# Dunkin Donuts vs. Starbucks and your coffee habits
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dunkin-donuts-vs-starbucks-and-your-coffee-habits/359601
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [June 6, 2006, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dunkin-donuts-vs-starbucks-and-your-coffee-habits/359601 "2006-06-06T12:34:52Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2006, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dunkin-donuts-vs-starbucks-and-your-coffee-habits/359601/1 "2006-06-06T12:34:52Z")
I have noticed that there is a coffee divide between DnD and SB’s coffee, I am wondering if that divide has anything to do with how one likes their coffee.
So:
1 - Starbucks or Dunkin?
2- Type of coffee (‘standard’, decalf, vanella, etc)
3 - What do you add to it (cream, milk, 1/2&1/2, sugar, splenda, flavorings (list type), ect
For me
1 - Dunkin
2 - Standard brew
3 - Extra Cream
(for the starbuck’s terms challenged, please refrain from terms like halfcalf unless you define it)
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### Author:  [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2006, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dunkin-donuts-vs-starbucks-and-your-coffee-habits/359601/2 "2006-06-06T12:39:55Z")
There’s no Dunkin Donuts around here, but if there were, I’d choose it over Starbucks. I like Starbucks, but Dunkin wins for sentimental reasons (good coffee, too).
1. Dunkin
2. Standard coffee
3. Milk, no sugar (that’s the other reason I prefer Dunkin: they’ll put the milk in when I order. Starbucks just has the self-serve containers that are always empty).
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### Author:  [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2006, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dunkin-donuts-vs-starbucks-and-your-coffee-habits/359601/3 "2006-06-06T12:56:27Z")
1. It depends on where I am. I like both, but prefer Dunkin’ Donuts. If Starbucks is serving their Goldcoast blend, I’ll get that.
2. Regular, almost never decaf, unless it’s really late.
3. Fake sugar, real cream. In other words, Sweet & Low or Splenda, and Half & Half.
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### Author:  [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2006, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dunkin-donuts-vs-starbucks-and-your-coffee-habits/359601/4 "2006-06-06T12:58:35Z")
It’s not what the OP is asking, but I had to share.
Down the road from me, Krispy Kreme opened a big new store, with their “factory” making assembly-line donuts, and the red neon “hot donuts” sign, and all. Practically next door to the Dunkin Donuts that’s been here for 25 years or more.
Within a year, the Krispy Kreme had closed. Now it’s an empty building with a black bar across the name.
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### Author:  [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2006, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dunkin-donuts-vs-starbucks-and-your-coffee-habits/359601/5 "2006-06-06T13:27:35Z")
I rarely buy coffee in single servings, but which I would choose would depend on whether I planned to sit in the cafe and drink it, or have it to go. I’ve repeatedly heard that Dunkin Donuts’ coffee is very good, but I’m otherwise not real big on donut shops. So if I were getting it to go I might buy it from Dunkin Donuts. Starbucks, OTOH, has a sort of atmosphere. It may be a boilerplate, manufactured faux hip atmosphere, but I’d rather have that than nothing. So if I’m going to sit there and drink the coffee, then I’ll choose Starbucks.
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### Author:  [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2006, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dunkin-donuts-vs-starbucks-and-your-coffee-habits/359601/6 "2006-06-06T13:41:24Z")
I used to go to this great little Dunkin Donuts in Ft.Myers, FL (on Tamiami trail by the executive airport) that made the best cup o’ coffee but I think I found out their secret. When you asked for cream and sugar they added CREAM and SUGAR.
It was overly sweet but I guess I like my coffee that way.
Other Dunkin Donuts I’ve been too don’t match up.
Now in Minneapolis I cycle between Starbucks, Dunn Bros., and Caribou on a daily basis.
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### Author:  [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2006, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dunkin-donuts-vs-starbucks-and-your-coffee-habits/359601/7 "2006-06-06T13:48:08Z")
Dunkin Donuts, extra large, regular coffee, light with three sugars.
It’s no contest for me. If I want a frappucino, I go to Starbucks. But for straight-up coffee? Dunkin Donuts every time.
**CalMeacham** , Saugus or Medford? I used to stop at the Saugus one for donuts (if the sign was lit) and then stop at the Dunkin Donuts \*right next to it \* for coffee.
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### Author:  [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2006, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dunkin-donuts-vs-starbucks-and-your-coffee-habits/359601/8 "2006-06-06T13:51:49Z")
1 - Starbucks or Dunkin? **Starbucks**
2- Type of coffee (‘standard’, decalf, vanella, etc) **Bold**
3 - What do you add to it? **Nothing**
My husband both tried Dunkin’ Donuts coffee twice. We never even finished the cup. I don’t know what that swill is they’re selling, but it sure as hell ain’t coffee. Not that Starbucks is much better, mind you, but at least they load it up with sweet, sweet caffeine.
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### Author:  [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2006, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dunkin-donuts-vs-starbucks-and-your-coffee-habits/359601/9 "2006-06-06T13:53:49Z")
1 - Starbucks or Dunkin?
Dunkin. Never, never, Starbucks, not even if they paid me.
2- Type of coffee (‘standard’, decalf, vanella, etc)
Large Standard French Vanilla.
3 - What do you add to it (cream, milk, 1/2&1/2, sugar, splenda, flavorings (list type), ect
Extra light extra sweet. That’s right, I like a little coffee with my cream. And the vanilla is a flavor shot, mm-mm. And the other things is, I want my coffee made for me. Does Starbucks make it for you, or dump it in a cup and you add your own cream & sugar? I can’t remember right now.
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### Author:  [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2006, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dunkin-donuts-vs-starbucks-and-your-coffee-habits/359601/10 "2006-06-06T14:11:42Z")
Hmmph.
1. TIM HORTONS. Unfortunately Dunkin Donuts has taken hold of NE Ohio, so it’s very unlikely that I’ll see one around here. Arabica is a nice local chain that I patronize when possible. Since I have to choose, Dunkin over Staryucks.
2. Just plain coffee.
3. No more than two sugars.
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### Author:  [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2006, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dunkin-donuts-vs-starbucks-and-your-coffee-habits/359601/11 "2006-06-06T14:25:39Z")
1. Dunkin. I refuse to patronize Starbuck’s.\*
2. Regular coffee
3. Black
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### Author:  [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2006, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dunkin-donuts-vs-starbucks-and-your-coffee-habits/359601/12 "2006-06-06T14:26:45Z")
Sorry. Forget the \*. I was going to add something but then decided not to because it was stupid.
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### Author:  [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2006, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dunkin-donuts-vs-starbucks-and-your-coffee-habits/359601/13 "2006-06-06T14:35:26Z")
1 - Starbucks or Dunkin? – Dunkin’ for the donuts. Coffee? What’s that?
2- Type of coffee (‘standard’, decalf, vanella, etc) – What’s this “coffee” you talk about?
3 - What do you add to it? – I’m still confused. Dunkin’ Donuts sells donuts. Starbucks have a mediocre selection of pastries. What else do they sell?
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### Author:  [@cactus\_waltz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cactus_waltz)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2006, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dunkin-donuts-vs-starbucks-and-your-coffee-habits/359601/14 "2006-06-06T15:28:26Z")
i’ve never been to either, so I logged on to their websites to see which appealed to me more. My statement before entering the sites were that Starbucks had a fancier name.
1. [https://www.dunkindonuts.com/](https://www.dunkindonuts.com/) :
\*Rotating coffee cups on the main page. Weird.
\*Advertisement that says “Skip the tie?”. I love ties, man.
\*Selection has five different coffee brands. One of them is called Dunkin’ Decaf. Decaffeinated coffee is a silly idea and Dunkin’ Decaf is a silly name. I guess the logos are okay though. They do make me think of coffee.
\*Over-all feeling: it seems friendly, but it’s not exactly sucking me in. I guess we could bond sometime, over say… coffee?
[http://www.starbucks.com](http://www.starbucks.com) :
\*First reaction: ew! These comes are rally trying to come across as awesome and universal.
\*Quote: “Mmmmocha. The word itself is music to your mouth. But how does it taste, you ask? In a word… Magnificent. (And we’re not just saying that.)” Yes you are! Don’t put your opinions in my mouth, man.
\*Huge display of different coffee types and options. It screams capitalism in an uncomfortable way.
Dunkin’ Donuts wins. And I’ll have a regular coffee, no things added. Except for caffeine.
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### Author:  [@mack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mack)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2006, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dunkin-donuts-vs-starbucks-and-your-coffee-habits/359601/15 "2006-06-06T17:21:29Z")
1 - Starbucks or Dunkin?
Starbucks for straight-up coffee, Dunkin for our weekend treat - I get a mocha coolatta and a blueberry muffin and my wife gets a glazed and some hideous almond thing.
2- Type of coffee (‘standard’, decalf, vanella, etc) Starbucks - whatever the coffee of the day is. It’s usually pretty good. Dunkin - mocha coolatta.
3 - What do you add to it (cream, milk, 1/2&1/2, sugar, splenda, flavorings (list type), ect
Starbucks - half-n-half or whole milk; Dunkin - whipped cream and chocolate sauce.
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### Author:  [@cowgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cowgirl)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2006, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dunkin-donuts-vs-starbucks-and-your-coffee-habits/359601/16 "2006-06-06T19:31:11Z")
Neither. No Dunkin Donuts around here - perhaps we Canadians can substitute Tim Hortons?
Starbucks: I’d like to go there all the time because they (a) treat their employees much better than the other posh coffee chains, Second Cup and Timothy’s, and (b) because they support organic/fair trade/shade grown coffee much more than the other two. However, because I don’t like dark roast I go to Second Cup or Timothy’s when I want a nice cuppa.
(Full disclosure: I do go to Tim Hortons a lot because it’s cheap and close to my office.)
So, if I could take the liberty of reducing your question to its essence, which eliminates all my considerations above: do you prefer coffee from upscale places that (ostensibly) prioritize quality over price (eg Starbucks), or the other way around (eg Dunkin)?
I choose the former. I don’t mind paying more for a good coffee. I drink a standard brew, black no sugar.
Mmm. Coffee. Lately this forum has really encouraged my coffee addiction.
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### Author:  [@Lionne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lionne)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2006, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dunkin-donuts-vs-starbucks-and-your-coffee-habits/359601/17 "2006-06-06T20:12:58Z")
1. Dunkin Donuts for coffee (actual coffee that I need to wake up with) and Starbucks for espresso drinks (I consider these a treat, like dessert). I will not drink Starbucks coffee or Dunkin Donuts lattes and espresso drinks - it just feels _wrong_!
2. & 3. I like my coffee with cream and two sweet & low. My Starbucks is a light mocha without whip cream and foam. Occasionally I’ll add a sweet & low to it
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### Author:  [@Queen\_Tonya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Tonya)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2006, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dunkin-donuts-vs-starbucks-and-your-coffee-habits/359601/18 "2006-06-06T22:23:47Z")
1- Dunkin
2- plain ol’ brewed coffee
3- half-n-half and sugar
If someone arranges a meet at a Starbucks I’m okay with that, I just get some frou-frou drink with a bunch of stuff in it so I don’t taste their coffee.
Dunkin’s my favorite coffee, after my own, most every road trip starts out with the biggest coffee they make in my cupholder and a bottle of water in the reserve cupholder.
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### Author:  [@psycat90](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psycat90)
#### Post date: [June 7, 2006, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dunkin-donuts-vs-starbucks-and-your-coffee-habits/359601/19 "2006-06-07T00:18:31Z")
Given the choice, I’d drink Dunkin Donuts (or Wawa) coffee every single day. But there are none around here. I’ll have a Starbucks like once a month or so, usually whatever seasonal special they’re advertising.
I drink my coffee at work since it’s free, it’s from a local company, [Wolf Coffee](http://www.wolfcoffee.com/CompanyBackground.htm), that’s not bad at all, but definitely no DD or Wawa.
1. Dunkin’ Donuts
2. Standard Coffee (Although a Coffee Coolatta always hit the spot on a hot summer morning driving down the shore.)
3. Light and sweet
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### Author:  [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)
#### Post date: [June 7, 2006, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dunkin-donuts-vs-starbucks-and-your-coffee-habits/359601/20 "2006-06-07T00:50:18Z")
Dunkin, regular, cream and sugar.
Starbucks tastes ‘burnt’ to me. And their ‘mellow’ blend, or whatever the hell, is just overpaying for Dunkin Donuts coffee.
Man, if a Krispy Kreme opened next to a Dunkin’ Donuts around me, within a year, Krispy Kreme would stop selling coffee and Dunkin’ Donuts would stop selling doughnuts.
Then if a Popeye’s opened there, and an Arby’s jamocha shake stand, I’d be dead within a year of obesity/cholesterol/caffeine stress on my heart.
But I’d die happy.
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