Exhibit 99.3
 
                              COFFEE PEOPLE, INC.
                        CONSENT TO SERVING AS A DIRECTOR
 
    The undersigned, a nominee to serve on the Board of Directors of Coffee
People, Inc., an Oregon corporation (the "Company"), hereby consents to serve as
a director of the Company if elected at the 1998 Annual Meeting of Shareholders
of the Company, subject to the closing of the transactions contemplated by that
certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated February 19, 1998, between the
Company and The Second Cup, Inc.
 
                                                    /s/ ALTON MCEWEN
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          (Signature)
                                                       ALTON McEWEN
                                          --------------------------------------
 
DATE: April 21, 1998