Friday Flex brought us an impromptu visit to our local Scooter’s Coffee. We embarked on the terrifying journey down Dodge Street, in which Tanya almost ran one red light and nearly hit two separate pedestrians. Unfortunately, the parking lot containing Scooter’s was under construction and forced us to proceed through a maze of traffic cones and yellow tape. When we arrived at the drive-through only Scooter’s, there was already an extremely long line of cars, foreshadowing the fact that our trip would make us late for our next classes. We scoured through the menu, selecting only the most festive holiday treats. Many of the Christmas items were named after characters from the “Candyland” board game. We relayed our order to the barista through the microphone, prompting an out-loud “Oh my” due to the myriad items we were purchasing. I, Jana, opted for the “Iced Queen Frostine Sugar Cookie Latte,” William chose the “Jolly Gumdrop Smoothie,” Tanya went with the classic “Iced Caramelicious Latte,” and Katie picked the “Mr. Mint Hot Chocolate.” The service was a tad slow, but understandable considering our significant order, totaling over $31 (a few other items were added). The reviews of said drinks are as follows:

Iced Queen Frostine Sugar Cookie Latte:

Although I am currently unable to find the exact price of this latte on the internet, I wholly believe that this drink is worth however much I paid (most likely in the $4 range). The sugar cookie flavor is not too overpowering; it does impose a sweet flavor profile, but it is not too sweet to cover the coffee flavor. I would relate the flavor to Starbucks’ sugar cookie cold foam, but not as strong since I didn’t care for that flavor as much. The drink also had a healthy serving of whipped cream and blue sprinkles on top, associating it back to the character from which it obtains inspiration: Queen Frostine of course. The holiday-themed cups also add to the festive aura radiating from the drink, the (unfortunately) plastic cup is decorated with images of red and white gingerbread men, and the name “Candyland” is plastered on the front. The barista also put a sticker of a caterpillar-like creature. A quick visit to the CandyLand Wikipedia allowed me to discover that this character is named “Jolly” and is described by the Wiki: “In his original appearance, Jolly is seen as a purple alien-like creature wearing poofy garments.” Jolly is also seen on the insulated cups used for hot drinks. Despite the fact that I find the flavor pleasant, I would only find myself ordering this on rare occasions, a sort of holiday treat. Overall, I recommend this drink not only for entertaining theming and bringing out characters from a nostalgic childhood game but also as an enjoyable desert-like treat.

Iced Caramelicious Latte:

I would like to start by saying that I am an amazing driver. Anyway, I ordered a classic drink from the Scooter’s menu: an iced Caramelicious. I was quite surprised to hear the barista say, “Oh my,” as I ordered five drinks, and the service was a bit slow. However, the first sip of the iced Caramelicious made the wait worth it. The smooth, cold brew hit first—bold but not too overpowering. A ribbon of caramel so rich that it seemed to melt on my tongue followed. The whipped cream swirl on top was thick and airy, with a drizzle of golden caramel under the lid. The drink was sweet but balanced, with just enough coffee to fuel me for my AP Environmental Science test next period. The ice clinked softly as I sipped, a perfect contrast to the creamy texture. By the last sip, I was sad the drink was gone. Next time I find myself in the Scooter’s drive-through, I will definitely order the same drink.

Jolly Gumdrop Smoothie:

I had never been to Scooter’s before, but on Friday, November 15th, I found my way into Tanya’s car on the way to Scooter’s. I knew Tanya was a bad driver before, but I wasn’t aware of how bad she really was. We were on our way down Dodge Street when the light turned red and I had to remind her to stop and not run over the pedestrian that was crossing the road. We eventually got to Scooter’s and I took a look at the menu and decided to get the Jolly Gumdrop Smoothie. The bright pink coloring, whipped cream, and gumdrops on top caught my attention. We got to the intercom and started ordering our drinks. After the fourth drink we ordered, the worker let out a sassy “Oh my” into the intercom. I didn’t understand why she would say something like that. She didn’t know how many people were in the car. It’s not always just one person ordering for themselves. Come on, lady—have some manners, please. After a long wait, we got to the final window and paid for our overpriced drinks. I finally had my Jolly Gumdrop Smoothie and, oh my, it was quite delicious. The smoothie tasted of a tart cherry and the combination of whipped cream made it simply delicious. Fearing that I would probably die on the way back to school due to Tanya’s driving, I devoured the smoothie as fast as I could without leaving a single drop. Overall, it was an enjoyable and delicious drink I will be getting once again when I return to Scooter’s. 

Mr. Mint Hot Chocolate:

When Tanya and I first brought up the idea of an impromptu trip to Scooter’s, we didn’t think Dr. Low would say yes. To our delight and surprise, he agreed, stating that he was interested in hearing about the holiday items at Scooter’s. Traditionally, Dr. Low has had strong feelings against Scooter’s coffee, but as a frequent Scooter’s visitor, I was tempted to prove him wrong. After we got Dr. Low’s approval, I was excited to leave campus, but then it hit me: Tanya was driving. While I am accustomed to Tanya’s unique driving style, nothing could prepare me for the experience that would unfold in the next 30 minutes. While we have already heard multiple accounts of the red light incident and the pedestrians nearly meeting their maker, I had a different conflict on this journey: William Ramon. I was trapped in the backseat with William for this whole trip, and it was the most torturous experience I have had to endure since the AP Chemistry exam. The constant child-like questions and the pestering fights he would pick with me made this journey unbearable. I have now made a mental note that I no longer want to spend a prolonged amount of time trapped in a car with William Ramon. On a more positive note, my drink was very satisfactory. I ordered the Mr. Mint Hot Chocolate, which is exactly as it sounds. For a reasonable price, a plain hot chocolate with a hint of peppermint was just what I needed for a cold November day. 

Bibliography

Wiki, Contributors to Candy Land. “Jolly.” Candy Land Wiki, Fandom, Inc., candyland.fandom.com/wiki/Jolly.