I lived in Southern California for 18 years of my life so I guess you could say that I practically grew up around the Starbucks franchise. I didn't drink coffee until my junior year of high school but as soon as I took my first sip, I was hooked. At the time, I had a job but nothing to pay for, so it was easy for me to buy Starbucks every morning before school. I was definitely known as the "coffee girl" at my high school.
After I graduated, I moved to Arizona to attend GCU and that is when I was introduced to a new coffee shop that seemed to be "the thing". That coffee shop is Dutch Bros Coffee. My first time there was the most confusing ordering experience I ever had. I was so used to just ordering the basic "Caramel Macchiato with extra caramel" that when I looked at the Dutch Bros menu, it was like I was looking at a different language. I remember questioning what everything was.
"What is a rebel?"
"You guys sell milkshakes?"
"So, what is the difference between a freeze and a frost?"
"Do you guys really sell a drink called Sex on the Beach?"
The questions were absolutely endless but a lot of good information came out of it. Now, two years later, you can definitely say that I am Team Dutch Bros. Here's why.
1. Dutch Bros has bigger sizes.
When it comes to iced coffee, Starbucks' large (venti) cup is 24 ounces and Dutch Bros' large cup is 32 ounces. They are roughly the same price but you definitely get more for your buck at Dutch Bros.
2. Dutch Bros sells Rebels.
Rebels are energy drinks that you can purchase as an iced drink, blended drink, or in the can. What does Starbucks have? Refreshers. From Dutch Bros, in a 12 oz Blue Rebel Energy Drink, there is approximately 114 mg of caffeine. From Starbucks, in a 12 oz Strawberry Acai Refresher, there is approximately 45 mg of caffeine. Case closed. If you're in need of energy, definitely go to Dutch.
3. Dutch Bros has a better menu.
When I say better menu, I mean better drinks and more to choose from. Dutch bros has a way bigger variety of drinks to choose from rather than Starbucks' skimpy list.
4. The baristas at Dutch Bros are friendly.
As soon as you pull up to Dutch Bros, whether you go through the drive-thru or park, you are always greeted by a worker who actually seems to want to converse with you. It is not just a "Hi. Welcome to Starbucks." It is actually "Hey! What's up? What are your plans for the day? Nice shirt!" To me, that just makes me feel like they love their job (whether the attitude is fake or not) and that makes me more comfortable. To top it off, the Dutch Bros playlist on Spotify is totally lit.
5. Dutch Bros participates in charity funding.
Unlike Starbucks, Dutch Bros actively participates in raising money for charities. They will host days, that are announced prior to the event, where with every drink purchased, an amount of money will be donated to a charity. Just last month, they donated $1 from every drink purchased to the Phoenix Children's Hospital, as shown in the picture above. Dutch also participates in "Dutch Luv Day", which takes place every Valentine's Day. Every drink purchased, Dutch Bros donates $1 to local food organizations to help fight against hunger.
6. Dutch Bros has a better rewards program.
This is coming from a Starbucks Gold member. In my opinion, it is a pain to rack up those stars in order to get a free drink at Starbucks because it goes off of price. For Dutch Bros, it is a stamp, so no matter what size I order. You might be thinking "At Dutch Bros, you have to buy 10 drinks before you get a free one!" However, it isn't as bad as it looks. Especially since Dutch Bros offers "Triple Stamp Days", where for any size purchase, you get three stamps.
7. Non-caffeine drink choices.
Have you ever craved something sweet but are tired of the usual milkshake and ice-cream choices? Well, you have come to the right place because Dutch Bros has drinks called "Frosts" which are basically milkshakes. There is no caffeine in them at all and you can get them in very interesting flavors! Examples are: The Golden Eagle, Banana Bread, Dinosaur Egg, Electric Berry, and Laser Cat. If you don't want coffee but do want something sweet, I highly recommend Dutch Frosts. These are definitely better than Starbucks' "Vanilla Bean", or "Strawberries and Cream".
I am sure Starbucks will always have a place in my heart but as long as I live where there is a Dutch Bros, Starbucks will not be the coffee shop receiving my money.
