From fall to festive: How Caribou Coffee activates the holiday season 

If you find yourself in a Caribou Coffee on our holiday launch day, you can feel the buzz. The space is transformed overnight: festive new menus are hung, shelves are stocked with seasonal merchandise, and the smell of handcrafted holiday beverages fills the air. But perhaps the biggest change is the energy of our team members, who greet every guest with an extra dose of holiday cheer.  

This year our holiday menu launched Saturday, Nov. 2, and at our coffeehouse in De Pere, Wisc., team members were excited to share the holiday experience with guests from the start; and the excitement was mutual. General Manager James R. loves the opportunity the holiday launch creates for, “meeting new guests coming in to try us out for the first time because they heard about the new products, the awesome quality and team friendliness.”  

You’ll also find this sense of community connection at our coffeehouse in Bloomington, Minn., where General Manager Anna F. has a personal goal of creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for guests, especially when it’s cold outside. “Our guests come to Caribou for coffee, but they come back to Caribou because of our culture of making people’s day. Holiday launch is the same, just on a larger scale,” Anna said. She also realizes the holiday season can be tough for a lot of people, so she and her team try to be intentional with their kindness and excitement each and every day. 

Festive décor  

The chalkboards in many of our coffeehouses likewise bring a special, personalized touch to the spaces. Many of our team members have incredible artistic abilities, and the shift from fall to festive brings a rush of inspiration, as evidenced by the chalkboard creations in our stores right now.

Some chalkboard art leans on traditional winter motifs while others celebrate the new cranberry flavor on the menu. Team members choose the chalkboard art they want to share with their communities, bringing no shortage of conversations when the art catches the eyes of guests as soon as they walk into the store. 

Stores also use this transition to refresh their displays and make room for the incoming holiday merchandise. “In collaboration with our vendor partner, we’ve worked hard to build a collection you’re joyful to own and proud to gift,” says Merchandise Manager Kirstin M. This year, our collection features a new Pup Cup ornament, our annual holiday cup ornament (a fun collector’s item for team members and guests alike), new mug colors and designs, tumblers with cute straw toppers, and an adorable mug featuring a Caribou Coffee store as a gingerbread house.  

Seasonal sips 

Behind the bar, our usual hot and cold Cari-blue cups are swapped for three festive holiday cups – featuring designs inspired by the creative submissions of a team member and guest. Each one was made to convey the warmth and wonder this season brings and the cheerful connection you find over a cup of coffee. These cups will remain in our stores through the holiday season, or while supplies last. 

General Manager Jesse M.’s favorite beverage to fill one of those holiday cups is a hot Oat Nog Latte. “So cozy and delicious. It makes me ready for snow,” she remarks. The non-dairy twist on traditional egg nog makes this beverage a delicious alternative for those seeking plant-based options this season. 

Be sure to visit your favorite Caribou Coffee location this holiday season to see our new merchandise, reminisce over our classic holiday menu items, experience the excitement of our new handcrafted beverages, and feel the holiday cheer from our team members as they welcome you inside.