Watch out, Starbucks and Dunkin’. Another coffee chain is coming for your crowns. Scooter’s Coffee is one of the nation’s fastest-growing drive-through coffee franchises, on track to have 1,000 locations by the end of 2024.
So, what should you order if the newest Scooter’s Coffee location pops up near your house? We’ve got you covered with 10 suggestions below. Read on to discover what we’ve dubbed the best Scooter’s drinks.
Key Takeaways
- Founded in 1998 and boasting 776 U.S. locations, Scooter’s Coffee prides itself on serving quality drinks, providing fast service, and having friendly staff members.
- The Scooter’s menu delights a variety of coffee drinkers. Black coffee enthusiasts will love the Scooter Shooter, while java addicts who prefer sweeter, decadent drinks won’t be disappointed by a Candy Bar Latte.
- Scooter’s has plenty of drinks that don’t contain coffee, including the refreshing Mango Smoothie or mouthwatering Chai Tea Latte.
A Quick Intro to Scooter’s Coffee
The Scooter’s Coffee story begins in 1998 in Bellevue, Nebraska, when Don and Linda Eckles opened their first drive-through coffee shop. According to the franchise’s website, the pair’s keys to success were to find a great location and stay committed to high-quality drinks, speedy service, and big smiles.
Scooter’s Coffee has come a long way since the Eckleses opened the first store’s doors. Thanks to the company’s commitment to its original business principles and core values, Scooter’s has had more than two decades of success. And, as of 2023, there were 776 Scooter’s locations across the United States.
Roasty Roundup: The 10 Best Scooter’s Drinks
Some of our picks for the best Scooter’s drinks come straight from the folks at Scooter’s themselves, as they’ve written this handy ordering guide for first-timers. The rest of the following suggestions come from us. Between our and the coffee franchise’s opinions, you’ll definitely find a delicious drink or two to try on your next Scooter’s run.
Caramelicious
First up is Scooter’s signature drink, the Caramelicious. Take a wild guess at the drink’s key ingredient. Yep, that’s right — caramel sauce! There’s also steamed milk (or cold milk if you prefer your joe over ice) for creaminess, espresso for a nice caffeine kick, and a whipped cream and caramel drizzle topping for extra flair.
If you can’t get enough caramel goodness and want a frappe-style drink, try the Caramelicious Blender. It combines espresso and caramel sauce with an ice cream base, giving you a smooth, creamy cup of drinkable dessert.
Mocha
You can’t go wrong with a mocha. It’s the favorite drink of many, and for good reason. Chocolate and coffee are a match made in heaven. Countless coffee shops have the blend of rich espresso, chocolate sauce, and milk on their menus, and Scooter’s is no exception. Order it hot, iced, and super skinny iced — that means it contains sugar-free mocha and skim milk, perfect for more health-conscious coffee lovers.
Scooter Shooter
The Scooter Shooter is the Nebraska-born chain’s version of a Red Eye, and it’s the perfect drink for anyone who needs extra help powering through a particularly long day. The powerful drink combines regular drip coffee with an espresso shot, so it’s not for the faint of heart (literally…excessive caffeine is not recommended for folks with heart problems). But it’s smooth and OK every once in a while. Just be sure you don’t overdo your caffeine intake for the rest of the day.
Candy Bar Latte
Having candy for breakfast isn’t recommended, but the Candy Bar Latte is the next best thing. The folks at your local Scooter’s can make the espresso-based beverage taste like Snickers, Almond Joy, Milky Way, Heath, Mounds, Kit Kat, or Twix bar, depending on your preferences.
You’ll get a kick of caffeine and the flavors of your favorite candy bar — it is the best of both worlds. Try the latte hot or iced, or get your sugar fix with a Candy Bar Blender.
Turtle Latte
Speaking of candy, the Turtle Latte is another popular drink from Scooter’s, crafted to taste a lot like turtle candies. The espresso drink has the same chocolate and caramel flavors as the candy, courtesy of chocolate and caramel sauces. But where turtle candy uses pecans, a Scooter’s Turtle Latte has hazelnut. You’ll still get a dose of nutty goodness but with a slightly different (yet just as yummy) flavor.
Experience this sweetness hot, iced, or in creamy coffee milkshake form with a Turtle Blender.
Mango Smoothie
Scooter’s has an impressive bunch of best-selling coffee drinks, but we couldn’t exclude the chain’s beloved non-coffee beverages, like the Mango Smoothie. It’s hard to imagine a more refreshing summer drink than this. The tropical flavors in your cup will transport your mind and taste buds right to a sunny beach, even if the rest of your body is stuck at work.
Like most other Scooter’s selections, the Mango Smoothie is customizable. You can add extra protein or energy to your cup as needed.
Peanut Butter Power
The Scooter’s Peanut Butter Power is a protein-rich smoothie and a perfect drink for gym bunnies and bros trying to bulk up. Made with real peanut butter, a rich ice cream base, and sweet vanilla-flavored protein powder, the cold and creamy beverage is fun and functional.
Vertigo Smoothie
The Scooter’s Vertigo Smoothie is one of the chain’s mouthwatering drink choices designed specifically to energize. And, boy, does it energize. If you’re an energy drink junkie, skip out on your usual can of Monster or Celsius and try one of these instead. You’ll get the buzz you’re after, wrapped in smooth creaminess.
We’ve heard particularly great things about the Peach Vertigo Smoothie, but it’s available in Strawberry, Strawberry Banana, Mango, and Wild Berry, too. Pick the flavor you like best and sip away!
Chai Tea Latte
If you’re craving something other than a smoothie or decadent espresso drink, consider the Scooter’s Coffee Chai Tea Latte.
Unlike the chai you’d find at many other cafés, Scooter’s uses a green tea base. But don’t worry. All of the warming spices you expect to find in chai — cinnamon, cloves, and ginger, to name a few — are still present. Enjoy the milky tea latte as is or with a few pumps of your favorite flavored syrup.
Peach Mango Quencher
The Scooter’s Coffee Peach Mango Quencher is just what you need when you’re looking for a refreshing, pleasant drink to sip on a hot summer day. The blend of peach, mango, and green coffee extract perks you up and cools you down — a perfect combination.
While the drink’s default recipe is wonderful, it also tastes great with customizations. The folks at Scooter’s recommend spicing it up with black tea, lemonade, or coconut milk.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Best Drink From Scooter’s?
Unfortunately, we can’t answer that for you. It’s subjective. Only your preferences — how you feel about things like coffee bean roast level, favorite flavor syrups, choice of milk, etc. — can determine what the best Scooter’s drink is for you.
However, we’ve heard the most people rave over the franchise’s Vertigo smoothies and candy-flavored lattes.
What Is Scooter’s Signature Drink?
Scooter’s signature beverages are the Caramelicious drinks, available hot, iced, or as a Blender. No matter how you choose to enjoy it, it’ll be filled with buttery caramel, creamy milk, and energizing espresso.
Which Is Cheaper, Starbucks or Scooter’s?
Compared to Starbucks, Scooter’s is the more budget-friendly option. However, the price difference isn’t too major — less than a dollar — so picking Scooter’s won’t save you a ton more in the long run.
Slide Over to Scooter’s
The beverages above are just a starting point for your Scooter’s journey. Once you’ve made your way through our list, give some of the other menu items a try!
Happy Caffeinating!
