WordsLady  says:
6 months ago

Hello,

In my small town in Oregon, the coffee of choice is Dutch Brothers. Never heard of them before I moved here from Los Angeles. I swear there is a drive-thru Dutch Brothers coffee hut on every corner. They've been tearing out the old gas stations and they've put in Dutch Brothers everywhere. The town has decals fo them all over their cars, the teenagers hang out at the two Dutch Brothers coffee stores. They are always packed day and night. I'm in a town of 30,000 spread out over 25 miles in all directions. "In town" from memory, I can count 7 DB coffee huts along with the 2 stores. Their coffee tastes terrible. I think it's the same as Starbucks. People get accustomed to the name and the status of going there. It's not really about the coffee. I, myself, drink instant. Make a pot at home and am good to go. In summer, make instant coffee, sugar and milk over ice Tastes like a coffee milkshake. You get the caffine boost but you're drinking something cold. If you're dieting use sweetener and skim milk. So good! Thanks for a great article. I was wondering if people were drinking McDonalds or Starbucks. In fact. One of the DB coffee huts is less than 50 feet -- in the same parking lot -- as the drive-thru at McDonald's. Come to think of it, I never see anyone at that DB hut. They're driving through McDonald's. There you have it. ;o)

WordsLady  says:
6 months ago

Hi Don,

Thanks for responding.  I just found another little tidbit of info on Dutch Bros.  I going to rewrite it, otherwise I'll be accused of copying someone else's work. 

One man was traveling and he said he notices differences in travel.  One of the differnces he noticed was there's an awful lot of drive-thru coffee huts in his area.  There is literally one on every corner.  He says DB is one of the best of them.  I was right.  Good guess.  There are 10 of them here in GP (and we only have 3 McDonald's.  He says there are nearly 40 of them (mostly franchises) throughout Western Oregon and Northern California.  So there you have it.  I guess only in our area.  I never heard of them either.  But every time we get a vacant corner somewhere, or they tear down another gas station, there's another DB going up.  They're everywhere.  And they're always at least 3 people in line, always. Doesn't matter what time of day.  Also, whenever they open a new one.  They have the local DJ come there and set up shop in the parking lot and broadcast from there and they give out free coffee all day long to celebrate a new one opening.  Lines go around the parking lot for a free cup of coffee.  So yes, I guess you're right.  Good marketing! ;o)

Oh, forgot to add. My niece's brother-in-law owns a DB franchise up in Washington. He makes over $200,000 a year and he's opening a second "store." Go figure. So they must be doing something right.