Caribou Coffee — Restaurant in Inver Grove Heights

UPDATE: I avoided this store for over a year, but decided to give them another try this past summer, and have changed the star rating from 1 to 5. What a turn around! They obviously have a new management team, because they are retaining employees and training them to make the craft coffees correctly. I've been going twice a week since August, always order the same thing, and have only had 2 bad coffees (no flavor, tasted like steamed milk), which happens once in a while at any Caribou. A special shout out to Ben. He is now my favorite barista ever! He makes the perfect White Chocolate Mocha, consistently, time after time. I wish he would train all the new employees. Thanks for making this my go to Caribou store again.

This place is an absolute joke for a Caibou Coffee. It's only 1 mile from my house and I have been going here for over 10 years, but I will now drive 5 miles out of my way to go to the one on Upper 55th. At least they know how to make what's on their menu. The one on Cahill cannot keep employees or managers. I get it when it comes to training someone new, but for the past 4 months, they have all new employees every couple of weeks. They either screw up your order, charge you too much, give you the wrong coffee, fail to put whipped cream and toppings on the coffee which is standard on the type of coffee I order, or they are out of whipped cream and don't tell you that, they just hand you the coffee like it's no big deal. Well, I'm sorry if I expect my coffee to be made the way you advertise it on your menu. I complained to the manager two weeks ago. She was nice enough, said yes they're having a huge problem keeping employees at that store, said the previous manager stole the whipped topping dispenser and that's why they haven't had whipped cream, and gave me two free coffees. Well, same issues this weekend. New employees, they did not put whipped cream or sprinkles on top. When I asked for it, she put whipped cream on. When I asked for the white chocolate sprinkles, she actually argued with me about it! Said she put the sprinkles in the coffee. I told her that yes, the coffee is made with white chocolate chips, but if you look at the picture on your menu you'll see that sprinkles also go on top of the whipped cream. Ok, ok, was her response. My husband went today, and guess what? They are out of whipped cream! I had told the manager that when they don't have whipped cream, the employees should tell the customer that they are out when placing the order, or, put up a sign at your drive through speaker. Did they tell my husband they were out of whipped cream? Of course not! They just handed him the coffee. I mean come on! That's like McDonald's running out of ketchup! I am so done with this Caribou store! Save yourself some frustration, avoid this one and go to one that knows what they're doing. The store on Cahill in Inver Grove Heights gives Caribou a bad name. It truly wouldn't bother me if they shut...

I‘m livid. I ordered a large almond milk vanilla latte. The woman taking my order then asked me if I was asking for almond milk because of an allergy. I was so caught off guard and put off by her invasive question that I said no. It shouldn’t matter if I do or do not have an allergy, if I order a drink to be made with almond milk, make it with almond milk. You don’t get to ask people personal questions that are none of your business, you don’t get to decide who can and can’t receive alternative milk, I shouldn’t be required to share my allergy list to ensure that my drink is made properly. There should be procedures in place to ensure that if someone ORDERS alternative milk they RECEIVE alternative milk, regardless of reason or personal opinion of the staff. I waited until I got to work to have my drink and thought it tasted a little off but I hadn’t thought about the possibility of someone using dairy milk in my drink until I’d had some and was in and out of the bathroom for the rest of the night. My stomach is still completely wrecked. Thanks for that. I‘m disgusted by the invasiveness, carelessness, and completely inappropriate service I’ve received. Your staff needs to take the safety and well-being of their customers into consideration before taking it upon themselves to completely disregard their order...

I'd go 5 stars if my great service and product had come with a smile. I ordered online about 5 minutes away for 3 drinks. FYI, I know from experience to select walk in instead of drive thru at this location to expedite my order. I pulled in, walked in and my drinks were in the process of being placed in the designated pick up spot for pre-orders. Perfect! However, I did have to ask for a carrier (which I wish would have simply been done as I had 3 drinks to pick up), but I did quickly get one when I asked. It was this person I wish would have looked more cheerful during our brief interaction. Coffee is such a highlight for many that having the entire atmosphere be uplifting is pretty important. Overall, though, this location is pretty good except the drive thru is a little wonky if you ask me. If you commit to do it you are stuck in it with no exit. If service is taking a while this can add quite a bit of time to get your order, and if your drink is sitting there already made, that's not so good. Caribou has some great Monday deals which is what I did through the app. $1 small crafted press. Highly recommend the honey oatmilk crafted press which is pretty low cal and not so much milk. And I recommend getting the app even if you only use it...