I’ve discussed many places that Augustana students love to get coffee and energy drinks from, such as Atomic or Awake, but one place I have yet to discuss that is a go-to for many of my peers is KickServe Coffee. A drive-thru only coffee and energy bar that names all of its drinks after tennis plays, scores, and places, it’s a unique and creative shop that takes its drinks to a whole new level and attracts many caffeine junkies, such as myself. I would recommend it to anyone craving an energy boost in the quad cities, but just like in other energy bars, the menu can be overwhelming and in a drive-thru, you don’t have much time to make a decision. So, here are my top three recommendations for KickServe Coffee if you’re wanting to give it a try.
- Backhand
Usually I don’t get coffee from shops that have energy drinks as well, but something about the Backhand intrigued me the first time I visited KickServe. A combination of Butterscotch, Caramel, and White Chocolate in a cup of iced coffee on an eighty degree day sounded too good to resist. I was a little nervous to try it at first because my expectations were high, but don’t worry, it did not disappoint. The syrups blended together perfectly to create a smooth and buttery taste that wasn’t overwhelmingly sweet and overpowered the coffee but also weren’t unnoticeable. The sweetness and bitterness created an explosion of flavor in my mouth and the drink was the perfect way to cool off after a hot day. If energy drinks aren’t your thing but you’re still craving a caffeine kick, the Backhand will give you all the energy you need while also satisfying your taste buds.
- Love All
Although I think that KickServe’s coffee is fantastic, I originally came for their energy drinks. Out of all the brews I have tried, I can say with confidence that the Love All is my official go-to. Strawberry and pomegranate syrups are added to a rockstar to give you a burst of flavor that is sweet, tangy, and delicious. In drinks with pomegranate, I feel like it is often overshadowed by the other flavors it’s combined with, but this is not the case with Love All. It blends well with the tanginess from the strawberry syrup without one flavor strongly overpowering the other. This goes out to my pomegranate lovers especially, if you’re looking for that one drink that utilizes pomegranate to its fullest potential, then Love All is for you.
- Cherry Limeade
Besides energy brews, another one of my favorite drinks to buy is Italian sodas. In case you don’t know what Italian sodas are, they’re basically iced custom brews that use soda water instead of an energy drink as a base. If you don’t do caffeine yet want to understand why these custom brews are getting all the love from Augustana students, then Italian sodas are perfect for you. And if you’re specifically craving one from KickServe, then I can’t recommend the Cherry Limeade to you enough. I love a good limeade, but many places don’t have it in their inventory, so when I saw that KickServe served it, I couldn’t resist. The lime syrup pops and its sourness goes perfectly with the smooth sweetness of the cherry syrup. The drink is sweet and sour enough to satisfy your taste buds without making your lips pucker up. I originally visited KickServe for the caffeinated drinks, but I keep coming back for the Cherry Limeade. Seriously, it’s that good.
I hope that this list has enough recommendations for you to have an easier time making your decision when visiting KickServe Coffee. Although these are my personal favorites, there are many other drinks on the menu that are just as good in case my favs aren’t for you. I hope you enjoy your drinks, and as always, stay caffeinated!