starbucks drink served in Great Bend tastes just like one served in California.

In addition to the cookies, the students were also treated to Starbucks Cake Pops, small round pieces of cakes coated with icing and fixed on the end of a stick.

Temporary closing

The Great Bend Public Library, 1409 Williams St., will close at noon on Wednesday, Sept. 20, and will remain closed until Monday, Sept. 25. The entire library staff will attend a continuing education conference.

Regular  hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The library is closed on Sundays.