Caribou Coffee

The coffee is very good here. Much better than overpriced Starbucks. It’s very clean and there’s a lot of space to hang out and go on the wifi .
I would recommend this spot over other coffee places in the area.

I park in the Homer Building, so I’ve bought quite a few cups of coffee here. The staff have ranged from friendly to not-​so-​friendly, but today I decided to never do business here again. I came in after a meeting and asked if I needed a key for the restroom. The unfriendly employee told me I had to make a purchase, and I told her I’d be buying a coffee after I used the restroom. With an attitude, she told me «First, someone is using it, and second, I have to ring the purchase up first.» Now, I understand you need to reserve your restrooms for paying patrons so every bum in a 5-​mile radius isn’t coming in to use the restroom, but most places with a policy like this will take your word for it that you’re going to make a purchase after you use the restroom. I’m a very clean cut guy and I was wearing a $ 1000 suit, so I don’t think I conveyed the appearance of someone who was going to come dirty up your restroom and leave without buying a coffee.
What makes me angry is the implication that I can’t be trusted, and I refuse to do business with someone who chooses to imply that I’m a bad actor, or a dishonest person. I own a business myself, and one thing I don’t do is insult customers. They’re a well-​known chain in a busy area, so I’m sure they’ll survive, but it won’t be with my money.

Okay so it was a Wednesday afternoon and I decided to step into my local Caribou Coffee excited about getting a jolt from a much-​anticipated French press. When I went to order the barista told me that he would rather me get a regular coffee because it was easier and already made. I was shocked at the laziness and how he didn’t want to do his job. Starbucks sucks but at least they’ll make your drink with out complaining or giving me static or being salty.
Here is some advice Gerome. When all you are doing is flirting with a customer, don’t complain when I try to order something other than a premade overpriced beverage. The end.

Granted this is in the heart of DC, coffee is unsurprisingly expensive. However, the price matches the quality. So if you can spare $ 10, treat yourself to something great. You deserve it!

This place is one of my favorite chain coffee houses of all time. I have to admit that the coffee is definitely at a higher level than the other guys. The employees at this location have always been friendly and service is usually fast. I usually drink a plain light or dark roast, but the café frapaccino and hot chocolate are also some of my favorites.

Redeeming fact: It is next to the metro and very quick service
Now, to be not so nice: It is crappy coffee. I had the large latte extra shot 2% and it was just plain awful. I guess I got spoiled because I am used to my café’s having Illy brand… but ugh, how disgusting…
I would really give it a 2.5 but I guess (begrudgingly) rounded up to a 3

RIGHT NEXT TO THE METRO STOP!
the staff here is SO MUCH nicer than the workers at the 14^th street location!
got the turtle ice blended drink which was yummy & you get to choose between white/​milk/​dark chocolate!
NOTE: the «small» size is much larger than starbucks! its almost like a «grande»
i wish Caribou were in NYC

I came here for vacation and was looking for a decent café within walking distance of my hotel room. We got in at 5 and everything seemed to be closed already!!!
Caribou coffee was open and they were really nice, even though we came in 30 minutes before closing. It is deceptively big in the back and has a very homey feel to it. Great ambiance. I usually get just a plain black coffee so you can’t really mess that up.
The only reason I give 4 stars instead of 5 is because of how early they close. Then again, I just may not be used to stores and restaurants closing at a decent hour

Better coffee than Starbucks and a far friendlier crew than most SBUX. I like the Minnesota alpine feel — you don’t feel like you are near the Metro Center station at all. Great coffee. And the staff at this location is fabulous. I’ve been going here daily for five years and I have have had almost zero bad interactions with any of the staff. They are cheerful and happy to be working. Most will greet you within seconds. Great place.
Wish there were MORE Caribous in the DC and Va area.

I came here on a weekend to do a little reading. The serivce was fine, which was understandable because there was hardly anyone there. What creeped me out were the two people straight-​up sleeping there; one dude made a bed a bed out of chairs!!! What?!!

Great location at the metro exit for Metro center. Plenty of space to sit and enjoy your coffee. You can even sit by the window and people watch metro’ers coming and going on the escalator. Free wireless is nice too.
Their coffee is a lot less bitter than «Spendsomebucks» too.

I love Caribou Coffee, I’ll start with that. But I have no idea what the heck is up with this location. As a former employee of the company, I know what my drink is supposed to taste like, and it’s never right here.
I know exactly what I want when I come in here. I always get a medium, milk chocolate, single-​shot Turtle Mocha. And yet, somehow, something always goes wrong here. The most recent time I was in here, the barista didn’t steam enough milk with the chocolate in it, so she just filled up the rest of my cup with plain steamed milk. When she saw I was watching, she dumped a scoop or so of the chocolate chips into the drink, which never melted because they didn’t reach the right temperature.
I’ve also had it where they just drop in 2 shots of espresso, regardless of what I told them. I didn’t say «one shot» to trick you, that wasn’t a subtle beg for more caffeine (whereas 2 shots is the norm), I just think they’re being lazy and don’t want to re-​do anything there. It’s really irksome to me that they never seem to listen to a thing I say.
Lastly, I distinctly remember one time that the barista forgot to add caramel syrup to a Turtle Mocha. It’s in the drink description, I promise that I’m not asking for anything too extreme. It just never cease to amaze me what they can find new to do to my drink. I’m half expecting to find a live ferret in my cup next time. I can’t even say that would surprise me!
I love the company, and don’t seem to have these issues at other stores, but I’m beginning to think I’m going to just pass this location by in the future.

I stopped into Caribou after getting confused in the Metro Center station and coming out of the wrong exit. Ordered the spinach and egg white breakfast sandwich and was thoroughly underwhelmed. For egg whites, the eggs were fine but the bread was chewy and the cheese was congealed. I’m sure it was relatively healthy, but I’d opt for my good old Dunkin Donuts bagel and cream cheese over this anytime. The service was relatively quick and very utilitarian. It could have easily passed for a North Korean bread line in its emotionless uniformity.

Thanks to Stephanie S.’ review, I was motivated to stop by this location after work today as I walked across ‘my side of town’ from work to the Sister Cities International office to pick up my 5k race packet.
I had remembered having Caribou once before, in the Minneapolis, MN airport, and thusly, was so excited to find out that the ‘bou had expanded out to this part of the country!
And so, this chain found a spot on my ‘bookmark’ list — until today!
Stepping into Caribou, you definitely feel like you stepped way farther off the streets of DC — it’s ski-​lodge like, immediately cozy and rustic, yet still modern! I had to study the menu for a few moments before I could confidently order my vanilla-​cinnamon northern lite latte! Both the cashier and the barista were friendly, with warm, genuine smiles!
But…how was the coffee?
OMG SO GOOD!
I look forward to more visits! Five hundred percent better than Starbucks — and I am a SBUX fan!

Book Nook 3
Convience is the name of the game at this spot. This Caribou Coffee is right there once you get off the Metro Center station. On mornings when I don’t hit the snooze button 3 times and have a little time for breakfast, I come here with my Wall Street Journal, order one of their delicious breakfast sandwiches and read the paper by the window.
As I mentioned above, the breakfast sandwiches are good. I am especially thrilled that this chain carries an egg white sandwich. It is my favorite.
The coffee is decent. There is a cooler and cups for DIY free water. (Nice touch!) The people behind the counter are very nice and helpful. I came in Friday, beat and looking for a fruity pick me up. I didn’t have my reading glasses on and ordered the wrong thing. It was my mistake, but they were still very nice about. They quickly got rid of the coffee I mistakenly ordered. Another woman asked me to describe what I wanted, and she talked me through the menu until I decided what I wanted. I can’t remember her name, but if she’s reading this, YOU ARE AWESOME!
There is one strange thing about Caribou: They have this campaign urging customers to purchase a reusable coffee cup sleeve … WHAT!!! They say this is to save the environment. I suspect it is really a sly way to save money. Nice try, Caribou Coffee!

I usually forget to stop by Caribou and head right to Starbucks. But I definitely like Caribou a little more… I think it’s because they have normal sizes: small, medium and large.
The coffee is pretty standard fare, I don’t really notice much a difference from Starbucks.
They have some really great iced tea… my GF gets the mango iced tea. I also like their iced tea, but I usually change it up. They have at least 8 different varieties to choose from. They don’t usually have much of a line.
Their bakery leaves a little to be desired. I usually choose not to eat there, even when I’m starved for breakfast.

If you are a chocoholic you will gladly give up Starbucks for Caribou Coffee. Each chocolate coffee drink can be created with either milk, dark or white chocolate. I had a hot espresso drink with dark chocolate and marshmallows that was just as the barista described, a drinkable s’more.
Also, $ 1 coffee on Monday? Its just too bad you can’t bring your drink on the Metro.

The location is hard to top (assuming you want a metro-​accessible downtown coffee shop) and Caribou beats Starbucks in wireless access and in iced coffee options.
The breakfast options stink, though– ranging essentially from a very bad bagel to a very bad muffin. And please, please, forget about the weird milkshakes that coffee shops now pass off as coffee drinks.

I must have a spoiled palate from all the Starbucks and Saxbys that I have consumed in the past, but to me, Caribou is disgusting. The Northern Lite Lattes are O.K., but they’re extremely bland. The frozen drinks are absolutely gross. They taste like sugar mixed with a milkshake of some sort, and all the sugar in their drinks gives me a huge headache.
The staff at this particular location is always rude. Once while watching the barista make my drink, I asked for a little extra caramel drizzle, and the barista whined that I should have asked for that when I ordered. I just don’t understand the attitude.
Unfortunately, this location is right on my way to work, but luckily, Starbucks is only an extra block away!

It’s easy to completely pass this joint, even though it’s right out of the Metro Center station. The signage is subtle and monochrome, much like the personalities of the cashier and barista here.
I’ve gotta say, the staff here seem efficient and to-​the-​point. If that’s your thing (and I know some of you that are like that in the morning), then fine. I prefer a –little– more pep, especially from someone serving coffee.
Beware the iced chai tea latte. It’s spiced! Like… *slurp* «Woo, spice!» spiced. What a fun kick in the mouth. One that’ll set you back $ 4 for a small. Erp.
The sole high-​top table in the front is a great spot to people watch during the middle of the afternoon from the sanctuary of a nicely climate controlled building. There are a few couches and tables toward the back, if you want a more private conversation.
I’ll keep this one in my back pocket when I’m in the mood to change up my mobile office location.