This past weekend I was able to find time to take a trip to the Starbucks at Harris Teeter off of 15-501 – a popular spot for Northwood students to get their caffeine fix. This wasn’t my first time buying coffee from this location, and I honestly wasn’t expecting much, but I was pleasantly surprised! My go-to Starbucks order is a grande cream cold-brew, and in the past Harris Teeter has always been out of cold-brew so I’ve had to settle for iced-coffee instead. This time they were not! There may not be a big difference between the two, but there is something to be said for the satisfaction of getting exactly what you ordered.
The drink
The drink itself, an irish cream cold brew, was the perfect balance of creamy sweetness and smooth, strong coffee flavor. The coffee was also very aesthetically pleasing, with a nice cold foam-to-coffee ratio and cocoa powder sprinkled in a perfect line down the middle. It definitely met the standard for a good Starbucks coffee.
The service
The service was fairly good, but could have been better. The barista who took my order was very warm and welcoming, but the one who gave me my drink hardly said a word. I was confused at first if it was even my drink, since he didn’t call out my name. But other than that, the service was quick and efficient and I was in and out in less than ten minutes.
The atmosphere
The only drawback I have is that the atmosphere of the Starbucks didn’t have that calm coffee-shop feel since it was in the middle of the grocery store. I definitely have more fun going to the Starbuck on Franklin St. because I enjoy ordering my coffee, sitting down, and then either working on homework or reading. The Franklin St. Starbucks also has a wider selection of drinks and food.
Overall recommendation
All in all, I definitely recommend the Harris Teeter Starbucks if you are looking for a quick and easy drink – the service is much faster and the line is always a lot shorter. However, if you are looking to make an event out of your coffee run, I recommend going to the Starbucks on Franklin St. for a better atmosphere and more options. This Starbucks spot is a solid 3 out of 5 stars.
