Comparison of Dutch Bros Vs Starbucks
Are you craving coffee to jumpstart your morning but can’t decide what coffee chain to visit? This article is just for you!
Dutch Bros., a drive-thru coffee chain, thanks its high-quality coffee beans and unique taste for their popularity.
Starbucks is a name everyone is familiar with unless, that is, you’re living under a rock. Starbucks is the largest coffeehouse chain in the whole world.
However, that does not mean it is at the top of its game regarding customer preference.
No doubt, Starbucks is very admired amongst our generation but we can all agree it is quite on the costly side.
Dutch Bros is said to have a better coffee selection and for a portion of the price at Starbucks.
With that being said, we’ll let you be the judge of which is most popular!
Starbucks Vs Dutch Bros
Here is a side-by-side comparison between the two popular coffee chains to help make your decision easier.
01. Menu Offerings
The menus at both coffee chains are quite similar. At Dutch Bros., you can get Cold Brew, Frosts, Smoothies, Freezes, energy drinks, and chai.
Snack options are limited compared to Starbucks.
Dutch Bros. has more sugar-free options than Starbucks does, which is always an advantage as customer preferences are better met at Dutch Bros. this way.
To conclude, Starbucks’s menu has more variety but Dutch Bros. has more sugar-free options.
02. Ingredients and Quality
Quality-wise, there are mixed reviews between the two coffee chains. Dutch Bros. uses high-quality coffee beans from Brazil, El Salvador, and Colombia.
The beans are then roasted individually and blended to bring a strong taste and aroma to your drink.
Starbucks sources its high-quality coffee beans from Latin America, Asia, and Africa. Both coffee chains use exceptional coffee beans with unique tastes.
This concludes on preference as some say Dutch Bros. coffee is smoother while others say it lacks flavor.
03. Taste and Flavor
Taste and flavor between the two, Dutch Bros. and Starbucks, can go either way.
Dutch Bros. may not have many food items on their menu but they certainly have a better drink menu.
Taste and flavor-wise, the majority say Dutch Bros. takes the win in coffee, chai, and energy drink combinations.
Starbucks takes the win on sweeter combinations of coffee and their refreshers.
To conclude, Dutch Bros. has better drink combinations and you are more likely to get what you asked for. Starbucks drinks can get old with not many combinations to try.
04. Pricing and Value
This is an easy one. Starbucks is known to be costly and having a drink from Starbucks every morning will break your bank.
Dutch Bros. on the other hand, offers more coffee for a portion of the Starbucks cost.
At the price of Starbucks, you are not guaranteed you will get your drink exactly as you asked but at Dutch Bros. there are pre-set buttons for sweetness levels so you get exactly what you asked for.
Starbucks has six sizes, demi (3 oz.), short (8 oz.), tall (12 oz.), Grande (16 oz.), venti (20 oz.), and Trenta (30 oz.). Venti is the most popular. Quite confusing, isn’t it?
Dutch Bros. has four sizes, kids (10 oz.), Small (12 oz.), medium (16 oz.), and large (24 oz.). Overall, a large drink at Dutch Bros. will get you more beverages for less than a venti drink at Starbucks!
| Starbucks Coffee Sizes | Dutch Bros Coffee Sizes |
| Demi, Short, Tall, Grande, Venti, and Trenta | Kids, Small, Medium, and Large |
For this category, Dutch Bros. takes the win without a doubt!
Comparison of Store Experience
Due to Starbucks being so popular, it is crowded quite literally from opening to closing time.
The crowd and number of online orders cause their employees to be super busy, not having enough time to communicate with their customers.
Dutch Bros. is drive-thru and mobile orders only so it is pretty calm and employees are always very friendly.
The Dutch Bros. “broistas” create a connection with their customers, unlike the staff at Starbucks.
Speed-wise, both coffee chains are pretty fast but overall, the service and store experience at Dutch Bros. is highly praised with the only disadvantage of there being no indoor seating.
Customer Loyalty Programs
Both Starbucks and Dutch Bros. have loyalty programs for their customers with memberships.
When you download the app and join the Dutch Bros. Dutch rewards, you can start earning points with every online purchase and you also get a free medium drink when newly registered!
The more points you earn, the more free drinks you can get! You can even earn stickers and customize your app.
With the Starbucks Rewards Program, once you become a qualifying member you can earn stars to accumulate enough for free drinks or merchandise!
You are also eligible for free birthday treats and free tea refills! All you need to do is pay through the app to earn stars.
Final Thoughts
This article may not be able to come to a fixed and final conclusion on whether Dutch Bros. is better than Starbucks as both coffee chains have their pros and cons.
For lunch and breakfast snack variety, Starbucks is the place to go but for better drink customization, Dutch Bros. all the way!
It all depends on what you are craving for the day and what your budget is.
For a tighter budget, Dutch Bros. is a great option but if you are willing to splurge on a sweet drink, Starbucks is ready for your order.
