For Lauren Jewell, volunteering at the Swahili booth at the Lesser-Commonly-Taught Languages Coffee House was the perfect opportunity to combine her passions for tutoring and language learning. The coffee house, which took place in the William Pitt Union Assembly Room, featured 25 language booths run by volunteers from all language departments.

Although Oakland’s coffee shop scene is dominated by Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts, local and independently-owned coffee shops are only a short walk or bus ride away. Pittsburgh has more than merely chains...