Everyone loves a good cup of coffee. Whether it be black, loaded with sugar, or somewhere in between, we all have our favorite way to drink it. We also have our favorite places to buy our coffee. Taking away the mom-and-pop cafes that would definitely be the winners in this debate, we’ll leave it to the biggest chains: Dunkin’ Donuts and Starbucks.
Both have an equal connotation of being basic with the mass amounts of young girls who either get the most complicatedly sweet drink on the menu, or they order it “Light and Sweet”. That is, of course, followed by posting a picture of that drink for all of their friends to know that, yes, you sort of like coffee.
Dunkin’ Donuts has many upsides, convenience and price being the front-runners. In my sort-of small area, I can name three Dunkin’s and two Starbucks. They're tucked near grocery stores or right before the Garden State Parkway entrance, so those daring journeys are a little less irritating with a cup of coffee in hand.
Then, there’s pricing. An extra-large coffee can cost around the price of a medium at Starbucks. If you purchased a coffee every day from Dunkin, you’d typically be saving half the price than you would be spending at Starbucks. At the same time, the very size of a medium iced drink at Dunkin is approximately two fluid ounces smaller than a large iced drink from Starbucks.
Now, let’s get down to the good stuff: coffee.
In general quality of coffee, Starbucks is immediately a stronger brew. I had it described to me as “a bitter burnt taste”. This is true; everyone knows the smell of Starbucks and the taste of their coffee. No amount of sugar, syrup, milk, or cream in those drinks can cover up the delightful bitterness in their brews.
So, if you’d like a lighter coffee that tastes way less like coffee, Dunkin’ is the place for you. There is no sharp bitter smell or taste to the brew, not even for the darkest roast.
For my friends who enjoy black coffee, Dunkin’s tastes like a day old brew that’s just a little bit watered down too. Starbucks on the other hand? Black as black can be coffee, as strong as can be and no hint of being watered down at all. If you want your coffee to give you a strong slap in the face, choose Starbucks. If you want a light boop on the nose, get Dunkin’.
Starbucks isn’t just known for its coffee and being expensive. They are also known for their seasonal drinks, teas, and frappuccinos. Summertime brings a huge wave of customers asking for the "Pink Drink" (gross), Passion Tea, and Mango Black Tea or Peach Green Tea Lemonades. And there’s no beating their Green Tea Lattes.
Dunkin’? The most they have is a Frozen Hot Chocolate, which doesn’t even make sense. They also offer Sweet Tea and Green Tea with lemon. They have nothing close to a latte.
So, let’s say you find yourself at a fork in the road. On the left is Starbucks, and on the right is Dunkin’ Donuts. Do you follow the path that will ask for the extra dollar? Or the one that tastes like it was made yesterday and sat out all night? Will you give in to your sweet tooth’s cravings? Or settle for whatever the hell a Frozen Hot Chocolate is?
Which path do you choose?
