Coffee’s main purpose is to provide caffeine, but another crucial point is its taste. In Omaha, there is a wide variety of coffee shops ranging from national chains like Starbucks to local stores like Dundee Double Shot.  Everyone knows about Starbucks and has probably had it once or twice, but local coffee shops like the Bike Union or smaller chains like Roast do not get as much attention. For that reason, I decided to get an iced caramel latte from these two places and compare them.  

I first went to Roast located in Aksarben. There are three locations, but the Aksarben location is the first opened and most popular location. The atmosphere inside is quite cozy. I was greeted by the baristas and they took my order promptly. There is a wood interior with a varying display case of vegan and regular pastry options. The coffee itself came in a strawless cup looking quite delicious. The taste of the espresso was strong but not overbearing and the caramel was there but not too sweet. The coffee was overall a little bitter, but I didn’t mind. I would rate Roast a 9/10 for layout, service and coffee quality. 

The next stop was Bike Union right down the street from Central. Walking into the shop, one is greeted by an array of bikes, helmets and tires. While the cups where the same ones used at roast, the contents differed quite a bit. I could not tell there was caramel in the iced caramel latte, but the espresso was almost too strong. While the staff at the café was extremely helpful, the atmosphere was cold and the coffee was bitter, which is why I gave an overall rating of 6/10. 

Both shops are great options for different reasons. If you are in a pinch before school and need caffeine, the Bike Union is super close and convenient, but if you have more time and want a very good latte, I would suggest going to a Roast location. Overall, the coffee will have the same effect, it’s just a matter of how brave your taste buds are.