Ahh, coffee. I find myself dreaming about you daily. Whether it's while I'm dozing off in class or when I'm trying to stay focused while writing a paper. We are so blessed to live in a world where there are so many options when it comes to coffee choices. It's no longer the choice between decaf and regular. You've got cappuccinos, frappes, lattes, macchiatos, double, triple or quad shots of espresso, vanilla, caramel, and SO much more. For me, the hard part is deciding between Starbucks and Dunkin' Donuts.
Let's try and settle this once and for all. Which modern day coffee chain trumps the other... Starbucks or Dunkin?
1. Price
When you're in college money plays a big factor in your lifestyle and the choices you make. In this case, Starbucks is obviously way more expensive. However, it could be argued that the quality of Starbucks is greater, which in turn makes the price seem reasonable. And their caramel macchiatos are just irresistible. They $5 price tag hurts a little bit, but the reward is wonderful. At Dunkin' I can get a medium iced coffee for a little over $2... a steal amirite?! The clear winner for price is... Dunkin' Donuts.
2. Image
Starbucks is one of those places that comes with a cool hipster vibe that labels you are someone who is also cool AF. Or in my case it labels me as "basic," but basic girls are cool girls and the types of girls everyone wants to be friends with. When you drink Dunkin' you're just kind of a person who is drinking coffee, nothing special. The winner for overall image is... Starbucks.
3. Service
Dunkin has way fastest service and is definitely the better choice when you are in a hurry. As I was going through the drive thru the one day I overheard the employee saying, "remember 30 seconds! They are up here and pulling out with their order within 30 seconds!" While 30 seconds may not always be the case it is definitely way better than the five plus minutes you wait at Starbucks. The winner for speedy service is... Dunkin' Donuts.
4. Atmosphere
As a college student, I really enjoy coffee shops that I can hang out in and get some work done. Dunkin' is a place that just isn't that comfortable to do homework. It's got bright lights, a fast paced environment, and it just isn't as chill as Starbucks. Starbucks has a nice mood to it and some calming music. The winner for atmosphere is... Starbucks.
5. Coffee
Last, but certainly not least we need to talk coffee. This is such a hard choice for me. When it comes to regular coffee, hot or iced I absolutely love Dunkin'. They don't try to do anything fancy to their coffee, it's just simple coffee and I like that. However, when I'm in the mood for something fancy and sometimes sweet Starbucks is the place to go. They also have the best seasonal drinks (PSL for life). The winner for coffee is... BOTH! It really just matters what you're in the mood for.
Well, it looks like we are back to square one. Choosing between Starbucks and Dunkin' is like asking a girl to choose between Ryan Gosling and Zac Efron... NOT POSSIBLE.
