Caribou Coffee — Restaurant in Allen Park

The number of stars has nothing to do with the quality of their offerings or their service both of which are very very good. My complaints are centered on a couple of other details that do impact my experience there.

Firstly the breakfast sandwiches (which ARE delicious, no complaints there) are apparently heated in a nuclear powered microwave that renders them too hot to touch for several long minutes meaning that I could finish my coffee before the sandwich is cool enough to eat.

And there is the issue with hearing and communicating at the drive-through. The traffic noise from Southfield Road is so incredibly loud I have trouble having a conversation over that little speaker with the person inside. I think they should plant a row of shrubs or put up a wall or something to muffle the sound from the traffic.

Lastly, I find the parking lot traffic patterns very clumsy. Since they do not have a dining room I want to return to the parking lot and sit there and enjoy my breakfast. I hate eating and driving.

But in order to leave the serving window and turn left back to the parking area I have to cross the main entrance which creates havoc if there are cars going out and coming in. Departing traffic waiting to leave the lot blocks my view and I can't see if someone is coming in the driveway. I've had a couple of scary moments almost hitting someone because of this.

I love the coffee but because of the too hot breakfast sandwiches and the scary parking lot I don't go here too...

Had to repeat my order 3 times, and the person on the speaker was still inputting the wrong things that I had to correct. When i asked for a sandwich they were advertising they said "sorry we don't serve that at this location" Like okay, why is it on your menu? Was then told I can not modify any of the sandwiches, because I wanted sausage egg and cheese on a BAGEL but it only came on a biscuit. Makes me think my $6 sandwich is pre-packaged and microwaved. Making my order at the speaker was full of long, awkward pauses. Fair enough, I can get over all that.. Then I heard the total.. $24 dollars and some change for 2 medium coffees and 2 small biscuit sandwiches? That price already had my mind made up that I wouldn't be back... Then I get to the drive through window and they ask me to TIP them at the drive through? Nah... not happening. Maybe if everything wasn't so over-priced in the first place.. For reference, Biggby right down the street makes my exact same coffee order for over $2 less and it tastes better, plus they don't stick a pin pad out the window in your face asking you for tips like a pan handler. Was just giving this new place a try, hopefully others have better experiences than me, I was...

There was a Caribou Coffee in Novi maybe ten years ago that I frequented often. I was so excited to see this building pop up in Allen Park. The coffee is excellent as is the food, the employees are very kind. When the cafe opened, one of the driveways was too steep, but within a few weeks they had fixed it! I was impressed.

Today I mobile ordered like I’ve done half a dozen times, but I accidentally sent it to Ferndale. They made my drink for me anyway, and quickly, without asking me to pay again. It turned my whole day around! A small gesture but kind and meaningful to me.

There are a few processes that I assume are defined by Caribou “corporate”; starting the interaction at the drive-thru with a Perks number, consistently suggesting food items, making conversation with the customer, etc. These are fine but in my opinion it makes the ordering process at Caribou slower than your competitors. Also, it’s clear that you train your employees to keep the drive-thru window open and make conversation while a customer waits…. Whatever corporate bigwig decided that is a fool. Please let them close the window. I don’t go through the drive-thru to chat, especially if a corporation is...