Coffee drinkers are frustrated that the opening of a Starbucks inside the University of Colorado’s student center means they can no longer order lattes and mochas from a nearby Celestial Seasonings kiosk.

Starbucks opened inside CU’s University Memorial Center on April 1, and because of a clause in the Seattle-based company’s agreement with the university, no other “premium coffee” can be sold inside the student center, said Andrea Zelinko, interim center director.

That means that the center’s Celestial Seasonings, a Gunbarrel-based tea company founded in Boulder in 1969, can no longer serve coffee and coffee-based drinks.

A handful of people asked the Celestial Seasonings baristas for coffee drinks within a 5-minute span on Thursday afternoon. Most were surprised to learn that they couldn’t get their regular order anymore, and some walked away empty-handed.

A brown paper bag was taped over the portion of the Celestial Seasonings menu above the counter that listed coffee items.

Meanwhile, dozens of patrons stood in a long line outside of the new Starbucks.

After learning that she could no longer get her coffee from Celestial Seasonings, CU graduate student Yasmin Mazloom started an online petition that had collected more than 250 signatures on Thursday.

For Mazloom, the issue is bigger than coffee.

“We need to have diversity and an open market where every vendor is able to sell their products, and students and consumers should have the right to decide between options in order for us to have a healthy economy,” said Mazloom, who is working on a master’s degree in photography. “This healthy competition also enforces better quality since companies need to maintain a higher standard in order to attract customers.”

Students on the University Memorial Center governing board started talking about bringing Starbucks to campus in the fall of 2014 and formally approved the idea early in 2015.

“In their conversations and in conversations with other students, they believed that Starbucks was something that students were looking for,” Zelinko said. “They wanted to provide that in the student union as a central location for the campus community.”

Zelinko said the UMC negotiated with Starbucks so that Celestial Seasonings could continue offering tea drinks.

“Celestial Seasoning is primarily a tea business,” Zelinko said. “(Starbucks) also recognized that Celestial Seasonings has a long-standing relationship within Boulder and with the university.”

Officials with Starbucks did not respond to interview requests Thursday.

In an emailed statement, a spokesman for Celestial Seasonings said the company appreciated the “passionate support” of its fans.

“Contract details for businesses at UMC are up to the university,” Paul Raab wrote. “We encourage our fans at CU to continue to visit Celestial Seasonings and enjoy our great selection of herbal, green, black, wellness, Rooibos and chai teas.”

Raab said that since opening its first tea bar at CU in 1992, Celestial Seasonings has employed more than 600 students and provided more than $35,000 in scholarships.

In a 2016-17 budget proposal, student center staff projected an extra $150,000 in self-generated revenue “mostly due to the impact of opening a Starbucks store.”

Zelinko said it was unclear whether Starbucks’ revenue will benefit the UMC directly, because CU’s Campus Dining Services is now managing most food options inside the student center.

But she did say she expects Starbucks to generate foot traffic in the building, which could lead to additional sales elsewhere in the student center.

Zelinko said she’s heard mostly excitement from students and staff about Starbucks opening in the UMC.

“People have preferences for different types of beverages so there’s some strong loyalty to Celestial Seasonings and there’s some strong loyalty to Starbucks,” she said.

Student reviews were mixed.

Joseph Soto, who served as chair of the UMC board that approved the Starbucks, said he was glad the UMC could give students what they wanted.

Personally, though, he was less enthusiastic.

“My heart rate is not going up because there’s a Starbucks in the building,” said Soto, current student body president of external affairs, adding that he visited Starbucks each morning this week.

As they waited upwards of 10 minutes in line, other students acknowledged their love-hate relationship with the coffee maker.

“It’s more for the convenience, not the fact that it’s Starbucks,” said junior Olivia Witwer. “Most people like the Laughing Goat or Pekoe … like local, Boulder coffee shops.”

Standing in line with a friend, junior Megan Bettenberg said she was looking forward to ordering an iced coffee.

“I’ve heard a lot of people are really excited about it,” Bettenberg said. “People love Starbucks.”

Sarah Kuta: 303-473-1106, kutas@dailycamera.com or twitter.com/sarahkuta