Many high school students deal with the constant fatigue that comes with high amounts of homework, after-school functions, and their ever-present social lives. Because of this, some high schoolers turn to caffeine to get the jolt of energy they need to get through the day. ADM Senior, Shaelyn Wiederien, says that she drinks caffeine because it tastes good and gives her energy. How do you know where to start drinking caffeine? Well, look no further. I’ve compiled and reviewed a list of ADM teens’ favorite places to get caffeinated and ready for the day.

Dunn Brothers
Yes, I’m biased. I happen to work at Dunn Brothers. But I do know my coffee. Dunn Brothers has beautifully roasted beans that for sure do not taste burnt. The flavoring in the coffee isn’t too overpowering, and the food is made fresh daily. I would put it at the same level as Scooters. But I do have to rank it slightly higher for the avocado toast. Amazing!

Scooters
You can’t go wrong with a good Redbull. I started going to Scooters around two years ago, and I haven’t looked back. Though I’ve never actually been in the building to judge the atmosphere, the employees are always very kind and welcoming. When I go to Scooters, I usually order a Redbull Infusion… for a good reason. They serve Infusions with just the right amount of flavor to balance out the harsh taste of the Redbull. Though I mainly go for infusions, I have recently taken a liking to their coffee. They add just the right amount of sweetness to the caramel latte, and I would for sure choose this over a Starbucks latte.

Dunkin’ Donuts
Dunkin’ has been my go-to for iced coffees for years. I was a ride-or-die Dunkin’ fan. But now that I know how coffee is brewed and made into my favorite drinks, I’m not quite sure I trust it anymore. I don’t see why my flavoring sits at the bottom in little granulated chunks, while my coffee from other stores has the flavor mixed perfectly. I would rank this lower than Scooters and Dunn Brothers because the low-quality of the coffee really shows.

Starbucks
In all the times I’ve been to Starbucks, I couldn’t bring myself to order anything besides a Refresher or a Frappuccino. The one time I ordered something different, I couldn’t bear to finish it. Starbucks religiously burns their coffee beans, and it comes out in their lattes and more coffee-based drinks. It’s very hard to tell that they burn the beans when you order a super sweet drink. So if you go to Starbucks, plan to order a sweet drink unless you think you can handle a burnt coffee taste. I would rank this coffee place below Dunkin’ because there’s no real way to get caffeinated without enduring a gross taste.

Hyper Bar
I’ve only been to the Hyper Bar once. And that is for one very good reason. When I went to Hyper, my drink tasted like sour milk. I’ve had friends that went and absolutely loved it. However, that was not the case for me. When I went, I ordered the Electric Wave. This drink was a blue raspberry base, with white chocolate syrup additions. I think the problem with my drink was the white chocolate. I don’t get the awe people find in adding cream to a fruity base. It just tasted plain out bad and like it didn’t belong together. Hyper would sit below Starbucks on my ranking system.

At the end of the day, how you get caffeinated is up to you. But if you plan on it, make sure you do it right. I wouldn’t want you getting a drink and throwing it out. Learn from my mistakes.