# Coffee Wars: Dunkin Donuts or Starbucks? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** coffee\ **Created:** [April 3, 2013, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-wars-dunkin-donuts-or-starbucks/654736 "2013-04-03T15:46:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-wars-dunkin-donuts-or-starbucks/654736/41 "2013-04-04T18:55:17Z")
Did someone roll a 20 because I’m picking D&D! ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-wars-dunkin-donuts-or-starbucks/654736/42 "2013-04-04T19:04:27Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > On the other hand, a number of times I’ve ordered a coffee with cream only at Dunkin’s only to receive a coffee with cream and sugar. That’s one thing Starbucks has over Dunkin Donuts – at least you get to do your own creamin’ and sugarin’. That’s exactly why I like DD. 🙂 If I am spending that much on coffee, I want to be catered to. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-wars-dunkin-donuts-or-starbucks/654736/43 "2013-04-04T19:59:19Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > Starbucks is still in business? Yep, and continues to get bigger, although the pace has slowed down. I mean, I was in India in January and was a little surprised to find multiple Starbucks there. I didn’t realize it expanded that far afield. ---
**Author:** ![CT\_Damsel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CT\_Damsel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CT_Damsel)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-wars-dunkin-donuts-or-starbucks/654736/44 "2013-04-04T20:01:39Z")
I voted Starbucks. I drink my coffee black. To my taste buds DD and most restaurant coffee taste like vegetable broth. ---
**Author:** ![Fuhgeddaboudit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9fc29f/32.png) [@Fuhgeddaboudit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuhgeddaboudit)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-wars-dunkin-donuts-or-starbucks/654736/45 "2013-04-04T20:06:00Z")
I can drink both of them. I prefer Starbucks over DD because I get sick from DD sometimes. But Starbucks is pretty burnt tasting. I just like drinking coffee from the carts in New York. Tastes closer to home coffee than chain coffee. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-wars-dunkin-donuts-or-starbucks/654736/46 "2013-04-04T20:15:42Z")
I’m drinking a big cup of DD coffee now, and I might have to change my vote to “they’re both good, but SB is better.” Now that I pay closer attention, it is a bit “light” in flavor (lighter than I remember). That’s not a bad thing, necessarily, but I do tend to like coffee a wee bit more concentrated in flavor. But it’s reasonable. ---
**Author:** ![shiftless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@shiftless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shiftless)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-wars-dunkin-donuts-or-starbucks/654736/47 "2013-04-04T20:16:25Z")
I drink my coffee black. DD and Starbucks are different animals and I could go for either one on different occasions. For every day, 7-11 coffee is my brand. It won me over before the other guys appeared on the scene and it is still good, to me. I have a few issues with Starbucks. It’s hard to call it good coffee if every customer has to add a ton of whipped cream, caramel and sugar before they find it drinkable. And I can’t stand that they serve espresso in a little paper cup. In Italy you can get a proper cup of perfect espresso anywhere for a third of the Starbucks price. Just don’t serve espresso if you aren’t willing to do it right. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-wars-dunkin-donuts-or-starbucks/654736/48 "2013-04-04T21:24:33Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > Horseshit. I say it because I just never got into drinking all that sweet shit. I like coffee. You’re still oblivious to the actual point being made by \*\*pulykamell \*\*& me, which is that Starbucks serves up plain black coffee, which is what I go there for. I never get anything but pure black coffee and pure black espresso there, and I add nothing to it. Starbucks is good that way. You make it sound like the only option is sweetened flavored latte, though you know that isn’t true. > [@CT\_Damsel](#): > > I voted Starbucks. I drink my coffee black. To my taste buds DD and most restaurant coffee taste like vegetable broth. ^ This. _Questo, esattamente_. ::italian smiley:: I voted for they’re both good, but Starbucks is better. I don’t get all the hate for it, which like I said, tends to the irrational. I just like a full-bodied cuppa black. As for complaints about espresso in little cups—honey, that _is_ how espresso is properly served. Demitasse. To use full-sized cups for that tiny drop of liquid would be wasteful of dead tree. What about a sense of proportion? ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2013, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-wars-dunkin-donuts-or-starbucks/654736/49 "2013-04-05T05:04:11Z")
> [@Southern\_Yankee](#): > > DD coffee is over-rated dishwater. Years and years ago, it was passable, but even then it was inconsistent. It is completely different at every DD I’ve ever tried. Like Starbucks or not, you know what you are going to get. Yeah, you’re going to get coffee so burnt you could dump your cigarette ashes in there and not notice the difference. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2013, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-wars-dunkin-donuts-or-starbucks/654736/50 "2013-04-05T05:22:38Z")
> [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > Yeah, you’re going to get coffee so burnt you could dump your cigarette ashes in there and not notice the difference. I really do wonder if this is a “supertaster” type of thing now. Starbucks does not taste burnt to me at all. It did, once upon a time, but not since about 2008 or so. Maybe you taste bitter compounds that I simply can’t–I’m pretty sure I’m not a “supertaster.” ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2013, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-wars-dunkin-donuts-or-starbucks/654736/51 "2013-04-05T11:42:03Z")
> [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > Yeah, you’re going to get coffee so burnt you could dump your cigarette ashes in there and not notice the difference. > [@pulykamell](#): > > I really do wonder if this is a “supertaster” type of thing now. Starbucks does not taste burnt to me at all. It did, once upon a time, but not since about 2008 or so. Maybe you taste bitter compounds that I simply can’t–I’m pretty sure I’m not a “supertaster.” I like my coffee very strong. I drink it black. Starbucks doesn’t taste burnt to me, it tastes rich. We have a chain around here called Caribou that also makes very good, strong coffee. They just aren’t as conveniently located for me. People that load up their coffee with cream and sugar and other flavors can drink anything. At that point it’s a caffeine/sugar vehicle. I’ve tried a lot of different brand of beans at home too, and I also prefer Starbucks. I love Peets’ beans, but Costco doesn’t carry them by the bucketful. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2013, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-wars-dunkin-donuts-or-starbucks/654736/52 "2013-04-05T14:14:48Z")
> [@shiftless](#): > > I drink my coffee black. DD and Starbucks are different animals and I could go for either one on different occasions. For every day, 7-11 coffee is my brand. It won me over before the other guys appeared on the scene and it is still good, to me. > > I have a few issues with Starbucks. It’s hard to call it good coffee if every customer has to add a ton of whipped cream, caramel and sugar before they find it drinkable. And I can’t stand that they serve espresso in a little paper cup. In Italy you can get a proper cup of perfect espresso anywhere for a third of the Starbucks price. Just don’t serve espresso if you aren’t willing to do it right. Starbucks serves plain coffee to those who want it. First thing in the morning I have a latte–coffee with skim milk. If you’re drinking “in”–most _full-service_ Starbucks will serve your espresso in a proper little espresso cup. Don’t blame them for using paper cups “to go.” I’m sure many things are better in Italy. Alas, I’m not there… ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2013, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-wars-dunkin-donuts-or-starbucks/654736/53 "2013-04-05T14:20:30Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > Starbucks serves plain coffee to those who want it. First thing in the morning I have a latte–coffee with skim milk. Unless Starbucks does it differently, a “latte” is espresso with milk. Or are you just using “coffee” in the general sense to refer to espresso? I’m not sure, at it seems the second sentence is supposed to be related to the first. In the US, “café au lait” is the term usually used for brewed coffee that is topped with steamed/frothed milk. ---
**Author:** ![Heart\_of\_Dorkness](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/4bbf92/32.png) [@Heart\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heart_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2013, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-wars-dunkin-donuts-or-starbucks/654736/54 "2013-04-05T15:16:52Z")
It suddenly occurred to me, I’d love to see everyone do a blind taste-test with, say, SB, DD, Caribou, Panera (another one I like), McDonald’s, Peet’s, Tim Horton’s, Krispy Kreme, and Corner Bakery. And for points of comparison, Maxwell House, Folgers, chicory, vegetable broth, and a bucket of dirty dishwater. ---
**Author:** ![Alpine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alpine/32/17813_2.png) [@Alpine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpine)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2013, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-wars-dunkin-donuts-or-starbucks/654736/55 "2013-04-06T02:38:54Z")
> [@Heart\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > It suddenly occurred to me, I’d love to see everyone do a blind taste-test with, say, SB, DD, Caribou, Panera (another one I like), McDonald’s, Peet’s, Tim Horton’s, Krispy Kreme, and Corner Bakery. And for points of comparison, Maxwell House, Folgers, chicory, vegetable broth, and a bucket of dirty dishwater. My heart rate jumped just reading this. I only get one cup a day - a taste test would send me to the moon. I usually have one of the Starbucks blonde roasts brewed in an aeropress. Sometimes I get the Safeway brand Kona, and that tastes pretty good to me too. Never tried DD. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2013, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-wars-dunkin-donuts-or-starbucks/654736/56 "2013-04-06T05:55:27Z")
Starbucks coffee is aimed at the contingent that dilutes their coffee with milk and flavorings. Their coffee is, as a consequence, overstrong, burned-tasting, so as to make sure that a vivid coffee taste permeates all the milk and whatnot that their primaryIis flowncustomers are going to dilute their coffee with. It tastes awful straight up, black no sugar. It’s not “a roast too dark for your liking” it’s too much coffee crammed into the basket for the amount of water being drawn through it. I’m not sure if they do other bad things to it or not (such as keep it too hot for too long, etc). But they’ve selected their coffees for extra bitter notes and robust flavor and cooked it into a thick syrupy concentrate (too much coffee cooked too long). if I ever go in for the esxperience again. There comes a time wild starses as you., They are all upset because you havr dsaathis is nit jmy oknl coide;’ Itd is donedddd;fskaaaaaaaaa ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2013, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-wars-dunkin-donuts-or-starbucks/654736/57 "2013-04-06T08:42:28Z")
> [@AHunter3](#): > > if I ever go in for the esxperience again. > > There comes a time wild starses as you., > > They are all upset because you havr dsaathis is nit jmy oknl coide;’ > > Itd is donedddd;fskaaaaaaaaa **AH3**? Are you OK? ---
**Author:** ![Tapiotar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3be4f8/32.png) [@Tapiotar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapiotar)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2013, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-wars-dunkin-donuts-or-starbucks/654736/58 "2013-04-06T11:15:11Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > At home, I’m glad to make my own coffee. (From [Katz](http://www.katzcoffee.com/)!) Near the transit line to work, Starbuck’s is the only option (if you don’t count percolated cafeteria coffee); so I start each weekday with a fat free latte. > > There are no convenient Dunkin’ Donuts. I’m sure there are plenty in the city, but Shipley’s is Houston’s Choice For Donuts (and [Boudin Kolaches](http://blogs.houstonpress.com/eating/2011/09/100_favorite_dishes_no_3_boudi.php))… Why, oh why, did you post this link? Now I want Boudin kolaches, and I am 1, 629 miles from Houston. Never been there, probability of ever going is low, but now a crave a Houston specialty… (sobs quietly) ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2013, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-wars-dunkin-donuts-or-starbucks/654736/59 "2013-04-06T11:39:56Z")
> [@Johanna](#): > > **AH3**? Are you OK? _giggle_ Damn ambien. Kicks in between one paragraph and the next. Yeah, I’m fine. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2013, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-wars-dunkin-donuts-or-starbucks/654736/60 "2013-04-06T12:05:40Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Unless Starbucks does it differently, a “latte” is espresso with milk. Or are you just using “coffee” in the general sense to refer to espresso? I’m not sure, at it seems the second sentence is supposed to be related to the first. In the US, “café au lait” is the term usually used for brewed coffee that is topped with steamed/frothed milk. Yes, I meant “espresso” instead of “coffee.” But I was explaining that what’s probably Starbucks’ most popular drink contains nothing but milk & fruit of the coffee tree. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-wars-dunkin-donuts-or-starbucks/654736.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-wars-dunkin-donuts-or-starbucks/654736.md?page=4)