Dunkin’:
Kait Bedell
Turn the corner of any street in New England, and you are sure to find a Dunkin’ nearby. You step in the doors and are instantly met with the hustle of a New Englander. Coffee in hand, people of all varieties rush through the doors. Whether it is a blue-collar worker in jeans and work boots headed to a construction site at 6:00 am, a suited-up businesswoman catching her mid-day coffee break, or a pack of young college kids grabbing coffee on their way to the library for some late-night studies, Dunkin’ holds a customer base of all walks of life.
It is quick, efficient, affordable, and reliable. You always know what you are going to get with Dunkin’.
It is the heart of a hustler and far more dependable than Starbucks. Is it fun to branch out every now and then and get a specialty latte at Starbucks every now and then? Sure, it is. But at what cost? You pay double the amount for a quarter of the quantity. You wait in line for ten minutes (unless of course you mobile order), and you are always left with more ice in your cup than coffee. I like Starbucks, don’t get me wrong, but it never seems to have the same satisfaction as Dunkin.
It ‘never seems to feel as relatable. The workers move a mile a minute, but the clients are seemingly never in a rush. It doesn’t have the same crazed-quickness that a Dunkin’ holds. I like to think that going to Dunkin’ is more than just about getting a coffee and a donut. It’s a lifestyle. It’s a group of people going about their lives with a lot to do. It is the heart of a New Englander. It is a community. It is a lifestyle. No other coffee chain comes close to bringing people together in this way.
Although not all of America necessarily runs on Dunkin, I certainly do.
Starbucks:
Pat Carbone
Don’t get me wrong, as someone born and raised in Massachusetts, I love Dunkin’. However, if the funds allow, I will choose Starbucks over Dunkin’ when I get coffee every single time. I’m not saying Dunkin’ doesn’t have good coffee. I just believe Starbucks is better.
If you get bad coffee from Dunkin’, it will actually taste like the dirt water from their dishes. In my personal experience, very rarely do I get coffee from Starbucks, where I’ve taken a first sip, exclaimed, “What is this?” and then thrown it in the garbage. Unfortunately, that’s happened one too many times with Dunkin’ coffee and me.
One of the key factors in this debate for me was the health aspect. Admittedly, neither Starbucks nor Dunkin’ can be considered to have many healthy food options. However, when it comes to popular seasonal drinks, Starbucks seems to have a slight edge. According to a study by Forbes Magazine, a pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks contains 470 calories, 63 grams of sugar, and 16 grams of fat. In comparison, Dunkin’ offers a slightly higher calorie count at 530, along with 71 grams of sugar and 17 grams of fat.
As I hinted earlier, Starbucks is known for its steeper prices compared to Dunkin’. Though as frustrating as those prices can be, I believe the price is oftentimes worth it. The quality you get at Dunkin’ is also a very good deal, I just think that Starbucksoverall has a higher quality and is more consistent than Dunkin’.
Dunkin’ has a plethora of good items as well, don’t get me wrong. I think their doughnuts, refreshers, and hashbrowns are all great. But when it comes to coffee and other categories, Starbucks is my personal preference. This is a very difficult debate to write because I feel like if I slander Dunkin’ too much, I’m going to get my New Englander card revoked.
I have boosted my status on the Dunkin’ app. Trust me, I’m still a Dunkin’ lover. I just cheat on them sometimes with the mermaid.