By Julissa Flores ’25
“I like Dunkin…” “Nah, Starbucks is better”. The real question is, which coffee shop is more essential to the United States based on pricing, flavors, and quality? As a Dunkin employee who used to buy Starbucks all the time, I realized that I can get similar things for a better price. There are also more food options from Dunkin, rather than a few small bites and sandwiches from Starbucks.
How is Dunkin’s pricing better than Starbucks?
If you go to Starbucks and order a tall caramel brulee latte, which is a signature latte with oat milk, after tax it’s $6.17. At Dunkin, if I get a small Caramel Craze signature latte with oat Milk, after tax it will cost me $4.49. If you get either latte, they will both taste the same, but you could have Dunkin’s signature drink at a more affordable price.
Maybe you’re not a coffee person and like refreshers. From Starbucks, a grande strawberry acai costs $5.24, while a medium strawberry-dragonfruit refresher from Dunkin only costs $4.61 with tax included.
Does it really matter if I spend more money if both sizes are the same at Dunkin and Starbucks?
Actually, a small iced cup at Dunkin is 12 ounces, a medium iced is 24 ounces, and a large iced is 32 ounces. At Starbucks, a tall (small), iced cup is 12 ounces, a grande (medium) is 16 oz, a venti (large) is 24 ounces, and a trenta (x-large) is only 30 ounces. I could understand if the sizes were exactly the same, but think about this: why would you pay more money for less product? Isn’t it better to pay less for more?
Dunkin and Starbucks have the same flavors, so does it matter if I get my coffee from Starbucks?
While Dunkin and Starbucks have similar flavors, they also have many differences. For example, Dunkin has sweetened flavors: French Vanilla, Caramel, Butter Pecan, Pumpkin, Peppermint Mocha, Toasted White Chocolate, Mocha, S’mores, and Brown Sugar Cookie. Starbucks sweetened flavors are Apple Brown Sugar Syrup, Brown Sugar Syrup, Caramel Syrup, Chestnut Praline Syrup, Cinnamon Dolce Syrup, Gingerbread Syrup, Hazelnut Syrup, Vanilla Syrup, Sugar-free Vanilla Syrup, Sugar Cookie Syrup, and Peppermint Syrup. Dunkin has sugar-free flavors which is important for those who want to watch their sugar levels, have health issues, and the elderly want a flavored coffee. These unflavored shots are: Vanilla, Toasted Almond, Hazelnut, Raspberry, Blueberry, and Coconut.
Don’t both places charge for extra syrup pumps if I add more than the usual amount?
No, only Starbucks does, Dunkin lets you get however many swirls you would like free of charge. On the other hand, Starbucks charges 70 cents extra for pretty much anything you would like to add extra. The only items Dunkin charges extra for are whipped cream for 50 cents, cold foam for 70 cents, espresso shot for 1 dollar, and almond or oat milk for 50 cents. At Dunkin, you can enjoy your drink the way you like it without having to pay extreme costs, unlike how Starbucks continuously taxes on more ways to rob their customers
Besides drinks, does it make sense to get food from Dunkin or Starbucks?
Definitely Dunkin because you have more food options. You could get any type of sandwich, a wake-up wrap, a Dunkin wrap, egg bites, or grilled cheese. You could get a side of bacon or Snackin Bacon if you want something light. You could get an avocado toast or even some bagel minis. If you don’t want that, you could get a muffin and have four different options a blueberry, coffee cake, corn, or chocolate chip. You could also get the most famous item, hash browns, and different variations such as Loaded Hash Browns with bacon pieces and queso, or our Brisket Scrambled Egg Hash Browns. Most importantly there is the main item that makes Dunkin: the donuts, of course. There is a wide selection of donuts, even specialized bakery items such as Banana Chocolate Chip Bread, Lemon Loaf, or new Shortbread cookie. Also, at Dunkin, every bakery item is made fresh in the morning at 4:00am. Starbucks, on the other hand, has very few food options and nothing is baked fresh, just simply placed in an oven. Lastly, Starbucks food doesn’t actually provide nourishment and won’t quench your hunger like a good bacon egg, and cheese on a croissant would.
Dunkin is very convenient, affordable, and has various options. If you are a person who wants to pay more for less, stop at a Dunkin closest to you. If you are a person who still wants to pay more for less, that is your choice, but overall, Dunkin is better than Starbucks in many ways.
The Raider Press 