Caribou Coffee

The coffee is okay. Because I don’t prefer coffee that has to come with its own insulin vial, maybe it’s not the place for me. I prefer plain, rich, bitter coffee, and there bold pick always seems to be hit or miss. Not sure why the inconsistency, just an observation. Also at this particular location I have noticed A LOT of squatters. They never seem to leave… if they had some tents I would just chalk it up to like an occupy movement or something. In addition to this side note, another: it smells not of coffee in this establishment but of a whopper junior on a hot summer day. Can someone explain this to me?

I guess I never go to Caribou because it’s sorta lost among all the other cool places in Lakewood and Rocky River. I prefer other coffee to Caribou, but needed a change of scenery so I decided to try this one on Detroit Road.
It is severely bugging me how the people at Caribou act. They remind me of the Zoup people (see my review for that to understand what I mean). So chipper, yet they seem so insincere. It’s okay if you don’t give me a flashy smile and ask me if I’d like to partake of your special promotion using the same exact wording you used on the guy before me. I can see it in your eyes that you are embarrassed of yourself! Just be genuinely friendly, and the rest will work itself out. I promise. (However: if you’re gonna get fired for not using a script to talk to me, well, then, carry on, because i wouldn’t want you to lose your job.)
Coffee was just ok. I even got a cooler (honey almond) and it was really kind of revolting actually. And I don’t need whipped cream on my coffee, and thanks for not even asking before you gave it to me. Oh well. I’m feeling kinda moody today; sorry that my Caribou review got the brunt of my attitude.

Giving it 3 cause it’s a chill place (but why not hop to the other side of the road to the Roots Café) but had two smoothies — grossness to the mostness
Tasted like that artificial flavored sugar powder from when your a kid. Both mine (mango-​pom) and my wife’s (strawberry-​ban) came out red — I immediately knew there was a problem. Confirmed on the first sip.

My daughter and son in law introduced me to Caribou Coffee… I must say that I am an instant fan! I come from Maine and my daughter, also a Maineiac, feel right at home here. I do not know about some of the prior comments, I find that she an I are able to sit there for hours and talk with out being interrupted or otherwise bothered. If you are gonna sit there and use their internet for hours and then get mad ’cause they want you to actually BUY something, I think you ought to go somewhere else… and leave a spot for a paying customer — not just users/​abusers of a priveledge offered to PATRONS. GROW UP. Now that I have spoke my mind, I love this place and frequently order their coffees, snack bars, and miscellaneous stuff on line. I bought a Keurig coffee machine from them… A match made in heaven =) And a fireplace Too!

I figured I would write a review for Caribou as I was writing one for Phoenix across the street and I’ve been in both places a considerable amount on visits to town. Although I tend to prefer Phoenix as having less of a yuppie-​chain atmosphere, I’d say Caribou is a better stop if you’re looking for a dessert-​type coffee drink, i.e. something with hot chocolate, tons of whipped cream and sprinkles, as opposed to a more basic coffee, cappucino or tea. Caribou also has a pretty extensive pastry selection. All the stuff tastes decent; it is very sweet (if you’re not into sweet then you probably want to go someplace else) and much, much better than Starbucks coffees and baked goods. Better selection than Starbucks too.
I have eaten/​drunk inside this restaurant and also gotten drinks and muffins, etc. to go. I have to say I prefer to take it home as it seems like there’s an inordinate number of people, primarily 20 – 40 year old business types, who treat Caribou Lakewood like it’s their own living room or their own office. I don’t mean that in the «hang out for a while, talk and meet people» vibe-​sense that the Phoenix has going on, but more like the «buy a coffee and then don’t leave for about 4 hours while you pound your computer and read the free newspapers» sense. This may appeal to some, but when the restaurant is obviously very crowded (such as on nice weekend mornings) it would be good if people were considerate enough to leave within a reasonable period of time so others just coming in might have some access to a table.

At the time I wrote my original review, Caribou was forcing people to enter in a code for the free Internet every 1.5 hours. The charging bothered me on two levels. One, it wasn’t really «free» Internet. It was Internet that required purchases at specifically timed intervals.
Where those not using wi-​fi were able to «sit there for hours and talk without being interrupted or otherwise bothered,» Internet users at Caribou didn’t have that pleasure. Sure, they might get up and purchase a $ 1.50 worth of Caribou products every 1.5 hours, but there was nobody holding them to that. I’m guessing if somebody interrupted one of their discussions to ask them to purchase something, they would have found it to be a little odd, a little rude, and a little uncalled for.
In other words, we’re all big enough to make those purchases on our own. We don’t need a timer running by our side. Thus, there should be no separation between Internet-​users and those just whiling away the hours in discussion.
Secondly, the 1.5 hours system never really worked. At each Caribou, the workers would just hand you a stack of tickets with the codes. They all seemed to find the mandatory purchase thing to be silly, and acted accordingly. This was the way it was at all of the Caribou locations I visited.
Thankfully, Caribou has since done away with the mandatory purchase thing for Internet users. With truly «free» wi-​fi being offered near-​everywhere nowadays, charging just doesn’t make sense; especially for a business that thrives on computer users visiting their stores.
I’ll continue to visit the many neighborhood Caribou locations. Sure, it’s corporate whore coffee, but the employees are pleasant, the chai rocks and the locations are bright and airy; always conducive to writing, reading and good conversation.

I am not a huge fan of this place, but it beats Starbucks.
I am not super-​pleased with the food and drink offerings here. The baked goods are too sweet, and average overall. The drinks are better than Starbucks, but nothing otherworldly.
The atmosphere here is nice… it’s a fairly open building, bright during the day. It’s in a great location. The problem with the location though is – you’re right across from Phoenix. Why are you here, and not at Phoenix? The only possible excuse is that Phoenix ran out of seating, you’re desperate to sit down, and it’s winter so you can’t sit outside.
Oh, and the restrooms here are absolutely filthy. I have never seen a dirtier restroom outside of the Washington D.C. metro area. I have used the restroom at this place a large number of times and it was always disgusting.

Oh, Caribou, how I miss you! You are wonderful, and I still dream about you. Please come to California.

OK I have never been to a Caribou Coffee before in my life and considering that I practically live on soy lattes, I decided to check it out during my stay in the Cleveland area. I am out here often for work and never really know where to go that will actually have soy milk. Alas, I found this great little spot. The employees were soooo friendly, I came back twice in one day. Free wi-​fi was very helpful in getting some work accomplished while enjoying my coffee. Just ask the pleasant barista/​counter person for the free card. I will def be back again next time I am in the area.