What’s The Best Coffee In Town?

Most people can agree that coffee is an essential part of their day, no? Whether it be a warm cup to start your day or a nice iced coffee for your afternoon pick-me-up, coffee adds that extra pep in your step. 

Living in Scituate, you know the only chain restaurant allowed in town is, of course, Dunkin’. This coffee shop is a staple for most New Englanders, but how do the local coffee shops compare? Everyone has their own opinion on who’s coffee is the best, but I took it upon myself to try every coffee shop in town. While I, of course, have my favorite flavors and drinks at each shop, I decided I had to make it an even playing field and order the same thing: A medium iced coffee, regular with cream and sugar. In Scituate, I went to Dunkins, Coffee Corner, Marylou’s, Gunther Tooties, Lucky Finn. I also threw in Starbucks in neighboring Cohasset because it is very popular with many Scituate residents. 

I will be giving each of these coffee shops a rating from 1-10: 1 being the worst, and 10 being the best. I took notes on how long it took, how good the coffee is, and how much it cost. 

First up is Marylou’s in North Scituate. Marylou’s has been around for a long time, and they have locations all over New England. They are known for their many flavors of coffee as well as their bright pink stores. 

To get a better look into how the store operates, I interviewed one of the North Scituate Marylou’s employees, SHS senior Julia Runkal. When asked what their best selling flavor is, Runkal responded: “Our best selling flavors are regular, hazelnut, and French vanilla. For our specialty flavors, however, I’d say the Minty Lou or Almond Joy sell the most.” 

When asked if they are usually busy, Runkal said, “In the morning and mid-day we tend to be busy and have a good amount of people coming in and out. After 5:00 or 6:00 p.m., not so many people come in.” In the afternoons, Runkal also added that “a lot of the customers are on the younger side because some people get out of school and like to come to grab a coffee.” 

I went into Marylou’s at 2:55 p.m. (keep in mind, this location does not have a drive-through) and was out by 2:57 p.m. There was no one in line, so this was a quick visit, and the girls inside were friendly as usual. However, their coffee was not meeting my expectations. It was a bit too dark compared to most “regular” coffees, and it tasted a little bitter. It cost $3.41–a pretty average price for coffee. The size was good for a medium though, and they had a good ice-to-coffee ratio. Overall, I rate it 5/10. 

Next up, we have Gunther Tooties. With several locations in the area, the Scituate location in Greenbush is fairly new. I arrived at Gunther Tooties at 2:50 p.m. (10 minutes before closing–sorry!) and was out by 2:53 p.m. There was no one in front of me, maybe due to the fact it was so close to closing time. Regardless, the service was quick. It had an almost perfect amount of cream and sugar, and the coffee, which was strong, tasted very good. It cost me $3.91, which is a little higher than most places. It was a good size for a medium, and the drive-through was convenient. 

Overall, I rate it 7.5/10. 

Starbucks in Cohasset is the next coffee on the list. This seems to be the fan-favorite among high schoolers, despite their very steep prices. However, they do offer a wide variety of coffees, teas, refreshers, and frappuccinos; name it, and they’ll make it. I asked Starbucks’ employee SHS senior Hayley O’Brien if they have a best-selling drink or flavor, to which she responded, “Usually our best-selling drink varies on the season for different holidays. Overall, I think the refreshers or the pink drinks are the most popular.”

When asked if there are younger customers at Starbucks, O’Brien responded that they “have a healthy mix of younger and older customers, but it depends on the time of day. Adults usually come in the morning before work, and younger people usually come in the afternoons after school.” 

One notable thing about this location is their drive-through line, which tends to stretch across the parking lot. When asked if they are usually busy, O’Brien commented, “It depends on the time of day, but when I work a weekend morning it’s crazy busy, but the afternoons usually aren’t that bad.” 

I got into the Starbucks drive-through line at 3:25 p.m. and did not leave until 3:37 p.m. Yes, I waited for 12 minutes to get a coffee. There were five cars in front of me, so I expected a little bit of a wait, but 12 minutes seems a little long to me. I got a “grande” (aka medium) iced coffee with cream and sugar. The coffee itself was great and very strong. However, I was a little disappointed at their medium-size compared to other coffee shops. It cost me $3.48, which is one of the cheapest items on their menu. Overall, I don’t think the coffee is worth the prices they have or the time it takes, so I rate it a 6/10. 

Next, we have a New England staple, Dunkin’. Now, Dunkin’ coffee usually tastes different depending on the location you go to, but this time I tried out the one-off of the driftway in Scituate. I got in the drive-through line at 1:11 p.m., with two cars in front of me, and was out by 1:14 p.m. I got a medium iced regular, and it cost me $2.98. I think Dunkin’s prices are most fair compared to all the other coffee shops. My coffee contained the PERFECT amount of cream and sugar, however, there’s always way too much ice in the cup. The service was quick and the coffee was great, so I rate it an 8/10 overall. 

Next is another local spot in Scituate Harbor, Lucky Finn, which also has a location in Hanover. Located in the old Quarter Deck building, it is a pretty spot right on the water. I went into Lucky Finn at 1:18 p.m. with one person in front of me and was out at 1:22 p.m. Their only sizes were small and large, so I got a small, which cost me $4.28–for just a small iced coffee with cream (you have to add your own sugar, which I personally dislike). The small was about the same size as the Starbucks medium, and the coffee itself was too bitter for my liking. For the size and the taste, I definitely don’t think this coffee was worth $4.28. Overall, I rate it a 4/10. 

Of course, I had to get a Scituate Harbor favorite, Coffee Corner. Carol Watt and her husband have owned Coffee Corner since February of 2014. Many Scituate kids love to get Coffee Corner for breakfast, especially when the high school had Wednesday late starts. According to Watt, “We would probably have at least 100 students within the hour and a half, but I have noticed a big difference now with COVID because people are more reluctant to go out.” Watt added, “I love these Students, I think Scituate High School has the best, well-behaved kids. I very seldom see someone that’s not polite, and they treat me with respect.” 

Clearly, Coffee Corner is a great addition to our community of both young and old. Coffee Corner uses New England Coffee brand, and Watt added, ”We have many flavors, a very popular one is hazelnut in hot and cold, as well as decaf–French vanilla is popular in hot and iced as well.” Watt also noted they don’t use syrup, and instead use flavored beans, which she loves. 

I went into Coffee Corner at 11:47 a.m., with two people in front of me, and was out at 11:54 a.m. There was only one person working, so it took a little longer than usual. I was pretty impressed with the size, as they only have the regular size of jumbo. The regular size is about the same size as a medium you would get at Dunkin or Marylou’s. It cost me $2.95, which I think is a very fair price. The coffee itself is fairly strong, and they put a perfect amount of cream and sugar in it. There is one cautionary note: In my opinion, Coffee Corner often puts too much ice in the cup. Overall, I rate their coffee an 8.5/10. 

Everyone has their coffee preference, but my top three ranked coffee stops are Coffee Corner, Dunkin, and Gunther Tooties. It’s great to try them all and support small businesses around town–and hopefully find your favorite!