For the first 15-ish years of my life I didn’t drink coffee. When someone offered me coffee cake when I was little I said no because I thought it had actual coffee in it and I wasn’t an adult so I thought I couldn’t have coffee (oh, I was so innocent). When I first had coffee I thought it tasted like burnt popcorn and I wondered how anyone could possibly like this brown terrible water. I always liked the smell of coffee and though it was the most homey, cozy smell I just hated drinking this liquid terribleness. But then I opened my mind to the possibility that maybe it wasn’t so bad, I had some small sips of coffee with flavoring or milk and decided it wasn’t awful. Now I am hooked. I wouldn’t call myself a coffee snob, but I do like good coffee. I will drink it straight black, in a shake, as a latte, or in ice cream. I have even had the first shot of espresso from a new espresso machine that was the consistency of syrup.

So the next logical question, in my opinion, is the choice between Caribou and Starbucks. Now, I’m a Minnesota girl born and raised. I was strictly a Caribou fan up until this past winter. I always thought Starbucks coffee tasted burnt and there wasn’t one in my town like Caribou was. Also for about two years, I lived 5 blocks from a Caribou which made it very convenient to get my Vanilla White Mocha Cooler more often than I should. I used to defend Caribou to anyone who told me that Starbucks was better. Now however, things have changed.

Starbucks has become my thing. Their variety of drinks, from coffee, teas and frappuccinos, to the new drinks they are always coming up with and releasing. Also, before I was a vegan, their egg and cheese breakfast sandwich on an english muffin was incredible. And, I would imagine the rest of their food is very good as well. Starbucks has a huge menu variety no matter what I am in the mood for. Now Starbucks has this reputation for being a “basic white girl” trend, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have good products.

I enjoy a good cup of coffee and if someone wants to buy me coffee I won’t be picky, but since my tastes have changed, my automatic response to where I want to meet for coffee might take a little more decision making than my definite answer of Caribou would have been a few years ago. I also love small town coffee shops from River Rock Coffee in my hometown to Java John’s in Decorah where I go to school. The cute coffee shop atmosphere inspires the creative artist in me and provides me a backdrop for many a cliché coffee photo.