Think about it, how many times have you gone out for coffee or some sweet drink and thrown out the name Dutch Bros? For being a “popular” coffee chain it seems that many people wouldn’t put it on the top of their list. If you were to compare Dutch Bros with its local competitors (Starbucks, Klatch, etc.), it would become obvious the gap they have. This begs the question: Is Dutch Bros really worth all its hype and does it necessarily compare to other hyped coffee stores?
Location
Let’s compare each store to the closest ones to Ayala. Dutch Bros already loses this battle, with the closest store being in Eastvale, a very decent drive from Ayala. Starbucks and Klatch are both located within a 3-4 minute drive from Ayala, both being located in The Shoppes. Dutch Bros has lacked the local factor for a long time, having the only two nearby locations be on the other side of the freeway.
Reviews
Under this category, the competition falls into the hand of the customer and just how worth it each one seems, according to Yelp. To balance this, the Starbucks near Chaparral 300 Bowling will be compared, since the one within Barnes and Noble does not get separate reviews. In this case, Dutch Bros and Starbucks almost reach neck and neck with poor reviews, all criticizing the taste and hospitality of the respected stores. Klatch, on the other hand, holds substantial reviews and nice comments about taste and hospitality, with the business manager even responding to reviews. This puts Dutch Bros on a losing record.
Price
For price, let’s compare the price of a cold brew from each store, going from least expensive to most expensive. The least expensive cold brew is from Starbucks, coming in at $5.15 which is pretty good for a coffee chain. In the middle is Klatch, barely missing out on the mark with a price of $5.75. In dead last, yet again, is Dutch Bros with a cold brew setting you back $7.69, a whole $2.54 difference when compared to Starbucks.
Vibe
A building’s vibe can truly change a business. Whether it is intimidating or inviting, the vibe can attach or push away business. When looking at Dutch Bros, it makes me feel almost as if I am walking to a nice and welcoming coffee shop, but then I am immediately turned away by the line. The line of Dutch Bros is the one thing everyone knows about it, associating the coffee shop with half hour waits and outside waiting areas. Many of Dutch Bros locations are drive-thru walk up window locations, lacking a real inside where people can sit down with their laptops and reap the benefits of free Wi-Fi, like Starbucks or the all so comfy Klatch locations. Just by looking at Dutch Bros buildings, I can feel a welcoming vibe, but once that line forms, the feeling of anxiety rushes through my body, pushing me away just by the intimidation factor.
My Overall
Dutch Bros has never been special, and the stats show that it does not rank even in the top two of a three store comparison. Not only are they expensive, but they lack the local factor and the public opinion, making my 25 minute drive seem nothing but a waste. Which store I’d prefer is for another time, but I can wholeheartedly say that Dutch Bros is dead last in the list of coffee shops I’d choose to go to.
