Donuts and Coffee - The Breakfast of Champions
Time to eat a donut! Last time I reviewed a donut from SeaWorld's Coaster Coffee Company, I included a long(er) style review of the location itself… the crowd levels, how the line works, etc. None of that has changed since I last ate a donut, so here's a link to that full review (and what I thought about the Chocolate Peanut Crunch Donut) … Full Review from SeaWorld's Coaster Coffee Company.Today, I'm trying out the "you mean this one?" donut … since no one at Coaster Coffee Company seemed to have any idea what the donuts were, or what they were named. Apparently, donuts are to be selected based on what they look like — flavor, notwithstanding. You have no idea how long I've been waiting to use the word "notwithstanding" … I think it's cool how there's no spaces in "notwithstanding").
The Coffee Cake Donut may also be available at the Coaster Coffee Express location near Dockside Pizza. (Summer 2024)
This has led me to do a little more research. Like a good croissant — donuts aren't something you can just bake up in a small prep kitchen on a whim — it takes some room, special equipment, and in many ways — a culture has to be built around making the donuts up to a certain standard of excellence each day.
Which leads me to Shaka Donuts Orlando. There's a little tiny sign over at the Coaster Coffee Company Express booth that reads "Fresh Donuts featuring Shaka Donuts". While I have no proof (because there's no little sign like that at the larger "Coaster Coffee Company" actual location — logic would suggest that all of the donuts at both locations are made by Shaka.
There's also a little pricing sign over at the Express booth that reads "Premium Donut $8.99" and "Standard Donut $7.99". Here, at the larger "Coaster Coffee Company" location, they use digital menu boards that don't seem to mention the donuts at all. I could be wrong about that (because the smell of fresh brewed coffee clouds my judgment), but I gazed steadily at the digital sign board for a whole minute the last time I was there, and it never rotated around to mentioning the donuts. However — it does seem like the prices are the same at both locations.
The "you mean this one?" donut I sampled today looks a lot like the "Coffee Cake Donut" from Shaka. That donut has cinnamon icing and is topped with coffee cake cinnamon crumbles and cream cheese drizzle. The version from SeaWorld tastes like it has all that same stuff — and also a dusting of powdered sugar to the mix.
This is a Cinnamon Coffee Cake donut from Coaster Coffee Company. It is a traditional fried donut... the "Coffee Cake" is crumbled on top of the donut.
I'm happy to report that I liked this one even a little more than the last Chocolate Peanut Crunch Donut from my last visit. The dough portion of the donut was fresh and the cinnamon and light icing sweetness of any good coffee cake was present as well. It didn't suffer any of the "day old baked good" characteristics that my previous select was starting to display.
The Cinnamon Coffee Cake donut features cinnamon icing and is topped with coffee cake cinnamon crumbles, cream cheese drizzle, and powdered sugar.
If I could change just one thing about this donut, it would be to add a little more of the cream cheese drizzle. Whatever it's called… it's a great donut that's not too sweet, with a nice cinnamon kick… perfect for pairing with an iced vanilla latte, or any other coffee beverage!
Even if they don't have names — there's a rotating selection of great donuts (and coffee beverages) available at the Coaster Coffee Company's main location and the Coaster Coffee Company Express near Dockside Pizza. Like most places that sell donuts, there's a better selection in the morning, than at the end of the day (just something to keep in mind if you're think about picking up some donuts to take with you). The selection does tend to get a little limited near park closing time.
