Espresso Yourself
A taste of coffee shops scattered across Liberty.
Coffee has been a staple since the 15th century and although it’s been altered and shifted, it’s classic taste continues to reign all over the world. Coffee shops vary from local and quaint to big-name franchises, yet all implement the same basic recipe for coffee. We reviewed four local Liberty coffee shops and rated their cost-to-size ratio, atmosphere and overall taste.
Gaging by The Lord of the Rings correlating pictures to each coffee drink on the Square tablet, Hammerhand is definitely a place that is more relaxed than most. I chose the featured coffee – “Oddly Correct” – which had an unusual yet a mentionable almond and citrus taste to it. The plain coffee wasn’t very strong but was naturally light and sweet. The taste afterwards was gritty but the texture of the drink was smooth. It was the perfect temperature, not steaming yet not lukewarm either. It was the second to- most expensive coffee drink at $3.25 but it was a generous amount. The decor of the shop is very modern and simplistic; with a simple blue and white color scheme and soft lighting. And although the wordless music is calming and easy to study to, the wooden seating is uncomfortable to sit in for too long. The overall feeling of this place was very hipster and fresh, from its minimal, delicate decor to its pourover brewing style. It felt relaxing and everything about the new coffee shop on the square felt personal and intentional. https://www.oddlycorrect.com/
It’s clear why Dunkin Donuts is soon-to-be dropping the “Donuts” in their brand name. To me, the taste of the iced coffee carries the weight of their whole business. Typically, overproduced and shipped coffee doesn’t taste the freshest or have much flavor, yet this coffee still feels soothing and airy. It took a while to get my drink because they were pretty short-staffed and only had one register open, which was unusual for 7:30 in the morning. The atmosphere felt rushed and fast paced and the service was positive and friendly. Compared to the other three places, Dunkin’ had the best price for the most coffee, with a medium coffee only at $2.77. It’s a great place to grab coffee on the go but not the best place to sit down and have a conversation with a friend. Their classic slogan “America runs on Dunkin” can’t be taken too literally because after having my coffee and a donut all I wanted to do was lie down because I was too full to move. https://www.dunkindonuts.com/en/food-drinks/iced-drinks/iced-coffee
Walking into Caribou Coffee, I felt a jolt of energy even before getting my hands on a caffeinated drink. Surrounding half the shop are large windows that add brightness to the ambiance. I enjoyed the “Chalk Thoughts” chalkboard with customers’ responses to their favorite Disney character because it added a uniqueness to the brand chain. One of their three different coffee blends, the Lake Shore Medium Roast, tasted very fresh and springy. After waiting for a few minutes and blowing on the top of my coffee, it was finally cool enough to sip without burning my tongue. The coffee was the cheapest of the four at $2.13 and was a considerable size for the cost. Out of all four coffee places, this coffee had the most natural and simple taste; no fancy flavoring or icky aftertastes, just coffee. Despite the great coffee, the Wi-Fi reception lagged. Other than the Wi-Fi lag, Caribou Coffee topped high on the list. https://www.cariboucoffee.com/menu-nutrition
It’ll be a large debate whether the proximity of Starbucks to the high school is an advantage or a disadvantage for many students. Regardless of the distance, it definitely doesn’t work well for my wallet because this drink was the most expensive at $4.31 and wasn’t very much coffee. After hearing my go-to fake name, Ashley, from the barista and taking the cliché Starbucks photo, I sipped from my (very wordy) Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew. I lost control. I downed my drink instantaneously, barely registering the actual taste. The coffee was smooth and sweet, boosting my energy with excess sugar. Deviating from Hammerhand and Caribou, there was constant noise around the place with the airplane engine-sounding coffee machines, study groups and indie music. But this added to the whole classic coffee shop environment. I admired the artsy photography of coffee on one side of the shop and silly animal cartoon drawings on the other. https://www.starbucks.com/menu/drinks/brewed-coffee/vanilla-sweet-cream-cold-brew
