You know that old phrase about opinions and…specific lower anatomy? About how everybody has them, but no one wants to hear about it?
Well in this case, you are going to hear about it. My opinion, that is. Dunkin’ Donuts is superior to Starbucks.
Period. End of discussion. This isn’t even an argument.
Dunkin’ Donuts was first established in 1950 in Quincy, Massachusetts by founder Bill Rosenberg. The original shop is still in operation, though it has since multiplied hundreds of times.
While the Dunks slogan, “America Runs of Dunkin” was not applicable for a long time, California just opened their first Dunkin Donuts after years of being without the glorious franchise.
In a taste test performed by the illustrious and also perfect BuzzFeed, Californians bowed down to us New Englanders for knowing our stuff. While some of the West Coast natives were reluctant to admit, they thoroughly enjoyed their icy brews in the hot summer sun.
Dunks fans are hardcore with their iced coffee, and Dunks means business with it. When it comes down to it, DD is a no frills kind of establishment. Just a simple coffee, either hot or iced, maybe with a cream and sugar thrown in. If you’re having a really rough morning, maybe you add a turbo shot.
But don’t think that a cup full of java, chocolate sauce, chocolate chips and whip cream will gain you any respect walking around Boston. If you wish to truly fit in in New England, you have that clear plastic cup with that dark golden brew. No muss, no fuss.
New Englanders are tough when it comes to their coffee, but there are also some things that you come to except for your beverage. When I place my order, I ask for it ‘regular’, meaning one cream and one sugar. They lovely people behind the counter then proceed to add these accoutrements to my coffee for me.
At Starbuck
s, after you wait in the dreadfully long line to place your order, you wait in the excruciatingly long line for them to make your drink and hand it to you. If you ordered a drink with respect and didn’t get one of those melted ice cream-with-extra-whip concoctions and you just got coffee, you then also need to wait in the painfully long line to add your cream and sugar. Basically, if you want Starbucks before work, go with 30 minutes to spare.
Speaking of getting breakfast before work, Dunkin’s caters to the worker on the run, or the morning rush hour student. If you didn’t have time to eat a nice plate of bacon and eggs this morning with the family, you can zip through the Dunks drive-thru, get your coffee, and a savory bacon-egg-and cheese on your choice of bagel, or perhaps a croissant.
If you tried to get breakfast at Starbucks, they have those tiny cake pops, which could be compared to a Dunkin’s munchkin (but why would yo
u). Or you could get some artisan flat bread that has $4.00 worth of avocado that you’ll just scrape off. If you want breakfast, you should just drive right past Starbucks and head on over to Dunkin’s.
Dunkin’ Donuts is more than just a donut and coffee shop. And by more, no I don’t mean bagels. I mean that they have an atmosphere just like how you would at home in your kitchen while you brew your own coffee. You walk in and are welcomed with a smil
e. In my home town, I can count on two hands the number of people, myself included, who frequent our local Dunks so often that after they walk in, by the time they get to the front of the counter their coffee is already made and waiting for them and all they have to do is pay.
When you walk into Starbucks, most of the time it’ll be dark. I am talking “you will reach at your face because you think you left your sunglasse
s on” darkness. The line is so long, because everyone orders some blended potion of a drink, and the machines must be cleaned every time.
When you walk into Starbucks, its atmosphere is different. It’s nothing like the neighborhood charms of Dunks but instead seems to cater its image to what is popular and trendy. Holding a Starbucks in your hand while you walk down the streets in Seattle is as much an accessory as the newest iPhone or a pair of Uggs.
Dunkin’ Donuts is built around the feeling of family, of community. Dunkin’ Donuts cares about its customers. Whenever it is sporting season, whenever the home team (Red Sox, Patriots, etc.) win a game, you get a free hot or iced coffee if you have a rewards card. Along with the rewards card, you get special deals; you even get a free drink during your birthday month!
Dunks is more than coffee and donuts: it is a way of life.
Food For Thought 