School
Illinois State University, Northern Illinois University
Expertise
Coffee, Disney Cuisine & Festivals, Food History
- Dani spent several years working as a Barista at Starbucks and college coffee shops, and she loves making better-than-Starbucks drinks from the comfort of home.
- Most days of the week, you'll find Dani enjoying cuisine in and around Disney World.
- An avid researcher, Dani loves discovering the rich history behind her favorite foods.
Experience
In elementary school, Dani began her journey to becoming a writer. This path would take her through 11 years of teaching middle schoolers to find their voices before becoming a freelance writer herself. Today, she spends her days playing with food, hopping among Orlando's best restaurants and theme parks, and sharing it all through her writing. In addition to Tasting Table, Dani writes for Study.com and The Orlando Informer.
Education
Dani earned her bachelor's in English from Illinois State University and a master's in English from Northern Illinois University.
Tasting Table’s editorial coverage hails from a veteran group of writers and editors with expertise in their respective fields in the food and drink, hospitality, and agriculture industries. Outside experts are also consulted to help deliver factual, up-to-date information and original recipes.
We strive to publish knowledgeable, engaging articles to give readers the information they're looking for, whether that is the news of the day; cooking tips, tricks, and trends; or reviews and recommendations. In an effort to provide the most comprehensive, current, and accurate content, our team is constantly reviewing and updating articles as necessary. Click here for more information on our editorial process.
-
Exclusives
By Dani Zoeller
If you're considering applying to Starbucks but have questions, you're not alone. Here's an inside look, with help from a Starbucks rep and a former barista.
By Dani Zoeller
Read More
-
Coffee and Tea
By Dani Zoeller
By Dani Zoeller
Read More
-
If you want to lean into warm, comforting nutty flavors, these are the perfect Starbucks secret menu drinks you should try to achieve that rich, nutty flavor.
By Dani Zoeller
Read More
-
Were you glued to the big game? If so, one of these 27 TV commercials was bound to leave a lasting impression. We ranked them from worst to best.
By Dani Zoeller
Read More
-
Exclusives
By Dani Zoeller
Lemonade is a blank canvas: you can dress it up with sweet, fruity, and creamy additions. Upgrade your next Starbucks lemonade with these tasty add-ins.
By Dani Zoeller
Read More
-
Restaurants
By Dani Zoeller
Though only a handful of standard macchiatos are available on its menu, a former barista discusses some secret menu Starbucks macchiato flavors to consider.
By Dani Zoeller
Read More
-
Although Starbucks Refreshers are already full of flavor, there is so much potential to make these drinks your own. Try these add-ins to make yours a punchier.
By Dani Zoeller
Read More
-
Disney World might be all about the rides and attractions for some, but getting a good meal to fuel your day is equally important. Here's how the buffets rank.
By Dani Zoeller
Read More
-
If you can't get enough of your morning cup of joe, then coffee beer may be for you. We sampled several different brands to see which had the best flavor.
By Dani Zoeller
Read More
-
Restaurants
By Dani Zoeller
Crumbl and Last Crumb both make delectable cookies. We sampled both of their offerings to see which brand has a better flavor, texture, and value.
By Dani Zoeller
Read More
-
See how the AeroPress Premium compares with the AeroPress Original when it comes to price and performance. Does the new model produce a better cup of coffee?
By Dani Zoeller
Read More
-
Restaurants
By Dani Zoeller
You probably have your go-to Starbucks order memorized. But when it comes to enjoying a hot drink, there are some easy ways to upgrade your experience.
By Dani Zoeller
Read More
-
Restaurants
By Dani Zoeller
When there's a chill in the air, it's hard to resist the classic flavors of fall. And there are some fun ways you can revamp your Starbucks order accordingly.
By Dani Zoeller
Read More
-
Does whipping up your own PSL at home seem like the perfect way to welcome the fall season? Our ranking of pumpkin spice syrups will help get you started.
By Dani Zoeller
Read More
-
The Ninja SLUSHi is the trendy kitchen appliance that puts flavorful frozen drinks at your fingertips. Wondering how it holds up in use? We tried it out.
By Dani Zoeller
Read More
-
Entertain
By Dani Zoeller
Disney World is often most enjoyable with a friendly group, so we asked a frequent visitor to recommend the park's best restaurants for seating large parties.
By Dani Zoeller
Read More
-
Restaurants
By Dani Zoeller
Nothing beats the Disney heat quite like a Dole Whip. But Dole Whips now come in many forms, and according to our resident expert, we think these are the best.
By Dani Zoeller
Read More
-
Exclusives
By Dani Zoeller
Quaker's Chewy granola bars have been a lunch box staple since the early '80s. We tasted eight of the most popular flavors to see which one reigns supreme.
By Dani Zoeller
Read More
-
Liquid Death water offers some very interesting and bone-chilling flavors, so we decided to put them to the test to see which one was truly the best.
By Dani Zoeller
Read More
-
Restaurants
By Dani Zoeller
Hungry in the happiest place on earth? The stars have aligned so that each zodiac sign has a go-to matching restaurant in Walt Disney World.
By Dani Zoeller
Read More
-
Exclusives
By Dani Zoeller
A former Starbucks barista breaks down which customers made her time there much more difficult than it needed to be, from rude regulars to hordes of teenagers.
By Dani Zoeller
Read More
-
As a former barista and regular customer at Starbucks, I have learned a lot about what to order. Here are my favorite tips when ordering iced coffee drinks.
By Dani Zoeller
Read More
-
Bloom Nutrition, a brand known for its health supplements, has introduced its first sparkling energy drinks, and we tried all four flavors. Here's how they did.
By Dani Zoeller
Read More
-
Craving an espresso martini from the comfort of home? We taste-tested the ready-to-drink cocktail options for the best canned espresso cocktails.
By Dani Zoeller
Read More
-
Restaurants
By Dani Zoeller
There are tons of places to find ice cream at Walt Disney World. But here are the spots serving up the best ice cream, and some Disney magic to go with it.
By Dani Zoeller
Read More
-
Exclusives
By Dani Zoeller
Starbucks offers an array of beverage and sandwich options to its customers. We sampled different duos to help you decide which pairings are worth ordering.
By Dani Zoeller
Read More
-
Restaurants
By Dani Zoeller
Both Starbucks and Dunkin' now offer fresh lineups of flavored energy drinks, but which are the best? We tried every option available for this review.
By Dani Zoeller
Read More