I heard a lot about Dutch Brothers, but I only got to try it for the first time during my most recent trip to Oregon. And oh my goodness, what have I been missing this entire time? I can't drink straight-up black coffee, but I do like sweeter, blended drinks, so a friend told me that Dutch Brothers would be right up my alley.
Dutch Brothers Coffee stands are easy to find because of the signature, blue, windmill structure. They're a drive-thru, but during the last of my visits for this trip, I noticed that you could also walk up to the window (on the opposite side) to order. That would have probably been helpful for me to notice, because the line at this location tends to be long. But, then again, there are only like two stalls where you can park and get your coffee, so you'll probably have to wait in the drive-thru, due to lack of parking.
That being said, the people who work here are really friendly and helpful! During my first visit--my first time at a Dutch Brothers location, EVER--the staff were more than willing to help me, and my drink was on the house. The staff made my visits really enjoyable, so that, combined with the product, made me want to come back all the more.
Prices are definitely reasonable (in comparison to what some coffee shops charge) and you get what you pay for, in terms of sizes. Here's what I would recommend:
"Caramelizer": This drink features a classic mocha that's spun with velvety caramel. I got this on my first trip to Dutch Brothers, and the girl at the window highly recommended it, saying that it was her favorite drink. I can see why! I actually got this on my last visit to Dutch Brothers, before I left Eugene to return to Hawaii. You can get drinks either hot or iced, but I got this one iced, even though it was a cooler, misty morning. I wasn't disappointed! The blend was perfect, adequately featuring both chocolate and caramel. I was just relieved that they had soy options here. I got a medium size and was surprised by how large it actually was ... and I think I only had to pay $3.50 for it, too. Granted, there's lots of ice included in the drink, but I loved the sweetness and the delicate balance between the chocolate and caramel flavors.
"Annihilator": I got this drink during my second visit to this Dutch Brothers location. I was interested in it because it featured a chocolate macadamia nut mix. The girl at the window told me that it didn't have a super strong chocolate taste, so she recommended adding chocolate syrup, which I did. While I did like the lighter, chocolate macadamia nut flavor of this drink, I still liked the "Caramelizer" a bit better. I got the "small" size of this drink, but it still boasted a sweetness that I enjoyed.
"Dutch Freeze": I didn't get this drink during my time at Dutch Brothers, simply because I always have to get soy and I was told (on numerous occasions) that adding soy would mess up this mix. But, I didn't want to take chances and not have soy with this option. It features a frosty, creamy espresso blend that's made from scratch. One of my friends ordered this before and really enjoyed it ... I really wanted to try it because it looks amazing in the photos. Maybe I'll take my chances and try it one day when I'm not commuting anywhere and if a bathroom is safely nearby.
"Dutch Frost": If I didn't want a coffee option--or just wanted something that was more similar to dessert--I would order this drink, as it features a frozen, creamy shake. I'm not sure what flavors it comes in, but I'll definitely have to try it one day.
"Chocolate Chip Muffin Top": I only ordered coffee during my trips to Dutch Brothers, but if I had to get breakfast, this chocolate chip muffin top would probably be first up on my list. I love chocolate chips (and muffins), so I'd take this over any fruity pastry option any day. read more