Caribou Coffee

Caribou has been a very mixed experience for me. Sometimes it's delicious, sometimes it's undrinkable. Some don't know it, but Caribou exists in 21 states and 9 countries.

THE SERVICE They're pretty "jolly" here, but they won't try to make you 110% satisfied.

THE TASTE Caribou Coffee has a kiosk at the mall and the coffee there is so burnt you can't even drink it. Sometimes coffee is even spilling out of the top of a drink. However, when I've been to real locations, the coffee is delicious.

RECOMMENDED My friend Elle is a big fan of the Caramel Apple Cooler, usually available in the fall. I also like their White Mocha better than Starbucks's.

THE CUPS Their logo is beautiful... a leaping deer on a light blue/green background. The hot cups and cold cups feature the same design.

THE PRICE I usually go to Caribou... then leave, because it's so ridiculously expensive.

THE ATMOSPHERE Beautiful family style honey colored tables and very cozy leather chairs. A fire place complements the "upscale cabin in the woods" feel.

NOW PLAYING Cleanse Song by Bright Eyes

ON THE WALLS I can tolerate their art. And they've been known to house independent artists.

WHO'S THERE Like Starbucks and Peet's, you get a mix of everyone.

FASHION ADVICE A very casual, relaxed place. Come in blue jeans and a worn tee, or business style.

FUN STUFF Caribou's Coffee Recommender gives you a short quiz to figure out which of their roasts best suits you and your taste buds. You can also rate their coffee (one out of five beans). I also love their slogan "Life is short. Stay awake for it". Something we could all live by.

WEBSITE

Peet's Coffee and Tea

I'm living on the west coast for the summer, and so I had the unique pleasure of walking into a Peet's the other day. I ordered a cappuccino, and took a sip. Wow, this is good, I thought. This is REALLY good. I vowed to never go to Starbucks again. Okay, I admit, I've made a few much needed afternoon iced coffee runs. But after that first taste of Peet's, there was no going back.

THE SERVICE Overall very friendly. They're patient, they wait for you to order, they'll tell you about the drinks. I showed up at a Peet's recently and the baristas were all chatting in the back. But once I cleared my throat, someone helped me and the service was excellent. They helped me set up my Wifi (free for an hour with purchase). While I was working, a barista came over and gave me a free quarter pound of coffee.

BARISTA BIO Joseph loves Peet's because of the great employer's discount (50% off) and the free drip coffee and tea. He likes Peet's better than Starbucks, but for the best coffee, he prefers blue bottle coffee, a Bay Area brewing company.

THE TASTE So far, everything I've tasted at Peet's has been great. The foam on my cappuccino wasn't quite dense enough for my liking, but Peet's is definitely an upgrade from Starbucks and tastes a lot more natural and fresh.

RECOMMENDED Coffee of the day. They never let their drip coffee sit for more than half an hour, so guaranteed freshness and deliciousness. I have yet to try the Freddo's (a Peet's frappuccino) , but during July, medium Freddo's are only $2 on Fridays. The Jasmine Tea over ice is also delicious and refreshing.

THE CUPS The hot cups have an African twist. The "for here" cups seem to have an available saucer, but you have to ask. No metal spoons either.

THE PRICE Money savers: if you reduce the amount of espresso shots in your beverage, they lower the price. And for every pound of coffee you order, expect to receive a free drink.

THE ATMOSPHERE Very homey and welcoming. Beautiful marble tables and comfortable chairs. Peet's has a very rustic feel to it. The last Peet's I frequented had a teeny two-room attack. A little two crowded and the second room didn't have a window, but still cute.

NOW PLAYING Chopin Piano Concerto

ON THE WALLS I sat in front of a very ugly tapestry behind glass that seemed to be glaring at me. It was mustard yellow and ketchup red; a repetitive pattern. I was not so fond.

WHO'S THERE Pretty much everyone. A more select group than Starbucks. Expect a West coast flavor.

FASHION ADVICE A skateboard, jeans, and a tee and you'll fit right in. Or a button down tucked into khakis. The barista at my last Peet's was wearing huge gauges, a pink tee with black writing, and black jeans.

FUN STUFF Peet's has been around since 1966 when it opened its first location in Berkley, CA. Peet's is also a proud sponsor of many local artists and organizations. You can even tour their roasting facility online (all of Peet's beans are hand roasted).

WEBSITE

Starbucks Coffee

Ah Starbucks. The not so chain coffee shop that began in 1971 in Seattle as a small coffee place. Today, Starbucks has 15,000 stores in 50 countries. I'm beginning here, because honestly, I'm not such a big frequenter of Starbucks anymore. I wrote essays in Starbucks this year. I wrote poetry. I cried over espresso chocolate truffles to friends who weren't really listening. I sat there for hours, ordering shorts, talls, grandes, and ventes. The music is a bit repetitive, but there's something comforting about Starbucks, because wherever you go around the world you'll find one, and you know what to expect.

THE SERVICE A mix. You get your great baristas, and your so so ones. Chat up the baristas, befriend them, they'll give you free drinks here or use their partner numbers. The best barista to ever make my coffee is from Bethesda, MD. I ordered a coffee frappuccino, and as he was making it, he saw my down expression. "Bad day?" he asked me? It had been a bad day. I nodded. "Do you want a hug?" he asked. I nodded. He came around the counter and hugged me. "I'm Nick by the way." He winked.
I decided i wanted a shot of espresso mixed in with the drink. "Well it's too late, but I can just make it affagato", he told me. So he poured the hot shot over the blended coffee. It was delicious, and I didn't pay for the extra shot.

THE TASTE It varies. The drip coffee is very good. Stay away from some of the syrups, especially in excess. A tall drink has three pumps of syrup. One pump will do. Also, avoid some of the weird drinks such as chocolate cherry concoctions and don't try to invent your own drink, it could be a disaster. Keep it simple.

RECOMMENDED Tall iced coffee, sweetened. Very refreshing on a hot day, and very flavorful

BARISTA BIO: TJ works at Starbucks in NYC, walking distance from Central Park. His favorite part about the job is running into his customers all over the city. He recently invented the TJFrap, a blended mix of vanilla, caramel, and chocolate, with a hint of raspberry.

THE CUPS The hot cups change for each season and occasion, which I love. The cold cups stay the same. The "for here cups" are a nice change of pace, but do not come with a saucer.

THE PRICE Overpriced. Whereas I pay a buck for drip coffee somewhere else, at Starbucks it can be over two dollars.

THE ATMOSPHERE One thing I like about Starbucks is that ever location has some sort of special feature, whether it's upstairs seating or a bar.

NOW PLAYING Falling in Love at a Coffee Shop by Landon Pigg

ON THE WALLS all the art, at every location is the same, or very similiar. This invigorates me to no end. You might see something like this or like this. There is some variation, and although the art is decent, I tire of looking at it every time I enter a location.

WHO'S THERE Everyone. From the two year old with his mom, to the middle age man running from the gym, to the two 60 year old women meeting for coffee, to the college student. You can find anyone here.

FASHION ADVICE Anything goes. You'll see a lot of sweatpants/ pajama attire, but in the early morning rush, you'll see suits and business attire. Bottom line, it doesn't matter what you wear. You see it all here.

FUN STUFF "The Way I see It", on the back of each hot cup, is a series of inspirational quotes from such as one about global warming. They also have a great line of products: bottled coffee, instant coffee, and coffee accessories. Their mugs are great and worth the buy.

WEBSITE