Starbucks is a big corporation coffee shop that we all know and love. From the quick service at the drive-through and the clean and welcoming environment to having access to the whole store at the tip of our fingers, Starbucks is a highlight in many people’s lives, especially at Woodlands Academy, where many students visit the Highwood Starbucks to get their daily fill of refreshments and food. However, less than 12 minutes away is the Starbucks in Downtown Lake Forest, where the students of Lake Forest High School heavily rely upon to get their refreshments. So this poses the question: Which Starbucks location serves the best drink quality on its menu? 

I pondered this question briefly, eliminating the obvious advantages, disadvantages, and similarities between the two locations. Acknowledging that the Highwood location has a relatively smaller store than the Downtown location, it has the advantage of keeping the inside clean and tidy. In contrast, the Downtown location could have a more challenging time keeping clean, being larger. However, even though Highwood is smaller, they have the disadvantage of maintaining a drive-through while also maintaining the inside, whereas Downtown does not. Each location has different employees with different levels of service and environments. Both locations have an online ordering system; however, I haven’t concluded whether the system is an advantage or disadvantage. Additionally, both locations have a student influence: Woodlands Academy for Highwood and Lake Forest High School for Downtown. 

This article will actively compare and contrast both locations’ quality and service to determine which location is better!

FYI, I am taking into consideration that different employees make my drinks each time. And for my safety, this experiment has been taking place for many months, and I am actively working out. 

Here are the rules: I will choose one drink item either from the hot or cold menu. Each drink will be Grande-sized—one latte from the latte section, one macchiato from the macchiato section, and so on. I will not be comparing seasonal drinks since they come and go quickly; I will not be comparing the foods since they are prepackaged and only need to be reheated. The drinks, however, need to be manually made with different ingredients; this is where human error/ influence comes into play. 

COFFEE:

First comparison Round: Hot Mochas $5.65 w/o tax

I decided to start with the Mochas, specifically the Caffe Mocha, only because my area is starting to get chilly. Off the bat, the Downtown Starbucks is less chocolatey or has less mocha sauce influence than the Highwood location. This means that it has a more coffee aroma. The Highwood Starbucks Caffe Mocha tastes more like hot chocolate with a hint of coffee. 

My next target was the White Chocolate Mocha. Going into this, I thought the white chocolate would be sweeter at Highwood like its sister, but to my surprise, Downtown Starbucks White Chocolate Mocha was sweeter! Although the Highwood mocha was lovely, it had more of a coffee flavor than a white chocolate flavor. 

Second Comparison: Hot Caramel Macchiato $5.95 w/o tax 

After trying both locations, I found they were similar in taste. Both had caramel at the bottom and the bitter-sweet taste of coffee in the beginning. The only difference was that the Downtown macchiato was hotter than the Highwood macchiato. Other than that, they were the same! 

Third Comparison: Iced Lattes $5.95 w/o tax

Like always, I first tried the Blond Vanilla Latte from the Highwood location. My first impression was the balance in ratio between the coffee and the vanilla syrup. I feel like the Highwood location had more coffee flavor, like other drinks I’ve tried, and Downtown had more vanilla syrup influence. 

Fourth Comparison: Iced Cold Brew $5.45 w/o tax

I tried the Chocolate Hazelnut Cookie Cold Brew with a splash of nonfat milk (I caved in for the seasonal drink…) and could tell that this would be my new favorite coffee from Fort Sheridan! The cold foam was delicious; it almost tasted like a Ferrero rocher chocolate. Below the cold foam was a sweet yet better coffee flavor that danced lovingly with the cold foam in my mouth! This coffee is my new favorite because I am a fan of bitter-sweet coffee, and I am transitioning away from just sweet coffee. After trying it from the Downtown Starbucks, I am proud that both stores made it the same way. There is the same amount of hazelnut in the cold foam and bitterness in the cold brew!

Fifth Comparison: Shaken Espresso $5.96 w/o tax and cold foam

This is also the first time I’ve tried the shaken espresso; let me tell you, it did NOT disappoint. The drink I tried was the iced hazelnut oat milk shaken espresso. I swapped the oat milk for the 2% milk just cause I do not like oat milk, and I added the chocolate hazelnut cream cold foam. This drink is perfect for those looking for a more coffee appeal than sweet appeal, as it has three shots of the blond espresso. The chocolate cold foam added the touch of sweetness I know and love! For the comparison, the Highwood location made the drink a bit sweeter than the Downtown location; other than that, they were identical. 

REFRESHERS:

First Comparison: Coconut milk refreshers $5.95 w/o tax

Oh my goodness, the Midnight Drink was fantastic!!! It went down so smoothly you can’t even taste the coconut milk, which I like; it’s very creamy. Both locations did a great job of exuding the creamy aspect of the drink! This might be my new favorite drink!

Second Comparison: Mango Dragonfruit Lemonade Refresher $5.25 w/o tax

This is one of my favorite drinks if I’m not feeling coffee or tea. It’s not too sweet to the point where I feel like my teeth will rot and fall out, and both locations did a great job at making it, except that the Fort Sheridan location put more ice than the Downtown location… 

Cold Tea:

First Comparison: Iced Tea Latte $5.75 w/o tax

Whenever I used to get the Matcha tea latte, it was always sweet and never tasted like grass; however, after the change in the matcha powder they used, it started tasting like grass!? I am disappointed! Both locations I tried tasted like straight-up grass, no matter how much syrup I put in. So sad I wasted my money… However, this drink is right for you if you identify as a cow!

Second Comparison: Iced Tea Latte $5.65 w/o tax

My go-to drink at Starbucks is the Iced Chai tea latte. The drink is delicious, but I’ll add vanilla sweet cream cold foam if I’m feeling frivolous. If I want to switch things up, I’ll add chocolate cream cold foam next time. This is me from the future talking; I tried the chai with chocolate cold foam and was amazed; it tasted like chocolate milk with chai! This drink reminds me of the fall only because I associate chai with falling leaves and the change of season, but this drink also reminds me of the summer when I add the cold foam because of how sweet and refreshing it is!

FRAPPUCCINO: 

First Comparison: Caramel Ribbon Crunch Frappuccino $6.25 w/o tax 

This was a sweet and indulgent treat. This drink is definitely for people who like their coffee sweet and fun! The taste is a mix of rich, creamy flavors, and a satisfying crunch. The base is a blend of coffee and milk, giving it a mellow and milky sweetness. The caramel drizzle adds a buttery sweetness that complements the drink, and the layer of caramel ribbons infuses it with an extra caramel kick. On top, you’ll get a crunchy topping that adds texture and a subtle burnt-sugar flavor. Overall, it’s a perfect balance of creamy, sweet, and crunchy, with a cozy, dessert-like vibe. Both locations did an excellent job at making this drink!

Conclusion : 

After comparing and contrasting both locations, I’ve slightly concluded that the Highwood store has more of a coffee appeal than a sweet appeal like the Downtown location. I state this because the ratio of adults versus students is significantly higher than what I’ve seen in the Downtown area. Is this because of how close the train station is to Starbucks and how many adults use the train to commute to work? Or is it that Highwood only has Woodlands Academy students, with a population of about 111? Downtown has student influence from Lake Forest High School, which has a population of about 1,438, making the drinks slightly sweeter to appeal more to the students…