Which two franchises are truly the best? Within this article, I will be comparing and contrasting customer service, environment, and menus. 

These two coffee shops have locations around the world and are always competing. However, I think the competition is healthy, and to be quite honest, I think the amount of consumers just all depends on preference. For example, I will always be a Starbucks girly through and through. However, my friends love Caribou’s blended drinks and are ride-or-die for Caribou. 

No matter which stores you prefer, both have pros and cons, and I am here to highlight the good things and shine light on what needs to happen. 

Starbucks was our first stop of the day. Starbucks has had locations popping up a lot recently. One was just recently built in our city of Sartell and has been quite useful for high schoolers. There seems to always be a line in the drive-through, and it is a great meeting ground for community members. 

STARBUCKS 

Customer service: ⅘ ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The customer service was great. They greet you with a welcoming smile and are always willing to help you. They not only provide you with their delicious menu items but also splendid customer service. 

Environment: 5/5  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I would describe the environment as studious and very clean. It is the perfect environment to study in with the use of free wifi and plenty of outlets. They also provide comfortable seating so it’s an excellent place to meet with friends and family. The indoor and outdoor areas are kept very clean and organized. 

Menu: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Starbucks is always coming with new and exciting drinks. While keeping the fan favorites such as Strawberry Acai and Caramel Macchiato. They have a variety of drinks from refreshers to both cold and hot coffees. Also, have a variety of breakfast foods and cake pops for a midday pick-me-up. 

CARIBOU 

Customer service: ⅗ ⭐⭐⭐

The customer service wasn’t bad, it was a little bit above the bare minimum which is why the rating was so low in this category. The employees were not very inviting, and they didn’t greet you with positive vibes which is the complete opposite of Starbucks. 

Environment: ⅘ ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The environment wasn’t bad. Other than the gloomy lighting it is a perfect place to meet up with friends and a great place to study. Caribou are usually connected to other businesses such as grocery stores. So the environment is different compared to Starbucks since the space isn’t as big. They have a lot of seating and tables. The only thing was how dark the space was; it was not very inviting. 

Menu: ⅖

I am not a fan of the Caribou’s menu at all. Their coffee drinks or either way are overpowering with sugar and taste absolutely nothing like coffee. If I were to order a coffee drink with light flavoring, it would taste very bitter. Also, they lack a variety of refreshers, unlike Starbucks where refreshers are staples for non-coffee drinkers. Also, that being said their food items are very mediocre. 

Those are my ratings and comparisons of these two coffee shops. As you can tell, I think Starbucks is superior and will always be my go-to for a caffeine boost or a delicious sweet treat. You are subjected to your own opinion as I am to mine. If you feel differently feel free to answer on the poll below!