Number Seven: Experimentally Determing Your Favorite Coffee Shop

This is something that should be on everyone's bucket list. I mean, who doesn't want an excuse to go to three different coffee shops from every chain, and compare flavors?

As a major fan of both Skim Cappucinos and Dark Chocolate Mochas, I made these my standard of comparison, as well as the  atmosphere and price. Here are my results.

CAPPUCINOS:

1ST PLACE: Dunn Brothers. An obvious choice. Compared to the competition, it has less calories, more flavor, and MORE fluff. Sipping the milk froth is like drinking a cloud. My all time favorite.

2nd Place: Caribou Coffee. It has less flavor and less froth that Dunn Brothers, but still quite good.

3rd Place: Starbucks. Flavorless, with foam that was lucking sucking on car exhaust (no offense).


MOCHAS:


1st Place: Caribou Coffee. It has rich, chocolately flavor, with a great tint of espresso. Plus, it comes in the Northern Light option, which is equally tasty and comes with non-fat whipped cream.

2nd place: Starbucks. A bit too rich for a mocha, but still yummy and satisfying. Scalding hot, and stays warm for quite a while.

3rd place: Dunn Bros. BLECH! Tasted burnt at all three locations. Not something I want to drink again.


ATMOSPHERE:

1. Caribou Coffee for sure wins in atmosphere. Not consistently cozy in all locations, but still has a great college-student atmosphere that makes you think "Gee, I'd want to sit here and work all day". The layout is such that you feel like you're in a nice little nook where you can cuddle down with a book and coffee. Plus, I love reading the quirky and inspiration phrases on the coffee cups. Unbeatable!

2. Dunn Bros. In all four locations I've been to, it's consistently cozy, asthetically pleasing, and unique. There are cozy chairs, individual tables, occasionally fireplaces, and soft music. What's more, you can smell their coffee beans the whole while you're working.

3. Starbucks. I'm sure this isn't ALWAYS the case, but in all the locations I went to it just felt... sterile and clinical. Hard chairs, loud noise, no warm and fuzzy smells. Kind of felt like trying to get comfortable with a book at McDonalds. Not happening.


BEST PRICE:

1. Starbucks. $3.25 for a small mocha.

2.  Dunn Bros. $3.70 for a small mocha.

3. Caribou. $3.75 for a small mocha.


MY OVERALL FAVORITE: CARIBOU COFFEE.

Yes, hard to believe, but even Dunn Bros' cappucino foam can't win me over on this. The flavor in Caribou's coffee just can't be compared, and neither can the atmosphere.


Now, how about we start over and do it again?
When else are you going to have an excuse to go coffee shop hopping all day long?

Ultimate Dia!
~Christine