By Audrey Elwood Campus Editor

Classic west coast coffee chain Dutch Bros has opened its first Ohio location, conveniently 20 minutes from campus. As a lover of Dutch, I have been counting down the days until the opening day, Sept. 1. 

But now it has happened, and the service was underwhelming. While I get they are just getting their footing, the staff seemed wholly unprepared. When I pulled in the line, it was not the wrap-around backup I am used to. In fact there were only seven cars in the line. However, it ended up taking over 40 minutes just to get three coffees. 

Dutch Bros has a Chick-fil-a style drive-thru. This means teenagers with iPads descend on your car immediately upon you pulling up. While they were quick to get to my car, the order was anything but quick.

 I ordered my standard order, what I have ordered at Dutch Bros in five different states: a picture perfect freeze, a standard menu item and a blended chocolate coffee with caramel and chocolate drizzles topped with whipped cream. 

I kid you not, this was my interaction: 

“Hi one Picture Perfect Freeze!” I say.

“Ok where do I find that?” motioning to her Ipad.

“I don’t know?” I say.

“So do you want that blended or hot?” she says.

“It’s a freeze” a freeze is the name for a blended Dutch Bros drink.

“Ok, so blended or hot?” 

Now I am not expecting you to know all the menu items by heart, however, I am expecting you to know the most basic terms of your company. She then messed up the next two items we got as well. She did have a trainer, but for some reason, she was looking to me for the answers. I know I look like a stereotypical Dutch Bros consumer, Washington License plate, Subaru, National Parks stickers, etc.), but I do not know the operating system. My friends and I ordered on separate checks, and her trainer had to take over. 

We pulled up to the window, the time to get  there was pretty quick. However, our experience at the window was anything but. In fact, they completely forgot to make my friend’s order. They took 5 minutes to figure out if they actually should make it or not. 

I have gotten free drinks at Dutch Bros for talking about Buccees with my “Broista,” but yet they could not decide if they should make the drink that there was an order slip for. I felt bad honestly for the girl giving the orders, it was very clear that she was just there for the vibes. 

It took a total of 30 minutes to get through the drive through. I do not want to give the employees much grief. It was obvious that they were still learning, but there were people flown out from the corporate office there. This is their first Ohio location, so I feel like they should have maybe spent a couple more days teaching the absolute basics. 

This is a chain, so obviously the drinks tasted like how they have tasted in all five states I have bought Dutch Bros. 

They just opened a new Milford location, hopefully they have more preparation and training. I am a lover of Dutch Bros but not a lover of this location.