Follow WNC 380 High St.(503)362-8667

Monday, October 15, 2007

Dutch Bros Putting the Squeeze on the Bikini Barista

Posted by Salem Man
The new Dutch Bros Coffee opened on Mission Street not far from the Bikini Coffee Co. I think we can start calling that section of Highway 22, "Caffeine Alley" based on the number of places you can buy a cup of joe between 12th Street and the airport. Drivers will need a pick me up in the morning as they drive down Mission because the city is trying to put up a red light camera at the intersection with 25th Street. Dutch Bros has been known for opening new stores on commuter routes next to existing coffee stands. This seems to be one more obstacle for the Bikini Barista to stay in business. A center divider was put in on Mission Street recently, making it harder to turn left into their parking lot than it is to walk across the border from Mexico. If your headed to I5 and don't want to bother with a u-turn on a major state highway and you don't want to contribute to the Dutch Bros takeover of Salem, your other options are a bus parked in front of the "Adult Shop" and a gas station. Maybe they offer a free cup with a fill up. That would be just fine for me.
at 9:48 PM
Labels: , , , , , ,

19 comments:

  1. I couldn't care less...it's coffee! Make it at home, put it in a cup, take it to the car!!!!!

    ReplyDelete

  2. I can't stand Dutch Bros. I can't believe people call it coffee. It's not coffee, they hardly make coffee at most Dutch Bros shops (mostly Americanos--not the same!). Not only that, but they use CHOCOLATE MILK to make mochas! WHAT ARE THEY THINKING!!!! That is NOT a mocha. Get some quality chocolate and take some time to make a good drink. Sometimes I seriously hate our "microwave" culture. We sacrifice so much for a little time and a lot of CRAP. Being the coffee snob I am I prefer small, local coffee shops with fresh roasted beans -- or as the other commenter said, make your own coffee at home using locally roasted beans! I love "Oregon Legacy" coffee roasters here in Corvallis (I think it would be worth it for some of you Salem folks to try this!) Now I wonder if there are any good local roasters in Salem?
    Feel free to check out My Food Blog.

    ReplyDelete

  3. Keith, I like your blog, It always makes my mouth water.

    ReplyDelete

  4. You've got to love Salem. I hate coffee, and I hate Dutch Bros even worse, but I love that little war going on there. I really can't believe people go to Dutch Bros and allow themselves to be called 'bra','bro','bud' and every other disingenuous greeting under the sun. But I guess I like that it's an Oregon company and not from Portland.

    ReplyDelete

  5. I was just curious if our good buddy Keith took the time to realize that Dutch Bros does roast its own beans in Grants Pass, OREGON. I guess being only three hours from Salem wouldn't make it anything at all in the area of local. It did start as a small, Oregon company. And while he may not appreciate the use of chocplate milk over chocolate sauce or powder, there are people out there (myself included) that don't enjoy the taste of the sauce or powder. I have been a fan of Dutch for nearly ten years, and I am also a huge fan of amazing coffee places such as Stumptown. I do call myself a coffee snob, and I'm damn proud of my love of the Dutch.

    ReplyDelete

  6. While I have become a Dutch convert (I love the chocolate milk mix), I do want to point out that the little coffee shop (Espresso to Go), in front of the Shell gas station on Mission and 22nd, is GOOD. They serve fresh Allann Bros coffee, just like the Beanery. I'm a huge fan of the cold blended mochas, no whip... and the service is always excellent. I just wish that when they run my debit card, that there was a place for me to leave a tip (I don't carry cash).

    ReplyDelete

  7. My husband and I, along with our dog, used to frequent the Dutch Brothers on Market every morning. We always had personable service, and got to know the people who worked there pretty well. The remembered our drinks, were always genuine, etc.

    We broke the tyranny, however, by purchasing a decent espresso machine for the home, and hitting Cash and Carry for the syrups needed to make our caramel latte and peppermint mocha each morning.

    ReplyDelete

  8. Has anyone tried Salem's Latte? It's behind Jori Zan's on State St., across from Sybil's Omlettes. They serve fresh Stumptown coffee and espresso, it's definitely the best espresso in a drive-thru in the Salem area. It's open mon. thru Fri. from 6am to 1pm. Check it out!! You'll be glad you did!

    ReplyDelete

  9. Maybe if you looked into the abuse and child slave labor behind most chocolate you would be thinking twice about what you say. Dutch Bros is one of few places that make sure their COFFEE and the chocolate they use don't come from slavery. To know that 90% of the chocolate an american eats was harvested from littles kids getting beaten by bicycle chains because the market value on Cocoa beans went down is horrible. Just think all the good candy bars you bite into (Hersheys, Mars,M&M'S,Cadbury,Nestle,)have all been tainted with a poor childs blood. You should look into, before you get so judge mental.

    ReplyDelete

  10. Keep supporting them (Dutch) and it will soon be your only choice in Salem! I'm not going to think about abused children when I drink my mocha, sorry...You probably shop at Walmart and buy made in China. Whatever!

    ReplyDelete

  11. The bikini coffee company and dutch bros on mission street are both in for some more competition. STARBUCKS plans to open in the new shopping center currently under construction on mission street just west of Les Schwabs. I think this is great news for the consumers who will benefit from the competition.

    ReplyDelete

  12. If your headed to I5 and don't want to bother with a u-turn

    How about YOU'RE instead of YOUR here.

    ReplyDelete

  13. Dutch Bros. is not coffee!!! Keith is right!! It is the worst thing I have ever tasted, very poor quality coffee. Local roaster or not there coffee blows. It taste horrible. I went there once and I will never go again. Its sad that we have made this coffee that "status quo."

    Also, the kids that work in there are lame. As an oregonian I perfer snobby kids with tattoos, vintage clothing and gaged ears over kids with hollister tight t-shirts, and ridic tans.


    Lastly, if you knew anything about the taste of coffee you would not drink that poison.

    I'd rather drink McDonalds's coffee!!!!!!!!!!!

    Take your Dutch Brotha luvin asses back to the trailier park!

    ReplyDelete

  14. Good! Push Bikini Coffee out. Places like that just support the idea that sex sells and ingrains in peoples minds even more that women are just objects.

    ReplyDelete

  15. Ya First off all you dutch bros haters, probably are depressed people who have no love for life and dont enjoy any sort of smiling faces. There coffee is yes not for everyone, but thats the same for everything. They have great customer service, always willing to remake any drink for free, and also strive to have perfect shots of espresso everytime. Unlike places such as starbucks. Which by the way will not, and has not slowed down the business that they have been getting. They have loyal customers who love they're yummy coffee!

    ReplyDelete

  16. Dutch Bros. is fake, Starbucks is too political, support a local coffee shop

    ReplyDelete

  17. Starbucks being competition for Dutch?? hahahahaha No. While worldwide Starbucks is shutting their doors, Dutch bros is expanding and growing! And I just think what "keith" said is hilarious. Dutch Bros is locally owned AND roasted. And since when is an americano not coffee? They also do french press. If you want filter, make it at home. Dutch bros isn't just loved by customers for the coffee either, it's the positive, caring people who serve every cup. I'm pretty sure your Bikini Barista isn't asking about how your sons baseball game went when you pull up with the drink ready in their hand because they remembered your drink and car. Dutch bros company has good roots. I will continue putting money where it is worth it to support. All you Dutch haters could learn a lot from this company.

    ReplyDelete

  18. as someone who spent a few too many years working for starbucks, i LOVE dutch bros. i would so much rather drink their americanos than a starbucks drip of the day. they are so much more affordable, so much better, and as for their "chocolate milk" mochas, they are amazing!! that's the only mocha i'll drink in salem. starbucks has heavy chocolate that makes your mocha silty with grit on the bottom when you're finished. gross.

    much respect for dutch bros. and yeah, they're a little too perky in their hollister t-shirts and fake tans, but the service at starbucks is worse and worse everytime i go into one (which i avoid).

    ReplyDelete

  19. Why are people so upset about this? Its a free market and since Dutch is growing and expanding people must like it so keep your opinions to yourself and if you don't like it don't go there.

    ReplyDelete

What do you think? Please keep your comments civil. Personal attacks are not welcome and do not lead to constructive or even interesting discussion. If you believe a restaurant is in violation of county ordinances please bring that matter to the county health department at (503) 588-5346

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

Other Reviews