As I sat here staring at this blank document, the lack of debate and true passion about a very serious topic crossed my mind. As we enter this holiday season, there are two specific drink menus of importance, and you are faced with the choice of picking the correct one. When it comes to Dunkin’ vs. Starbucks, there should be no question where you should be spending your time and money.
Back in Middleboro, Mass., my hometown, I have not one, not two, not three, but four Dunkin’ establishments within a five-mile radius of my house. Starbucks on the other hand? There is not a single one in my town. What is the point of frequenting a coffee shop that takes you 20 minutes to get to? Now, you may be thinking, towns that have Starbucks may prefer it because of its close proximity. Despite this I can almost guarantee you that in all of New England,
Massachusetts specifically, there will be at least two Dunkin’s in the same vicinity as one singular Starbucks per town.
Now when given the option of these two places, there are some important statistics to consider. As a college student
and an excessive fun drink/sweet treat buyer, we must first look at the levels of cost efficiency. For myself, along
with many of my friends attending this university, “ballin’ on a budget” is a frequently relevant phrase. Although
prices change town to town, Dunkin’ has a reputation for being cheaper.
A medium iced coffee at Dunkin’ costs approximately $3.74. A grande (medium) iced coffee at Starbucks costs
between $4.25 and $4.65. Along with this, the actual medium cup at Dunkin’ is typically 24 oz while the grande cup
at Starbucks is only 16 oz. Therefore, not only is Dunkin’ cheaper, but you are getting more for your money as well.
In the realm of coffee shops in general, there is the unfortunate upcharge for us lactose intolerant people. Personally
I stick with almond milk, or oat milk if I want a hint of expired cheese in my coffee (it’s a personal thing). However,
you may notice that every time you want a fun drink with non dairy milk, you’re paying extra. At Dunkin’, it is about
$0.50 to $2.15 to add a non-dairy milk depending on size. At Starbucks, they recently made non-dairy milk free of
charge. Although Starbucks wins this category, are you really spending any less money when the drink itself is more
expensive than double a non-dairy charge at Dunkin’? No, so the right answer is still Dunkin’ in a financial sense.
Now let’s move onto the food. For starters, Dunkin’s food menu is much more expansive and has more variety than
Starbucks. Also, you can only get specific things at Starbucks, and cannot change, add or subtract elements from a
sandwich. Dunkin’ is flexible and gives you the opportunity to create your breakfast how you want it. Along with
this, Starbucks simply has no donuts. I don’t even like donuts, but what is a coffee shop without an assortment of
Donuts?
Some may say the customer service at Dunkin’ is generally more aggressive and less friendly. But hear me out, I
think it is a blessing and a curse. Although it can be scary to enter a Dunkin’ during rush hour, those stressed workers
will wake you up more than coffee does. Therefore, you are not only getting energy from your beverage, but from
your experience.
Along with this, Dunkin’ is generally more speedy and consistent. I have endured many waits at Dunkin’, but
Starbucks always takes longer. I also find Dunkin’ to be more consistent. They certainly have times where their
coffee tastes like sewage and times their coffee is top notch, but at least they stay consistent with both fronts
Nonetheless.
Another thing I prefer about Dunkin’ is that their drinks are plentiful and to the point. They keep it simple, and I
admire that. If you want a caramel iced coffee, you ask for just that. Starbucks has all these fancy names for everything and half the time, you can’t predict what could possibly be in the drink you’re struggling to pronounce.
Starbucks on the other hand, reminds me of a little sister who has no license but wants a ride to get food then convinces you to pay for her food. They’re always pushing you to do things you don’t want to do, and buy drinks that are more expensive
and more aesthetic than they are enjoyable.
Speaking of aesthetics, orange and pink are simply a beautiful combination, and truly outshine the plain, sad green that radiates off of a Starbucks logo.
