The 1990s were a big decade for coffee in America. And if you think about popular culture at the time, it makes sense. Everyone was watching Friends, in which Central Perk coffee shop served as its backdrop. And Frasier, another popular sitcom of the 1990s, was often set in Cafe Nervosa. In Seinfield, characters were regularly seen sipping coffee at Monk’s Cafe. These cultural moments provided the perfect launching pads for coffee to take off. And among the coffeehouses that seized popularity in this decade was Caribou Coffee.
Founded in 1992, Caribou Coffee has gone from strength to strength since the era of Ross and Rachel and Gunther’s bright-as-the-sun hair. In fact, today there are more than 600 locations of the popular coffee chain around the world, most of which are in the US. But as demand for vegan food and drink has risen, has the Minnesota-based coffee chain managed to keep up? It turns out, it’s doing better than most when it comes to plant-based options. Here’s what you need to know.
Caribou Coffee
Sip on a hot or iced coffee with (free!) dairy-free milk
Like most coffee shops, Caribou Coffee offers several iced and hot coffee options that are vegan by default. A simple black espresso or Americano, for example, is served without milk. There are also black hot press and cold press options, as well as Depth Charge (a fresh-brewed coffee with a shot of espresso).
But if you prefer your caffeine served creamy, you can order most of the brand’s iced or hot options with dairy-free milk instead of cow’s milk, including the Vanilla Espresso Shaker. Right now, Caribou Coffee offers three different types of dairy-free milk, and none of them are soy. Instead, you can expect to find oat, almond, and coconut on the menu (you can even order your drink with a non-dairy oat nog when the holiday season rolls around).
Since 2023, dairy-free milk has also been free at Caribou. “We continue to see increasing demand from guests to customize their favorite handcrafted beverages how they want,” Caribou’s Chief Brand and Marketing Officer Erin Newkirk told VegNews. “Choosing milk or a dairy alternative is an important and sometimes necessary customization, and it’s not one that should cost more.”
Caribou Coffee
Treat yourself to a specialty Crafted Press with oat milk
A Crafted Press is one of Caribou Coffee’s most popular drinks. Made with cold-pressed coffee, a splash of milk, and a touch of sugar and salt, it’s like a light latte taken to the next level, according to the chain.
“So many people prefer to drink iced coffee all year, no matter the weather, and the Crafted Press is like an elevated version of iced coffee,” says Senior Beverage Category Manager Gretchen Hashemi-Rad. “The cold-brewed coffee base is always smooth, never burnt or bitter, and the blend of ingredients tastes delicious without being too sweet or overpowering. It’s like the Goldilocks of iced coffee drinks: not too sweet, not too strong, just right. And if you prefer hot coffee, it’s available hot, too.”
Right now, Caribou Coffee has two Crafted Press options with oat milk: La Minita Peaberry Oatmilk Crafted Press and the classic Oatmilk Crafted Press with Oatmilk Cold Foam.
Caribou Coffee
Not a coffee fan? Get a caffeine boost from iced tea, matcha, and energy drinks
If you want caffeine but no coffee, one option is Caribou’s line of sparkling and blended caffeinated drinks. Made with sparkling water, caffeinated energy blend, and a choice of flavors like Blue Raspberry, Strawberry Pineapple + Peach Mango, and Lavender with original or lemonade flavors, these refreshing beverages are perfect for a hot summer day.
There’s also a range of matcha drinks that can be made with coconut, almond, and oat milk, and, of course, there’s reliable iced and hot tea. The Mango Black Iced Tea, Classic Black Iced Tea, and Chamomile Mint Tea, for example, are all dairy-free. You can also order chai tea lattes with one of the coffee chain’s dairy-free milk options.
Sit back and relax with Caribou’s lemonade refreshers
Since last year, Caribou Coffee has also offered a range of ice-cold lemonade refreshers, most of which are vegan by default. Fruity options include Mango Passionfruit and Strawberry Guava. For an extra caffeine kick, try one of its iced tea refreshers. Or, for an extra, extra boost, opt for an iced tea energy refresher.
Caribou Coffee
Munch on a Just Egg, Roasted Tomato & Pesto Flatbread, or a classic bagel
If you’re on the go and your stomach is rumbling, Caribou Coffee can now offer you vegan food as well as your daily dose of caffeine.
Back in 2021, the chain partnered with vegan egg brand Just Egg to create its first totally plant-based offering. The Just Egg, Roasted Tomato & Pesto flatbread features a warm folded flatbread, as well as vegan pesto cream and vegan smoked provolone cheese.
At the time of the launch, Caribou’s Vice President of Merchandising and Product Matt Reiter said that it was adding the new vegan food item due to an “increased demand in the marketplace for plant-based options.” He added that it “showcases our commitment to providing quality products that are not only better for your health but for the planet.”
If you’re not in the mood for a flatbread, there are a few other options.
You can’t go wrong with a classic bagel and a coffee, for example. It’s the ultimate breakfast combo. Caribou’s Plain, Blueberry, and Everything bagel options are vegan by default, but watch out for the Asiago option, as this one is made with a blend of cheeses. You should also specify that you don’t want cream cheese, as the chain doesn’t have a vegan version on the menu (yet!).
For more plant-based stories like this, read:
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Charlotte is a VegNews editor and writer based in sunny Southsea on England's southern coast.
