Caribou Coffee

Great coffee and service! The location is great, they’re one of the few places on Grand that have a parking lot, and I always am satisfied with my drink!

Update 7÷15÷15: After contacting corporate, I received a very nice response from the district manager that she has followed up with the team to ensure that they are following protocols for freshness and food safety.
I’ve been to this Caribou location plenty of times, so I know that they can do better. I ordered an iced crafted press and noticed when I received the drink that the cream was coagulating at the top. After being told by the barista that «this is how it always looks», she made a new drink… with the same old cream. I attempted to blend the cream with my straw, but the sour smell and taste basically sealed the drink’s fate to the trash can (not today, food poisoning). Coagulating cream in coffee can mean a lot of different things, but in combination with a sour taste and smell, it’s a pretty good indication that it’s gone bad. So, «if that’s how it always looks», I’m a little skeptical of how they store their dairy products…

I really feel for the employees at this place. They have to deal with all the drunk people during the events on Grand Ave.
That being said, their coffee is disgustingly bitter. It’s the closest coffee shop to my mother’s house so I’ve been desperate enough to go here about 7 times. After the 1^st sip, I think of the Twin Peaks line «there’s a fish in the percolator». YUCK!
Thankfully, my mom just got a Keurig.

Very friendly cashiers but the coffee is eh and they don’t tell you that they don’t have whole milk. «We use 2% and half and half. That’s how we make our whole milk.»
Sorry, but unless you’re a cow, you didn’t «make» any whole milk.
You have me a glass of cream. With a straw. Ew.

People: there’s nothing wrong with this Caribou. The staff are friendly and the patio is a nice bonus. I’m not threatened by the recovery crowd, so the patrons don’t bother me. Plus: free refills on your standard cup of joe. What’s not to like?

Not a fan of coffee shops in general, but once in awhile I have a craving for something sweet and probably bad for me.
After being treated to some hot cocoa while waiting for the Hollidazzle to start, and not getting any because J drank it all, we decided to stop in and get some more.
The lady taking orders was very friendly and absolutely delightful. She seemed to enjoy her job and was quite popular as many who came in after us seemed to know her and enjoy talking with her.
The milk chocolate hot cocoa is quite the treat! Wow! Really good! I watched the person making it put on the whip cream and little chocolate sprinkles and couldn’t wait for her to hand it over. This stuff is the shiat!
The cups remind me of an LL Bean sweater.

I wasn’t going to review this Caribou but after reading Matt’s review, I couldn’t resist because I feel the exact same way about this Caribou and it perplexes me, mostly because of the location. The crowd that hangs here is almost more of a rough East Side Crowd. (No offense to you St. Paul East Siders).
I like the patio but every time I go, its seems to be full of the same group of people, and yes, they seem to all know each other intimately from some sort of support group like AA or NA or some other addiction support group and they monopolize the entire patio area, not only with their 12 step banter but with clouds and clouds of smoke.
I do like the people watching this patio offers but I am not sure its worth it anymore. The click that hangs on the patio mixed with the terrible wifi at this Bou, really leads me wandering down Grand to the other Caribou or Starbucks.
*I do appreciate that they leave a big bowl of water out for the dogs who get thirsty when walking down Grand*

Pros
— Nice patio right on Grand ave. Great sunlight exposure and priceless people watching along Grand.
— Great location across the street from Grand Ol Creamery, and various other businesses.
— Private parking lot
— Fire place
Cons
— Very eccentric crowd. Usually some pretty rough people around here, which is odd as Grand Ave really doesn’t have that vibe otherwise. I’ve been here a number of times throughout the summer and sat outside and hear conversations from groups about addictions, alcoholism, etc. Seems like this is a go-​to place after/​before meetings of some kind.
— Small indoor area; there is actually more seating on the patio than inside.
May seem like more ‘pros’ than ‘cons’ but the crowd this Caribou attracts is just not for me. Personally I’m more of a Starbucks guy anyway, and opt for that. But when I do occasionally go here, I’m reminded why it was always months and months since the last time I was last.

This is the Caribou on Grand next to Punch Pizza. Inside it’s a little cramped and crowded. Based on the outside I thought it would be larger for some reason. The staff was very friendly and fast, similar to my experience with other Caribou locations. I will definitely return.