By Shannon Frazer

UK Dining Services has a new brand of coffee.

All campus dining facilities will now carry John Conti Coffee. The switch from Seattle’s Best occurred campuswide on June 1.

“The goal is to switch to as many Kentucky Proud products as we can,” said UK spokeswoman Gail Hairston. “John Conti is a locally distributed brand and its coffee and tea is registered as Kentucky Proud.”

Hairston said the coffee change doesn’t apply to UK Catering, which is contracted with Starbucks.

So far the feedback from the campus community has been positive, she said.

In April, students, faculty and staff took part in two blind taste tests that included a variety of coffee brands. Participants overwhelmingly preferred John Conti. When told the coffee was a Kentucky Proud product, the approval rating increased to 100 percent.

“We have received several favorable comments from faculty and students about the switch,” Hairston said.

John Conti Coffee is available at all on-campus UK dining locations.