What’s all the hype about Dutch Bros? The popular coffee chain opens in Wichita next week

When I first reported just before Christmas that Dutch Bros Coffee was headed for Wichita, the teenage girls in my life were excessively excited.

At the time, I hadn’t really heard of the drive-through-only coffee chain, which is headquartered in Oregon but is rapidly spreading across the country, so I didn’t know what the big deal was.

TikTok and several stylish YouTube stars, though, have helped make Dutch Bros a thing, and soon, Wichita will be part of the thing. The city’s first Dutch Bros, which will be at 2860 N. Maize Road, now has an opening date, and it’s just a week away. The store will start serving customers on Friday, July 8.

So what’s the big deal about Dutch Bros? I’ve been curious, so when I was in the Phoenix area in April, I decided to seek one out. It was a sunny Sunday morning at about 11 a.m., and when I pulled into the lot, I was shocked to see that the double drive-through lanes were both packed. There had to have been at least 30 to 40 cars ahead of me.

And apparently, that’s one of the prices Dutch Bros fans must pay: lines are often long, and though the chain prides itself on quick service, a trip to Dutch Bros isn’t always for people in a hurry. That morning, it took about 25 minutes for us to get to the front of the line.

Dutch Bros is also known for being friendly, and once I finally made it to the window, the “broista” — as they’re called at Dutch Bros — was a smiling, chatty young girl who wanted to know all about our morning.

The Dutch Bros menu is large and features more variety than most other chain coffee shops. It’s especially known for its iced drinks, and they’re not all iced coffee. In addition to cold brew, Dutch Bros is known for its colorful Rebel Energy Drinks that come in flavors like peach, strawberry pomegranate, and lime and blue raspberry and offer an extra caffeine punch.

The menu also features smoothies, lemonade drinks and Dutch Freezes, which are the shop’s answer to the Starbucks Frappuccino. Dutch Bros is also known for its Dutch sodas, which are made with sparkling water and flavored syrups. Fans are crazy about the Unicorn Blood version, which is flavored with strawberry, white chocolate and almond.

Dutch Bros, which also serves muffin tops and granola bars, is known for being kid friendly and offers a special menu with a strawberry smoothie and a “Not So Hot” chocolate. Kids also like the shop’s non-caffeinated Dutch Frosts, which are essentially milkshakes.

During my Arizona visit, I ordered a straightforward cold brew, which I enjoyed, but clearly the draw at Dutch Bros is the crazier, more colorful, more caffeinated and more caloric beverages.

Wichita’s Dutch Bros also will be open much later than its local coffee competitors. Its hours will be 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

The Dutch Bros that opens next week sits south of the QuikTrip at 29th North and Maize Road, in front of the Hobby Lobby at the intersection and across the street from the Torchy’s Tacos.

And it’s not the only Dutch Bros location planned for Wichita. The chain confirmed this spring that it was opening a second Wichita store at 605 S. West St., which is at Kellogg and West. The site previously was home to a National Tire & Battery store, but the building was demolished. That store is set to open in early 2023, and Derby also is in line to get a Dutch Bros.