“Oh, we’re a Mocha Dan’s family,” my husband told me as I debated aloud which coffee hut to stop at while I ran errands.
I’ve been on a crash course getting to know Fairbanks this year. For a small town, this place has a considerable number of coffee huts and the locals seem to have a fixed allegiance to either Sunrise Bagel and Espresso or Mocha Dan’s. Almost like there’s a rivalry between the two. I wanted to know why.
One lifelong Fairbanksian said he was born into being a Mocha Dan’s regular due to its location between his childhood home and high school. Though both options are equally available on his commute today, he explained the choice hasn’t changed due to “small town high school rivalry,” location, culture, and what’s actually on offer.
Of course, nothing I say can change the personal history element of brand affinity. Those loyalties run deep, despite often being unjustifiable. But a newcomer like myself gets to decide which spot has better coffee, food, or ideally, both.
In the name of science and caffeine, over the past few weeks, I’ve alternated coffee stops between Sunrise Bagel and Espresso (opened in 2000, operates eight locations) and Mocha Dan’s (opened 1992, operates two locations) trying to determine which spot might earn my loyalty.
I found both to be incredibly reasonably priced. (Hefty meat breakfast burritos for $7!) Mocha Dan’s has a much larger food menu, notably with a number of vegan options and an adorable, dedicated “Doggie Delights” menu. (Milkbone: Free, Bacon slice: $0.75, Pup cup: $1.50, etc.) Sunrise does offer lactose free milk, which Mocha Dan’s does not, although both have the usual selection of nondairy options. Sunrise also has soft serve ice cream, and is known for its colossal bagel breakfast sandwiches (especially on the jalapeño cheddar bagel), while Mocha Dan’s fans seem really into the “Big Bad Potato Burrito.”
In terms of coffee, my Mocha Dan’s-loyal friend admitted to not being able to discern a difference in coffee quality between the two, calling himself more of a “caffeinated sweet milk person.” I couldn’t really either. Both stores offer rotating, “secret menu” drinks, which are featured monthly on their Instagram pages. I tried one of the secret menu drinks for April at Mocha Dan’s (A dirty London Fog with orange & a lavender soft top, $5 for 12 oz), which tasted like a melted creamsicle, not in a good way. But I am the opposite of a caffeinated sweet milk person, so I probably should have seen that coming.
Breakfast burritos at both satisfied, but didn’t wow me. The Mocha Dan’s mocha ($4 for 12 oz) tasted like a darker chocolate than the Sunrise mocha ($3.50 for 12 oz). Mocha Dans’ English muffin breakfast sandwich used real cheddar, compared to American cheese at Sunrise. Both had friendly staff and decently quick-moving lines.
This test made me realize a coffee hut shines for two reasons. The first is on-the-go convenience, or someone who doesn’t want the bother of getting kids in and out of the car when grabbing coffee or breakfast. The second reason is being an adventurous drinker, or so-called “caffeinated sweet milk person.” Scrolling through their Instagram feeds, I saw both huts advertising tons of fancy shakes, energy drink “kickers,” and espresso concoctions in more colors and varieties than I honestly realized was possible.
I think the coffee hut loyalty likely has more to do with tradition than modern cost or quality. I’m excited to try the soft serve at Sunrise this summer, and grab another potato breakfast burrito at Mocha Dan’s. Ultimately, I’d gladly recommend either to someone visiting town. But I would tell them to pay close attention to which cup the locals are holding when they show up to the office in the morning.
I’ll bet it’ll be the same logo the next day.
Jenny Weis writes for a variety of Alaska nonprofits and causes in between keeping up on Alaska's doughnut scene, sliding on snow, and gawking at cool plants and rocks along local trails.
