When Hunting For Great Coffee, Set Your Sites On Caribou
Put down that newspaper grab a Cup a Joe and follow my series, the Java Journey.
Our latest stop is Caribou Coffee, located at the John Deere Road and 7th Street Moline HyVee.
I walked up to this little coffee stand and asked for a decaf mocha with dark chocolate chips.
It was delicious! It tasted like homemade!
Caribou coffee, located inside the Moline HyVee, which is usually bustling with customers, is a cozy little nook with a comfy leather couch and plenty of seating in a little enclave. I learned it was a whole separate world from the store itself. As I spoke with Kathy, the bubbly friendly manager of this coffee shop, I discovered quite a bit of interesting information and just how wonderful this place was.
Caribou Coffee had been there since 2008. It was established originally in Minnesota and later located in Denver. There are many shops overseas, many are found in Iowa college campuses and there is one at the I-80 truck stop.
Caribou Coffees are made fresh daily every ingredient is fresh natural ingredients – yes, natural!
“We are very aware and sensitive to food allergies of many of our customers such as no peanuts no gluten are found in any of our foods or coffees,” Kathy informed me.
It’s a very cozy little place and many people of various ages come in just for a cup of coffee and a little conversation.
“They come to Caribou because it’s like coming home we make you feel like family,” Kathy went on to tell me with pride. She says she likes to see them come in chat with them cares about their day. How many coffee shops are that personable?
She had a chalk table put in for the little ones to enjoy while Mom Dad or Grammy sat down to join together with a nice cup of coffee. As I looked around I could see it was its own little world inside the larger store.
Kathy tells me she arranged the sitting area so it would be away from the hustle and bustle of the shoppers, people could relax and chat.
Another wonderful thing Caribou Coffee does (and to be honest this almost brought tears to my eyes), is they ship their coffees to our troops all over all over the world, offering a little Comfort to those protecting and maintaining our freedom.
They serve free coffee to servicemen and women that stop in as well. “It’s just a small thank you from us to them,” says the upbeat manager.
Monday through Friday between 3 and 5 is BOGO. Buy a cup of coffee hot or iced for now take the other one home for tomorrow. Being made of fresh natural ingredients the second one can be refrigerated and heated the next day or the ice left out for you to put in the next day. How awesome is that you don’t even have to leave your house and you’ve got a delicious coffee house coffee in your own fridge?
Caribou Coffee is open Monday through Saturday 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sundays 7 to 7. So next time you’re out shopping or just want a great fresh cup of coffee and a little conversation, stop in at Caribou.
Say hi to Kathy, she’ll be glad you did and so will you!
For fresh tasting real coffee served by friendly people, this reporter gives Caribou Coffee five stars that’s right five! ?????
Enjoy!
