Comparing Local Coffee Stops
Many people can tell you the name their favorite coffee, but how do these assumptions hold up to a blind taste test? With the help of a group of very willing volunteers, we put the coffee from the six closest coffee stops through a blind taste test.
We started by ordering a plain cup of medium roast coffee from each and stocking up on butter cookies and half and half. All told, 16 students participated in the coffee taste-off and three coffees stood out from the rest.
UCC Bookstore: ♥♥♥♥
Bold, smooth, a bit burnt or roasted
“I don’t normally drink coffee black, but this isn’t bad.”
Starbucks: ♥♥♥♥
A bit acidic, our tasters were adamant about whether or not they liked it.
“Good,” “Yuck,” “I like it!,” “No”
Bouncing Betty’s: ♥♥♥♥
Love it or hate it, this coffee is so strong it’s almost chewy.
Really old, strong!, “burnt, like maybe they stirred it with a charcoal stick”, “I love it!”, “Gross!”
River Blendz: ♥♥♥♥
Not bad, it needs creamer, not a whole lot of flavor.
Java Run: ♥♥
Light, mild, “great flavor but it has an unpleasant aftertaste.”
Dutch Bros: 0
Weak, watery, mild, certainly the weakest of all the coffees we tasted.
This was the most surprising result of our taste test as Dutch Bros is certainly one of the most popular coffee stands in Roseburg.
The Breakdown: Prices & Popular Drinks
Our intrepid Mainstream reporters have braved the cold weather and gathered together a comparison of prices and popular drinks for the coffee stops featured in this article.
UCC Bookstore
- House Coffee: $2
- Latte: $3
- Mocha: $3.75
- Espresso Shot: 50¢
- Extra Flavors: 50¢
- Milk Alternatives: 50¢ Soy
- Most Popular Drink: Snickers Mocha
- Popular Holiday Drink: Eggnog Latte
River Blendz
- House Coffee: $1.75
- Latte: $3
- Mocha: $3.50
- Espresso Shot: 50¢
- Extra Flavors: 50¢
- Milk Alternatives: 50¢ Soy & Almond
- Most Popular Drink: White Summit
- Popular Holiday Drink: Pumpkin Spice Latte
Bouncing Betty’s Coffee Co.
- House Coffee: $2
- Latte: $3.25
- Mocha: $3.50
- Espresso Shot: 50¢
- Extra Flavors: 50¢
- Milk Alternatives: Free Soy, Almond & Coconut
- Most Popular Drink: Mocha
- Popular Holiday Drink: Red Bull & Cider
Dutch Bros
- House Coffee: $2
- Latte: $3.50
- Mocha: $3.50
- Espresso Shot: 50¢
- Extra Flavors: Free
- Milk Alternatives: 50¢ Soy & Coconut
- Most Popular Drink: The Kicker
- Popular Holiday Drink: Candy Cane Mocha
Starbucks
- House Coffee: $2
- Latte: $3.70
- Mocha: $4.50
- Espresso Shot: 75¢
- Extra Flavors: 50¢
- Milk Alternatives: Free Soy
- Most Popular Drink: Caramel Macchiato
- Popular Holiday Drink: Peppermint Mocha
Java Run
- House Coffee: $2.50
- Latte: $3.10
- Mocha: $3.40
- Espresso Shot: 30¢
- Extra Flavors: 30¢
- Milk Alternatives: 50¢ Soy & Almond
- Most Popular Drink: The Cowboy, blended
- Popular Holiday Drink: The Christmas Tree