It’s 2 a.m. on a Tuesday morning. I’ve written 300 words of the 1,000-word essay due at 9 a.m. It isn’t long before I realize the only thing that’s going to help me push through is caffeine — copious amounts of caffeine.
I pull up to the window and am taken back by the blaring music, the energy and the enthusiasm of the barista dancing in the small but quaint shack filled with coffee.
Although I appreciate such enthusiasm at this hour, it’s late, I’m tired — I just want my coffee.
This is a regular interaction I experienced at Dutch Bros. Coffee, that is, before I stopped going.
As an avid coffee drinker, it deeply pains me to say I am not a fan of something that involves coffee. But, I am here to explain why I have not jumped on the Dutch Bros. bandwagon.
Savannah Cardon | Argonaut
Now, before you Dutch lovers panic, just know I respect you and your decision to embrace Dutch — it’s just not my cup of coffee. We all have different tastes and that is perfectly fine.
This isn’t to say I base my judgment of coffee solely off of the experience I have with baristas, although that does play a large part. The interactions at Dutch Bros. are just a bit too much for my taste.
I am not a morning person whatsoever, so more often than not, I came for coffee, not a full-blown conversation.
My coffee addiction began in seventh grade and has only progressed ever since. At the early stages of such addition, I craved the sweet drinks — caramel macchiatos, vanilla lattes, caramel mochas. Basically, the coffee drinks that still give you the caffeine buzz without the coffee taste.
However, this is not the case anymore.
I stick to the plain coffee — the Americanos or the drip — with light cream, or black on days when I’m feeling a little crazy.
With this in mind, I like my coffee strong, not sweet.
Unfortunately, I feel as though Dutch Bros. caters more toward the sweet coffee drinking crowd. From drinks like the “almond bar,” “banana bread” and “cake batter,” their menu is slightly overwhelming.
Although plain coffee is readily available at Dutch, the taste lacks the boldness I crave every hour of the day.
I appreciate the variety in menu, I only wish Dutch would offer a plethora of darker, bolder roasts to those of us who enjoy the bitterness of an average cup of joe.
When it comes time to purchase my coffee, I don’t usually have to plan my day around a trip to the coffee shop.
However, when it comes to Dutch Bros., I expect my trip to last a lot longer than any other coffee shop around town.
I understand it takes a while to brew up a beautiful latte, but sometimes the wait is unbearable.
Dutch Bros. should find better ways to combat their lines that reach upward of 20 cars during busy times.
I take my coffee seriously and I am passionate about the places I choose to purchase my morning caffeine fix. Between the interactions, the coffee selection and the lines, Dutch Bros. is not my location of choice. But, I still respect you Dutch lovers out there. Coffee enthusiasts unite.
Savannah Cardon can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @savannahlcardon