Drive-Thru Speed vs. Cafe Spirit

In Brownsburg’s early morning, the caffeine drive is divided by the efficiency of the drive-thru versus the steadier time to get a cafe drink. As students and teachers go about their daily commute, 7 Brew and Starbucks often come down to a battle of lifestyle needs and taste bud preferences. 

For those like junior Charlotte Greeley, the appeal of 7 Brew is the simplicity of not having to unbuckle a seatbelt. 

“I usually choose 7 Brew because I get to stay in my car,” Greeley said. She notes that when she is in a rush, “7 Brew is a lot faster.”

This preference for staying behind the wheel is a major factor for those with a busy schedule, even for those who might prefer the “first-sip feeling” of a Starbucks drink.  English teacher Rachel Hunter admits, “I like the convenience of 7 Brew,” but explains choice shifts when the goal is more than just caffeine. “Especially as a teacher, we typically meet with teacher friends to go body double and work at the same time,” Hunter said. 

She finds that if she is “meeting with a girlfriend to catch up, it makes the most sense,” and is a more social atmosphere that a drive-thru can’t fulfill.  

Inside the Starbucks store, the pace is often “very hectic,” according to Starbucks employee and senior Hudson Cordell. “7-10 people are on the floor running around [working]” during peak hours.

Cordell said that while “the staff still tries to provide a better environment for the customer” by offering mugs, “Starbucks for the most part focuses on getting the customer in and out as quick as possible.”

This atmosphere draws customers students, teachers and general workers alike, as it’s a quiet place to drink and snack while also getting work done. 

Greeley said that her friends “actually go there once a week to study because they can sit down there.” Whether it is Cordell “balancing friendliness and fastness” at the window or teachers finding a place to “spend time with friends,” the choice between a car seat and a café chair continues to make up for a part of the “daily grind” at BHS.