Mocs News Reporting the news that matters most to UTC
By: Helena Horsley
CHATTANOOGA, TN (mocsnews.com) — The largest privately owned drive-thru coffee chain is now in Chattanooga. Dutch Bros Coffee opened a new location in Hixson, TN on November 10th. The chain of drive-thru coffeehouses started in 1992 in Grants Pass, Oregon. There are now 873 locations open around the country.
The closest Dutch Bros Coffee used to be around the Nashville area, but this is the first location in Chattanooga. This past weekend was the grand opening and UTC students were a big contributor of their customers, according to regional manager Destiny Musgrave.
The new Dutch Bros Coffee drive-thru location in Hixson, TN.
The restaurant chain Dutch Bros Coffee is known for their large drink menu. Their drink options include anywhere from black coffee and teas to smoothies and chai teas. Dutch Bros Coffee also sells a few baked goods to go alongside the drinks.
“I got the Pumpkin Chai with the soft top, which is their version of the cold foam,” said Abigail Shackelford, a UTC student who visited the coffeehouse during the grand opening.
Besides this fall flavored chai tea, Dutch Bros Coffee also has their new holiday drinks available. These include the Hazelnut Truffle Mocha, the Candy Cane Cold Brew, the Candy Cane Cocoa, and more. These drinks are available throughout the holidays.
Dutch Bros Coffee’s new 2023 holiday menu items.
Dutch Bros Coffee has many options for everyone’s different taste and the prices are reasonable for a college student, according to Shackelford.
The prices of the drinks are around $4 to $6. Coffee plays an important role in a student’s life. It is helpful to have a cheap coffeehouse that has so many options. Dutch Bros Coffee being a drive-thru also helps students get their drink faster.
“Our coffees and Rebel energy drinks are perfect for late night studying and early morning classes,” said Musgrave.
The Rebel energy drinks are different from other drinks available. The drink is completely customizable by the customer. They also come in a sugar-free version.
Besides providing UTC students with delicious drinks, Dutch Bros Coffee also has several students that work at this new location. The restaurant is still looking for more students to work there, according to Taylor Windle, a new employee at the Hixson location.
The grand opening of a new Dutch Bros Coffee location.
Although she has never worked at a coffee shop before, Windle feels her training at Dutch Bros Coffee has prepared her for this new job. She said she is excited to work here because of the positive work environment.
Dutch Bros Coffee has always had a strong presence in their communities. They have several givebacks to support their philanthropies Dutch Luv, Drink One for Dane, and Buck for Kids.
Shackelford said she felt the baristas were very intentional about being kind and personable. This sense of community is important to Dutch Bros Coffee and Musgrave said they are excited to be part of the Chattanooga and UTC community.
UTC students can also find deals with Dutch Bros Coffee’s app, which is available for smartphones. Customers can earn points, rewards, and be notified of any promotions.
