Clash of the coffee titans on East Bay Drive. Caribou Coffee recently opened on East Bay Drive, joining a crowded field of nearby competitors that includes Starbucks, Dunkin' and fellow newcomer, Dutch Bros. By JEFF ROSENFIELD, Tampa Bay Beacons LARGO - Caribou Coffee, a Minnesota-based company founded in 1992 known for its freshly brewed, hand-crafted drinks, recently opened a new location at 4375 East Bay Drive in Clearwater, just over the Largo city line. Caribou's bright, drive-thru-only spot resides in the middle of a brewing clash of the coffee titans that includes nearby competitors Dunkin', Starbucks and fellow area newcomer, Dutch Bros., which has seen a steady stream of customers pouring daily through its Kenne Plaza drive-thrus since it opened in late 2025. This battle of the corridor's coffee shops already claimed one victim, as the Blend Coffee and Cocktails shuttered its location at 3150 East Bay Drive after opening in the former Checker's restaurant in August 2024. Despite the closure, there's still plenty of options crammed into a tight, two-mile stretch of East Bay Drive. As a nearby resident, this reporter was curious to find out how Caribou could fare in this ultra-competitive, cup-to-cup coffee combat. Calling in a ringer. As an admitted "Gimme caffeine ASAP!" Keurig user, I enlisted the assistance of my 24-year-old niece, Taylor Richardson, a self-professed coffee connoisseur who was practically weaned on a French press. Taylor, who lives near Largo Central Park and drives the route daily to work the early shift at a doggie day care facility on U.S 19, initially stated she's always been a big fan of Dunkin's. "Their coffee isn't fancy, but it always tastes good," she said of the Boston brand noted for its reliability. Dutch Bros. When the day calls for a pick-me-up that's a bit more elaborate, Taylor typically turns to Dutch Bros. "The hazelnut double latte," she quickly replied when asked for her go-to drink at Dutch. Bros., an Oregon based company that, like Caribou, was founded in 1992 and opened to much fanfare, in line with its coffee-cult-like following, in the plaza on the northwest corner of East Bay Drive and Keene Road last November. One look at the creamy, whipped concoction and it was easy to see it being a favorite of "fancy coffee" fans. While snapping a few photos in front of the colorful Dutch Bros. sign, Taylor noticed the rival Starbucks location was a mere scones throw away across the busy East Bay/Starkey Road intersection. "I like Starbucks when I need a real pick-me-up, because their coffee is so strong," she said, once again hitting the nail on the head of a common perception about the Seattle-based brewing giant's blends. Caribou. Not wanting to get too hopped up on caffeine before noon, Tbnweekly skipped trips to Starbucks and Dunkin's and traveled east past Belcher Road to check out the new Caribou location, which is easy to miss amid the flurry of side streets and strip plazas but still stands out due to its freestanding, angular blue-and-white building. Once parked, the attentive worker at the window happily asked about its familiarity with the company; when told it was limited, she proceeded to direct Tbnweekly through the small but densely packed menu that features cold and hot coffee and "not coffee" drinks, including their signature caramel high rise, and several food items. "I like it," Taylor said after sipping an iced vanilla white mocha coffee, while this "regular coffee" Joe reporter found the Caribou Blend medium roast blend highly enjoyable. (Note to self: It's available in K-cup version on the company's website.) More than coffee. While Tbnweekly both enjoyed Caribou's coffee, my niece said the food menu is a highlight that's tough to beat "Their menu is much better, I think," she said of the list that features breakfast and lunch items, including their signature Lumberjack sandwiches, as well as sweet treats and pastries that are served all day. "The food just looks tastier, and they have a lot more options than some of the other places, in my opinion." One drawback of the new Caribou spot is there's no place to sit down, inside or outside, because there aren't any public restrooms on the property, according to the employee. Another is that Caribou opens later - at 6 a.m. daily - than both Dunkin's and Dutch Bros, which open at 5 a.m., and Starbucks, which opens at 4:30 a.m. during the week and at 5 a.m. on weekends. "Sometimes I leave for work before 6, and I have to find a place that's open," Taylor said, meaning Caribou is about a half hour too late to catch the early, early morning coffee-drinking commuters. But she said she thinks there's enough variety between the four powerhouse national coffee brands that they could all coexist in the bustling East Bay Drive corridor. "I think there's something here for everyone," she said. "It just depends on what you like!" JEFF ROSENFIELD, Tampa Bay Beacons

Weekly Coffee News: Weber Opens European HQ + new Cup Tasters champ. Welcome to DCN's Weekly Coffee News! Subscribe here for all the latest coffee industry news. Also, check out the latest career opportunities at CoffeeIndustryJobs.com. Weber Workshops Opens European HQ in Germany High-end specialty coffee equipment company Weber Workshops has established Weber Workshops GmbH, opening a European headquarters and distribution center in Hamburg. Until now, Weber Workshops has served European customers primarily through direct shipments from Taiwan, supported by its North American logistics and service center in Golden, Colorado. Christian Klatt will serve as managing director of the European operation. 2026 World Cup Tasters Champion is Le Quang Cuong (Nicky) of Vietnam The Specialty Coffee Association announced that Le Quang Cuong (Nicky) of Vietnam is the 2026 World Cup Tasters Champion following three days of competition at World of Coffee Bangkok. Mehmet Sogan of the United States finished third. Georgia Cafe Says It Is Closing After Family Member Detained by ICE After three years, Rossville, Georgia-based Buenos Dias Coffee said in a Facebook post that it is permanently closing as the family behind the business plans to move to Mexico to support their mother, Laura, who the company said was detained by ICE and remains in custody facing deportation. Cooabriel Sees Smaller but Better Robusta Crop in Espírito Santo In an interview with Reuters, the president of Brazil's largest canephora-producing coffee cooperative, Cooabriel, said Espírito Santo state's robusta crop is expected to be slightly smaller than last year's, though of better quality. The report noted that Brazilian crop agency Conab has predicted the country's robusta crop to be 6.4% higher than last year's. Dalla Corte North America Names Alex Jeans Sales Engineer Dalla Corte North America has named Alex Jeans sales engineer. Jeans brings more than 12 years of specialty coffee and foodservice experience to the role, including positions with S&D Coffee & Tea/Westrock and Kerry's coffee division. Massimo Zanetti Beverage USA Names Adam Reizer CFO Massimo Zanetti Beverage USA has named Adam Reizer chief financial officer following Matthew Smith's recent promotion to president. The company said Reizer brings experience in food manufacturing, financial discipline and operational transformation. Caribou Coffee Appoints Four Vice Presidents Minnesota-based Caribou Coffee has named four vice presidents as part of its long-term growth plan: Kristen Goldberg for brand and marketing; Kyley Yanker for market development and real estate; Soumil Deshmukh for technology; and Mike Iannuzzelli for supply chain. The appointments come under the watch of new Caribou Coffee CEO Scott Kennedy. Black Rock Coffee Bar Posts Q1 Growth Arizona-based Black Rock Coffee Bar reported first-quarter 2026 revenue of $55.5 million, up 23.7% from a year earlier, while net income improved to $1.8 million from a $0.9 million net loss in the prior-year period. Liverpool Coffee Festival Returns for Third Year The Liverpool Coffee Festival will return to Black Lodge Brewery on Kings Dock Street on June 6-7 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. each day for its third edition. Organizers say the event will feature hundreds of coffees, a Tasting Lab and a Roasters' Village. Berkeley Philz Workers Affiliate With UFCW Local 5 Workers at the unionized Philz Coffee shop in Berkeley, operating as Philz Coffee United, have affiliated with United Food and Commercial Workers Local 5, the largest private-sector union in Northern California, according to a KALW report. Icymi. Here are some of DCN's top stories from the past week...

Caribou Coffee in Minnesota launches value menu. St. Cloud Times Updated May 14, 2026, 4:07 p.m. CT Caribou Coffee, a coffeehouse known for its handcrafted beverages made with real ingredients, is rolling out a new value menu at participating locations nationwide. Beginning May 7, a company release stated, Caribou Coffee is serving Caribou Everyday Value Menu items, including to-go favorites and barista-made beverages. The Everyday Value Menu features a curated lineup of Caribou classics now offered at prices starting at $2, the release stated. Guests will be able to enjoy signature items such as a small, specialty-grade brewed coffee, streusel-topped blueberry muffins and Caribou's Cold Press, its version of cold-brewed coffee.