Dutch Bros Coffee — Restaurant in Cedar Park

Really like the coffee Dutch Bros uses and consistency of the products from one day to the next. The menu is stacked with inventive and ever-changing, but typically sweeter-than-southern-sweet-tea, coffee and shake-like beverages... No... Really... They proudly make some beverages, like the Double Torture, with super-rich (proprietary) chocolate milk. This is my go-to, as it's loaded with 4 shots of espresso. If that's your thing. For hot coffee, I like the Caramelizer with an extra shot.

If you like coffee-flavored coffee, this is not the spot for you - although I'm sure it's there somewhere amidst the type-2-diabetes-flavored beverages they shamelessly plug. I say this, yet their hot White Chocolate Lavender perfectly let the espresso sing...after adding an extra shot.

Occasionally, you get a crew of young bros and off-duty cheerleaders, that clearly has been downing caffeine and sugar for all 3 meals, and possibly intravenously, as they exuberantly and haphazardly bash their way around a coffee machine to some AWFUL pop/rap hit I've never heard before, but is now being forced, clattering, clamoring, scraping down my ear-holes.

No. Really. It's that kinda place. If you're down with wading through the "too-woke-for-Starbucks...but-OMG-I-still-LOOOOOOVE-me-a-pink-drink" crowd...or can tolerate it for above-par caffeination, as I do...this spot is for you! Although really this demographic (being area dependant) doesn't extend much to their clientele, which leads to some interesting social interactions and people-watching.

One of my evening experiences, while sitting at the drive-thru window and in full-view of the coffee bar, started with a "1...2...3...GO!!!" The milk and coffee grounds started literally flying, as I watched in righteous disbelief (I'm a food service veteran) as my beverages and cross-contamination were the last thing on the future-pledges' minds. Being severely tired and in need of their delicious liquid-sustenance, I begrudgingly accepted my beverages...the only pass I'd ever allow, and only because of the circumstances. See, they at least got the drinks into the containers, and no fingers or foreign objects made it inside during their caffeine-fueled-flailing...I watched unwaveringly to be sure of this, as my party's eyes were the only ones doing so. In their defense, they managed to slam together drinks that were only slightly substandard...and in record time!

The drive-thru is pretty frequently packed - and deservingly so. They're often capable of being a great deal faster than most coffee houses in the area, while maintaining some semblance of consistency - something this area severely lacks. Although, there are days where the sheer volume clearly burns out their "bro-istas." 👈 (Their word, not mine...cringe) However, a walk up from their limited, but often-manageable parking, to their walkup window, can subvert a line that literally wraps behind the adjacent 7-Eleven. And mind you, I do this regularly for their coffee ☕ and only for...

Coffee, shakes, hot chocolate, chai, energy drinks, tea, and baked goods, with so many different flavors and add-ons to choose from. GET THE APP. The physical menus don't do the full menu justice, and you can build points towards free drinks, or just to collect virtual stickers for the fun of it. Occasionally they'll give you real stickers as well, such as for the "buck for kids" day. Drinks are cheap, but do keep in mind that it is hard to find any prices for anything anywhere, even online. That being said, the most expensive drink I have had so far was a large latte for a little over 7 bucks, but most will range from about 2-5 dollars. As far as I know, the type of drink as well as size will determine the price. The shop is mostly a drive-thru, although you can park and walk up to the window and order from there if you'd like. On busier days it may take about 20-30 minutes to get to the drive-thru window, but most of the time it may only take about 10-15, or even shorter. The employees are as sweet as the drinks they serve. They're very friendly and diligent, and I have major respect for anyone who has to stand out in the Texas sun for hours on end. The Cedar Park/Leander area has been needing something new and fresh for a while now, and I feel that this is it. I almost never go out just to grab a drink, but I find myself going maybe once a week just because the drinks are so cheap and variable, and the staff are fun to chat with when it isn't busy. I would recommend trying it out...

We've been quite a few times since this location opened. We've been okay with the long lines as they go fairly quickly and they are obviously trying hard. After today's experience though, I probably won't be back. We went around 4 pm on a Saturday. The line was quite long and took about 20 minutes to get through. They only had one person taking orders for most of that time. We ordered two drinks then were already driving away when I took a sip and realized they gave me the wrong drink. I ordered coffee and it was a chai. It was also super sweet, not at all to my liking. I tried to call as I didn't want to have to go through that line again. The number is routed to customer service off-site. I said I was heading back, since I realized that I wasn't getting the store, to get the drink redone and she just said something like, "okay then". There was no apology or giving me a credit for the drink since I had to go back, get my small child out of the car and walk up to get the drink taken care of. At the window, the girl was like, yes, we realized we gave you the wrong drink and were hoping you'd come back...and she gave me the drink that was made 5+ minutes before, melted whipped cream and all....sigh. Also, the sweetening is very inconsistent. Long story short, I haven't really enjoyed a single drink out of maybe 7 or 8. I've ordered the same drink several times to get the sugar level right, it wasn't very sweet at less than almost 100%. Today I tried a new drink at 50% and it was...