Taste Buds take on Dutch Bros
A review of the novel coffee shop in Johns Creek
Video by Brooke Gavin
Ian Sands, Photography Editor & Allen Liu, Copy Editor
Coffee is the life force of many Northview students, and as such, cafes and coffee restaurants are among the most popular for students to visit. Starbucks or Dunkin' are always counted on as popular, reliable sources of coffee. However, this summer, a new chain came to town: Dutch Bros. It has quickly gained popularity because of its unique drinks and “superior” quality. We are Ian and Allen, two people who have never had Dutch Bros, and we are trying it for the first time to see if it’s really worth the hype.
Unlike conventional coffee shops, Dutch Bros does not have an interior dining room. In fact, employees take all orders at a window. This aspect of the store is undesirable, as there are often long lines extending around the side of the building. Surprisingly, it doesn't take too long, and there is also a drive-through option.
We ordered six drinks in total and ranked them from first to last. Without further ado, this is our Dutch Bros review and ranking.
6. In sixth place, we have the Vanilla Cupcake Latte. On paper, this is a sweet, syrupy coffee that tastes like cupcakes, but in reality, it tastes like a regular iced latte with more bitterness.
5. In fifth place, we have the Candied Cherry Blended Rebel. This is the other end of the spectrum from the Vanilla Cupcake Latte; it was too sweet. This is to be expected, however, as the drink is a cherry slushy, which is meant to be pretty sweet
4. In fourth place is the Pumpkin Caramel Creme Brulee Iced Latte. This drink tasted incredibly watered down, even minutes after ordering, but it definitely had a distinct pumpkin taste, which is why it is not lower on the list.
3. In third place is the Birthday Cake Shake. This milkshake is definitionally a shake with no coffee. It was neither disagreeable nor was it particularly amazing. Overall, it was extremely sugary and syrupy, with the birthday cake flavor only halfway present; this shake was respectable.
2. In second place is the Banana Iced Latte with Caramel Drizzle. This coffee was a home run with the banana taste and coffee flavor being totally present throughout. At first impression, the combination doesn’t seem like it works, but after thorough deliberation, we have decided that it does, in fact, taste delicious.
1. With a unanimous decision between us, the undisputed, reigning champion of the Dutch Bros drink competition is…the Picture Perfect Blended Freeze! The sweet, decadent, and chocolatey layers of whipped coffee with caramel drizzle leave no doubt as to how the Picture Perfect got its name.
Apart from the drinks themselves, Dutch Bros also had spectacular service, with the barista and cashier being courteous and professional. When asked for recommendations, they were both friendly and knowledgeable, providing a wide array of drinks to choose from with suggestions based on individual preference. However, the speed of service was slightly below par as the drinks took roughly 15-20 minutes to arrive. Additionally, the order size largely determined the rate of delivery, as smaller order sizes (one or two drinks) tended to be processed faster.
In terms of practicality, the drink’s pricing was fairly reasonable, with costs ranging from $4.75 for small drinks to $6.50 for large. Pro Tip: If you are going to Dutch Bros for the first time, download the app and create a free account. This will earn you a free medium drink of your choice at no expense! Moreover, parking was relatively easy to find, but at peak rush hour, it may be more difficult to find a good lot that is also within walking distance to the location.
So, the question remains: Is Dutch Bros worth all the hype? Based on our one and only visit, The Messenger finds that the answer is yes with some exceptions. While not every drink delivers, the stronger menu items, impeccable service, and reasonable prices make Dutch Bros a worthy coffee shop that The Messenger will be revisiting.
