16-05-2025
We tried Tampa's first Dutch Bros. Here's what to expect (hint: traffic)
👋 Yacob here. Tampa got its first Dutch Bros over the weekend. The result: a clogged street, a line of cars and more sugar than anyone needs.
Why it matters: South Tampa's roads are narrow, uneven and cracked, and now with Dutch Bros and its fans and its lines, they're chaos with a caramel drizzle.
But hey, the coffee's good.
Zoom in: I made my pilgrimage to the Oregon-based coffee chain Wednesday at 10:30am.
An employee with a bright vest and a walkie-talkie waved me out of the drive-thru line and into an overflow lot beside a church. I waited there until 11.
One employee told me South Tampa's Dutch Bros averages 130 customers an hour. Another said the number climbs past 150 during the peak, between noon and 3pm.
When I commented on the wait, they said, "This is slow." I made it out of the drive-thru at 11:30am.
State of Sip: I ordered the iced Caramelizer, because an employee recommended it, and the iced Poppin' Boba Fire Lizard Rebel, to see what kind of person would. Put together, I drank 800 liquid calories.
The Caramelizer seems to be made for someone who doesn't like the taste of coffee — lots of milk and lots of sugar. The iced Poppin' Boba Fire Lizard Rebel tastes like melted Skittles.
Pro-tips: Order a small, don't drink two.
💭 Our thought bubble, via Axios Portland 's Meira Gebel: Born and raised in southern Oregon more than 30 years ago, Dutch Bros has been on a rapid franchise expansion kick since the company went public in 2021.
It's hellbent on getting the rest of America hyped on its signature, colorful and highly-caffeinated beverages — with flavor names like Unicorn Blood, Vampire Slayer and Shark Attack — the Pacific Northwest has come to love.
