Justin M.
Yelp
I think 90% of my reviews should start with the boiler plate: Summerville traffic stinks! I've been waiting for Dutch Bros to open since April, but Lord I confess I wasn't looking forward to the congestion nor the lines in such a small parking lot. Please note while I was anticipating a much longer wait time considering they just did a grand opening, I was in and out within 15 minutes. To be specific on Friday at 8:50am when I turned to the road which Dutch Bros is on, 13 minutes. Folks, that's not bad!
Dutch Bros was started in Oregon b/c apparently trendy fast coffee joints all start in the Northwest. The small free-standing unit is quaint with a walkup counter but I don't think I saw seating? This is a quandary for those pinkies up patrons and new age hipsters sitting around and writing next horrible American novel on their apple laptops. I digress about manbun writings, but to give context to my Dutch experience, I lived just south of Austin which saw their first TX shop. This led to me putting it third on my list but will this new stand keep that title? Keep reading to find out!
As I sat in line I pondered my beverage(s) of choice do I go for the old familiar or something new? Well, I decided both of course! As I finished up my mental gymnastics just before one of the attendants came to my window to greet me with a wonderful smile on her face. After some nonsensical banter I decided the hot Golden Eagle and iced Mocha, were on my hit list
My first sip of The Golden Eagle hit my lips and it was really good, on par with some foo foo spots I've hit. The blend of espresso, caramel and vanilla breve with whipped cream and caramel drizzle were "on point" (yes I went full on big back, but who's counting calories). The only issue I have is that initial 3 sips of bliss is followed by the normal experience which is decent. Although I typically like a medium roast with limited cream and sweetener this was a good little treat and I highly recommend it. As for the chilled Mocha - I've resisted cold coffee for decades until when I lived in TX my favorite place - Summermoon gave me one for free, so now I'm hooked. The mocha is smooth and tasty, perfect for coffee lovers on a hot day. I humbly suggest trying it (I got mine with whipped cream - my cheat day is going all out today!) Finally, the muffin top was ok. I mean this is restaurant focusing on fast business so it's not like I could get something homemade. I wouldn't get it again but I'm typically not much of a sweets person.
In summary, Dutch Bros is a welcome addition to any town's coffee scene, offering good alternatives to trendy locals only spots or that other northwest company. The prices are competitive, the choices are numerous and the execution is pretty good. You can't go wrong with trying it out once to see what the hype is about for yourself. As for me, my frequency will be based on time and temperament b/c sometimes I like to people watch with my pinky up writing some standup material. Nothing better than observing people and crafting jokes about our nature while mainlining caffeine. But I prefer better scenery to do so rather than the concrete jungle.