Also written by Brenna Regan and Victoria Majeske
With so many new coffee places popping up all the time, it can be overwhelming to see which ones you actually should try and which ones are just not worth your time, and that’s why we’re here! We tried some places near LHS and reviewed them, so the next time you’re craving a caffeine fix, you don’t have to stress about picking a place.
Dutch Bros
Brenna: Golden Eagle- This one of the only drinks I get here, most of them are way too sweet. If you get an extra shot of espresso this drink is really good, however, it’s too weak and too sweet without it. The caramel also needs to be mixed in better. 7/10
Megan: I went to Dutch Bros and got the Golden Eagle. The first time I got it, I got the chai version which was pretty good but I like the coffee version better. I agree with Brenna, I think that the caramel could be mixed in better but the drizzle is good. I like my coffee really sweet though, so it was a good option for me. I would definitely recommend and continue to go back and get it again. 9/10
Victoria: When I went to Dutch Bros I ordered the Iced Chai with vanilla and oat milk. This drink was amazing in my opinion. I like the sweetness of the Dutch Bros drink personally. I thought the vanilla was a great addition to the Chai drink, which is always my personal go too. I only ordered a small one to try it out, but after the sip I wish I had ordered a bigger size. 10/10
Starbucks
Brenna: Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew- My favorite drink I get this religiously, the mixture of the cold brew is perfect with the sweet cream, not too sweet or weak, I like my coffee strong so this is perfect for me. 10/10
Megan: Honestly, the only thing I get from Starbucks is an iced chai with vanilla sweet cream cold foam. Their coffee is so burnt and one time when I tried to order a pumpkin spice chai latte, I got a pumpkin spice latte with chai added in and it just tasted SO BURNT. Not my favorite coffee place, plus I can get a better coffee for so much cheaper elsewhere. 4/10
Victoria: My starbies order is a grande iced chai tea latte with oat milk, with the occasional vanilla sweet cream foam if it’s a special occasion and I want to spend an extra dollar. I think this drink is so good and is my usually go too. I really go to Starbucks as often as I do (multiple times a week) due to how convenient it is as I pass 5 just in my 3.3 mile drive to school.
Atlas Coffee
Brenna: I got their dirty chai which is cold brew mixed with chai tea, I’ve had this at other places and it’s normally pretty good. However, the cold brew tasted kinda cheap and the mixture with the chai kinda tasted like dirt. 3/10
Megan: I got a caramel latte with caramel drizzle and honestly it wasn’t super enjoyable. It tasted a little like Dunkin on a day where it’s mid-way between coffee and creek water. Some sips were fine but others were weird. I’m not really sure how I feel about this. 4/10
Dirt Coffee Bar
Brenna- I got a chai tea. It was really good! The barista asked me if I liked it more sweet or spicy and I said spicy, although I wish I had gotten it a little bit sweeter. The building the coffee shop is in is super cute however it’s a little too small for the amount of people it hosts normally. 9/10
Lost Coffee
Megan: I went to Lost Coffee more towards the beginning of the year when it had just opened and if nothing else, this provides a great place to study! It is a super cute and intimate space that I feel like I could sit at and grind for hours. They have seasonal flavors and in the summer, it was lavender which made a really good chai latte. I think that this place is definitely worth a try-even if you don’t love it, it will be a great place to hang out once it gets warmer. 7.5/10
Dunkin’
Brenna: I got one of their drip coffees because I was in a hurry. It just tasted like coffee out of my own coffee pot, nothing special. Definitely could have used a pump of vanilla or something. 6/10
Megan: When I go to Dunkin, I usually get a medium caramel latte with oat milk. I really like getting this because they make it really fast usually and it’s a good, cheap option. However, it can be a tossup whether you get coffee or creek water with Dunkin, and it just depends on the day. A medium is pretty hefty and will last you the entire day. I will continue going back to Dunkin despite the Russian roulette I play-it’s kind of fun to see what I get on any given day. 8.5/10
Victoria: I went through a phase where I loved Dunkin because of how affordable it was. This was until I realized my acid reflux could no longer handle the taste of the coffee. I order a medium caramel latte with oat milk, the same as Megan, but to me it is so acidic I cannot continue past a few sips. It is also for me either coffee or creek water and if it’s creek water it will ruin my entire day. 3/10