Kirksville’s Local Coffee Review

With the new 7 Brew opening up in town, I visited Kirksville’s full-sized coffee shops to find out which one is the best. Although my go-to coffee I would typically buy from a coffee shop is a cup of hot hazelnut latte, I went with the coffee shops’ most popular drinks and their most popular style that they make it in. I also put my biases aside and rated solely based on the taste of the coffee, even though I will mention the environment of the establishments and the aesthetics of the coffee itself. These will be rated on a scale of one to five coffee mugs, with five being the best.

The Gathering Grounds – Blueberry Cobbler Latte (hot) 5/5 

I had that euphoric feeling of trying a favorite coffee for the first time. It was that good. It tasted exactly how I imagined it – a blueberry cobbler with that latte mingling in the background. It turns out that it’s made from white mocha, blueberry and cake batter flavorings. The latte was pretty smooth, and overall I would recommend this. 

I walked in and immediately thought about how beautiful it was inside. Although it was a little on the bright side, it matched its aesthetic. It was very clean, and there was nice music playing softly in the background. I ended up buying their chocolate muffin and a strawberry crepe as well as the coffee, which were both delightful. This was the only place I had not tried before, and I am glad that I have finally had the experience now.

Scooters – Caramelicious (iced) 4.5/5

This was the smoothest coffee out of these four, and it was very well put together. Their most featured drink, Caramelicious, is made from espresso, caramel sauce and steamed milk with a topping of whipped cream and caramel. It was mixed in a way that I could taste each item separately, but together at the same time. 

The employees were friendly and welcoming. I heard them laughing and truly enjoying themselves. Overall, it was a nice experience being there, listening to some alt rock hits that they played that I very much enjoyed.

7 Brew – The Blondie (iced) 4/5

This coffee tasted almost refreshing, and I typically wouldn’t describe coffee in that way. There is a reason why the Blondie is one of 7 Brew’s signature drinks. The taste was full bodied and simple. Although the taste was on the sweeter side, I had to have the ice melt a bit before drinking it. That may be why people tend to buy their Blondies iced. This drink is an espresso made with caramel and vanilla mixed together.

The employees were very upbeat, it was a very lively experience, even for being a drive-through establishment. Overall, it was a two-minute, quick and easy experience that would have me coming back for a quick coffee on an errand run.

Starbucks – Caramel Macchiato (iced) 2.5/5

Honestly, I expected better. I haven’t bought myself Starbucks in almost 3 years, and I was hoping for more. It was a very beautiful coffee. It exceeded expectations on that aspect, but it seemed like aesthetics were their main goal. 

A caramel macchiato is a latte-style espresso with vanilla syrup and caramel drizzle on top. The caramel complemented their coffee well, but it had much more of a bitter taste to it that overpowered everything else. 

Though they did have nice vibes – the music, the lighting and especially the people. The employees were upbeat and friendly, which is why I almost feel guilty giving their coffee this rating.