Dunkin’ and Starbucks, two frequently compared chain coffee locations, may offer similar products, but are entirely different animals. Though the majority of my generation might step up to defend Starbucks, I believe that Dunkin’ actually offers a better coffee experience as a whole.
The most obvious advantage to Dunkin’ is its prices. Whenever I find myself at Starbucks, or its campus partner Lake Effect Café, I find I usually have to spend over $5 on a simple iced coffee. To preserve my precious dining dollars, I have to prohibit myself from even glancing at the left side of the menu, which holds coveted drinks such as Frappuccinos and refreshers. On top of the initially high beverage prices, if I want to add any sort of flavor to my coffee, I’m almost always charged an additional 50 cents above the already steep price. Cream and milk alternatives are also accompanied by a hefty price tag.
But when I go to Dunkin’, I pay about $3.50 for my coffee. Granted, this is still quite a price tag for something that a simple defeat of my own laziness would allow me to make at home, but that $1.50 stacks up over the long semester of caffeine addiction. Additionally, I can happily add my caramel flavoring, or whatever other seasonal syrup catches my attention, with no fear of an added price. Though cream substitutes still carry an extra charge, I can at least sleep peacefully knowing I will not need to consume a flavorless beverage.
Dunkin’s coffee tastes quite good too. Though perhaps the brews are not quite as varied as Starbucks provides, it still far exceeds what is found in the dining hall or what my 3-year-old Keuring can whip up.
The Dunkin’ app also saves me an immense amount of time and money. Before I hop in my car, I can place my order through the app and have it sitting on the counter ready for me as soon as my car is parked. This saves me from painfully long lines, and ensures I can get to my next class or meeting right on time.
Dunkin’s “Mobile Monday” promotion also provides one ray of sunshine on my otherwise dreary Mondays. When I order ahead in the app, as I prefer to do anyway, they also reward me with 100 bonus points – halfway to the 200 points I need to get a completely free drink of my choice. This free drink lets me enjoy some of the more expensive drinks, like lattes, that I have to completely strike from my mind at Starbucks or Lake Effect.
The seasonal menu there is great as well. Almost every month, I find that Dunkin’ has added a new syrup or beverage, perfect for the season. My personal favorite is Girl Scout cookie season, when I can enhance my coffee with the taste of Thin Mints.
Perhaps I am just the type of person who Dunkin’ markets themselves toward. Admittedly, I am a type-A, on-the-go, high speed person and that is usually the feel of Dunkin’ as opposed to Starbucks, which has a much calmer and relaxing feel to it. But Dunkin’s pricing for coffee that tastes quite good makes it well worth the environment shift to me.
Photo by Brigitte Tohm via Pexels
After years of going to Dunkin’, consistent perks in the app and a variety of seasonal flavors, it has earned a special place for me as a coffee lover, and its prices and speed give it a leg up over Starbucks.
