What oil does Caribou Coffee fry in?
Caribou Coffee cooks with Commercial bakery soybean/canola oil (muffins, rolls, scones); butter-dominant for croissants based on high saturated fat ratios (~60-65% of total fat is saturated in croissants). No frying — baked goods only. Caribou Coffee confirmed still operating, 487 US locations as of early 2026..
The 5 cleanest things to order at Caribou Coffee
Learn this once: a salad with grilled protein and the dressing left off is nearly always the lowest seed oil order anywhere. So the list below sticks to real meals, salads included, never just a water.
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Nitro Cold Press | 0.0g |
| Depth Charge | 0.0g |
| Strawberry Fruit Shaker | 0.0g |
| Peach Fruit Shaker | 0.0g |
| Cinnamon Sugar Nitro High Rise | 1.0g |
Lower PUFA is cleaner. These are estimates from published nutrition data and disclosed oils; preparation varies by location.
Why the frying oil matters
Most fast-food chains fry in seed oils like soybean, canola, corn, or a blend of them, which are high in polyunsaturated fat (PUFA). A handful still use beef tallow or other stable fats, which are far lower in PUFA. The oil a kitchen fries in is the single biggest driver of how much seed oil ends up on your plate. See the full breakdown on the Caribou Coffee report card, or where it lands on the Seed Oil Index.
Frequently asked
Does Caribou Coffee use beef tallow?
No. Caribou Coffee cooks with Commercial bakery soybean/canola oil (muffins, rolls, scones); butter-dominant for croissants based on high saturated fat ratios (~60-65% of total fat is saturated in croissants). No frying — baked goods only. Caribou Coffee confirmed still operating, 487 US locations as of early 2026., not beef tallow. See which chains fry in real fats on Tallow Watch.