Dutch Bros Coffee is a coffee chain, founded in 1992, by brothers Dane and Travis Boersma. The coffee shop is a company-owned franchise located in the western United States and is known for a wide variety of beverages, including coffee, energy drinks, teas, and smoothies.
Dutch Bros is most popular for their sweet lattes and variety of energy drinks, or “Rebels,” that have fun and creative names. The Kicker, which is an Irish cream latte, and the Golden Eagle, a caramel and vanilla latte, are among their most popular drinks.
On January 3, 2025, the company introduced two new cereal-inspired drinks: the Cinnamon Swirl and the Marshmallow Dream. These limited-time drinks aimed to evoke a sense of nostalgia in customers.
The Cinnamon Swirl was inspired by cinnamon-sugar cereals from customers’ youth, like Cinnamon Toast Crunch. This beverage features cinnamon-sugar-flavored milk, crunchy cinnamon-sugar cereal topping, and cold foam. The cold foam is called Soft Top, a creamy final touch on coffee drinks, that is unique to Dutch Bros. Customers can enjoy this drink as a protein latte, a freeze latte, or a chai latte.
The variety of options available at Dutch Bros is one of the factors that makes the coffee chain unique. That is why the addition of a protein option when ordering the Cinnamon Swirl makes the drink more appealing. By combining caffeine and protein powder, the beverage gives you an energizing boost for the day. This flexibility makes customers more likely to want to try something new. I found that the protein powder not only tasted good but also kept me satisfied and fueled throughout the day.
In contrast, the Marshmallow Dream offers a delightful fluffiness reminiscent of Lucky Charms. The drink combines marshmallow cereal-flavored milk, topped with Soft Top and marshmallow charms. It is available as a variety of lattes with optional protein. This mixture is a flavorful combination of hazelnut, cupcake batter, and white chocolate.
A restaurant’s atmosphere is crucial because it impacts customers’ experience. It can influence everything from enjoyment, satisfaction, mood, recommendations, and good ratings. Customers frequently review establishments based on environment, staff service, and cleanliness. I noticed that the environment at Dutch Bros was upbeat and clean. However, the service was slow because the location was packed, causing the waiting period to be longer than expected. The wait for my drinks to arrive caused my experience to be less enjoyable. Overall, the atmosphere has a huge impact on the customer when trying menu items.
Although Dutch Bros seemed to market the Marshmallow Dream as a new, innovative beverage, there are mixed reviews from customers about the marshmallow topping. Some customers appreciate the drink’s colorful appearance and nostalgic sugary flavors, while others find it to be an overly sweet and odd flavor combination.
I found the drink’s presentation to be visually appealing, but the overall taste is mediocre. At times, the overwhelming sweetness causes the coffee to have an unappetizing, grainy texture. The marshmallow charms can become soggy from slow service, causing the drink to have a weird consistency despite being visually appealing.
On the other hand, the Cinnamon Swirl stands out. Its cinnamon undertones compliment the coffee’s richness, creating a balance of flavors that appeal to both regular coffee drinkers and those who enjoy sweet flavors. The addition of cold foam and crunchy cinnamon topping make each sip taste more like cereal.
I personally loved the mix of white chocolate and cinnamon flavors within the coffee. The drink is similar to the classic cereal Cinnamon Toast Crunch, with cinnamon-infused milk and crunchy chunks of cereal that can become soggy depending on how long you wait to drink.
Overall, while Dutch Bros deserves credit for their creativity in new menu items, these drinks, specifically the Marshmallow Dream, leave something to be desired. The aesthetic appeal is there, and the concept is fun, but the drinks are marketed towards two different, non-cohesive audiences; one for those who appreciate very sweet, grainy flavors and another for those who want warmer, more decadent coffee.
While these two beverages may not be permanent menu options, their unique flavors and presentation make them worth a try, especially for those who appreciate nostalgic flavors.
