The only job I ever had during my 18 years of living in Federal Way was as a barista at a drive-thru/walk-in coffee stand called Fox Hollow Coffee. I stumbled upon this job via craigslist, and it was one of the best things to ever happen to me. Although the location of Fox Hollow is slightly sketchy (right alongside Pacific Hwy, at the cross-section of 272nd), the shop itself is very quaint and welcoming. It was designed to look like a miniature house, and has classic taupe and maroon coloring. Either side of the building had a window where customers can drive up and order, and there is also a main front door through which the more leisurely coffee lover can wander in and enjoy their drink inside (one or two small tables are situated between the door and counter). The bulk of the shop is dedicated to moving space for the baristas behind the counter, since business can get pretty hectic, causing us employees to run around and bump into each other a lot. I’ve had mornings where three cars were lined up at either window and a couple customers were waiting inside!

The drink selection is fabulous; we serve every coffee, tea, chai, and smoothie beverage you can imagine. And if it’s not on the menu, we can make it to order for you. Fox Hollow Coffee actually has it’s own line of coffee beans (regular or decaf) which can also be purchased by the pound. We offer milk in the form of soy, non-fat, whole, skim, and breve, and carry basically every flavor of syrup. One of the most unique things about Fox Hollow is that we also serve white coffee. White coffee is a cream-colored powder, slightly nutty in taste, and has about twice the amount of caffeine as a normal espresso shot. It’s slightly more expensive, but definitely worth the extra charge if you’re looking for an extra pick me up. Another suggestion: try one of our blended drinks! They’re the same concept as a Frappachino, but way more delicious in my opinion. The Gold Ribbon is a delicious blend of caramel and Hershey’s chocolate, and is a favorite of most customers. If you’re looking for something without caffeine, our creamsicles can be made with any fruit flavor and are exceptionally good on a summer day.

Naturally, the service at Fox Hollow is unmatched, and the prices are always marked at least ten cents below Starbucks. I can’t count the number of times customers would rave about how much better our coffee blend tastes compared to Starbucks! Next time you’re driving through Federal Way, definitely take the time to stop by Fox Hollow for a treat.